Thirty Days: Part One (32 page)

“What are you doing?” Mosby asks, looking down at me.

“I hit my head.”

“Yeah, you did.”

“Has Ginger told you everything that happened?”

‘No,” he replies with a cocked eyebrow. “Just the basics on the plane here.”

“Oh.”

Jackson moves out of my line of sight and the afternoon drifts by quietly. Occasionally, I hear Sammy and Mosby mutter to each other, but their words are never clear enough to warrant my attention. I close my eyes and a light afternoon breeze brings the smell of rain with it
.

Marcus’ face appeared in my mind from a distance before it got closer, and he closed in until I could reach out my fingers and touch a freshly stitched cut to his cheek. My face felt moist and my eyes puffy as my tongue licked my lips that were bone dry. Every beat of my heart caused an ache so painful and raw, it was unbearable.

“See, it was only a small cut. Two stitches were not even worth getting it stitched.” His eyes were so dark I could barely see the pupils. “Are you always so persistent?”

“My dad always said I was.” The pain in my chest became so excruciating, it caused my knees to buckle slightly.

“I really think you should sit back down like the doctor just told you to.”

“My mum. She’ll be here any minute. How can someone tell a person that their love is gone? The father of her child no longer breathes.”

“I don’t know.” His eyes were sympathetic.

“What’s your name?” I asked even though I felt like I’d known this man my entire life.

“Marcus Klein,” he replied softly.

“Thank you, Marcus Klein, for trying to save my dad.”

He nodded. “You’re so lucky to be alive, Abigail. If I hadn’t seen what happened with my own eyes, I would’ve never believed it. How it didn’t collect you with its force is a complete miracle.”

“Can you stay with me?” I asked as I wiped fresh tears that fell over my cheeks with the back of my hands.

“I won’t leave you.” His lip quivered on his statement.

“Thank you.”

“Earth to Abigail, where is your head at? I’ve been talking to you,” Sammy’s voice calls me back from the memory.

“I want to go inside now.” My throat tightens. “It wasn’t an aneurism,” I yell as my feet hit the ground, and I run back to the house.

A Past Forgotten

Lying with my head tucked into the crook of my arm, I will every bit of these last few days to disappear completely. Right now I want nothing more than my body to be freed from this overwhelming tension. I’m shattered and completely robbed of what was once my true reality.

My father didn’t die from an aneurism. So why does my memory tell me that he did? I can picture the entire event like it was yesterday. How can one remember an event that never took place? Clear visions of the race to the hospital, as I held Mum’s cold hand in mine, exist. She was shocked to her core as she watched her husband collapse to the floor. The screams of horror that had me sprinting from my bedroom moments before, only to find her hunched over his body, have to be real.

“Don’t leave me, please,” she begged. “Don’t leave us.”

Running through hospital corridors in search of where Dad was taken after the ambulance brought him in. Was he still alive when they got him there? Pure desperation seared through my heart as the pain grew so intense, it was almost debilitating. That look, the one in the surgeon’s eyes as he approached us, the look that said he was gone and it was over. I couldn’t have imagined this, could I?

“Hey, Abs, how are you holding up?” Mosby’s voice is soft as he approaches me.

“I can’t do this,” I blurt out, removing my head from the crook of my elbow.

“I have to admit this is a lot to take in. I’m a pretty chilled person, but if I were in your shoes right now, I’d be freaking the fuck out. This is crazy.”

“You’re telling me,” I scoff as Mosby sits in the chair beside me.

“Sammy is struggling, Abigail. You need to go easy on her.”

“Where is she?”

“Where you left her. I think she hoped that this day would never come, but strangely I think she also hoped it would. I don’t think she is prepared as much as she thought she would be.” Jackson runs his fingers over his prickled head and offers me a half smile. “She loves you, Abs, always has and always will. Kindred sisters, isn’t that how you two refer to one another in private?” His smile grows slightly.

“A kindred sister would never do this to the other, Jackson—”

“I disagree. They would, Abigail. Think about it—if you had to protect Samantha, you would, without a second thought. I know it’s true. You can deny it all you want, but it’s true.”

Taking a long inhale, I rest my head against Jackson’s strong arm. “This entire situation blows. Do you believe I’m cursed now?”

“You know I don’t believe in hexes and voodoo magic. But I can see why you do. A lot of bad shit seems to happen to you, but I have a feeling it’s all leading to something truly wonderful, not awful.”

“You a fortune-teller, Mosby?”

He guffaws. “If only. Hey, maybe if I were, I could tell you how great this would end and then your heart wouldn’t have to hurt so badly.”

“Yeah.” Closing my eyes, I inhale the full scent that is Jackson Mosby. Manly, yet musky. The smell of comfort and security. “I feel betrayed, you know. Mum, Sammy…shit, does everybody else know I’m living in make-believe land?”

“I’d hardly call it make-believe. But I can understand why you’re thinking this way. To answer your question, I’m not sure, to be honest. Hell, I only found out bits and pieces on the plane. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.” Mosby reaches his hand around my neck and kisses my hair. “Hey, Abs?”

“Yeah.”

“Is Marcus the booty call from the Coast?”

“Yep. You want to know what’s ironic about that now?”

“Sure. Ironic I enjoy.”

“I think Marcus was my first.”

“First fuck?” His voice goes high on the words.

“Yep.” I smirk.

“Seriously?”

“I’m pretty sure of it.”

“Well, there you go. You slept with a man on a one-night stand whom you’ve already slept with.” As the words leave his lips, we both burst into hysterical laughter. Mosby always makes everything better.

“What’s so funny, you two?” Sammy asks as she comes in through the sliding doors.

“Nothing,” Jackson chokes out through teary eyes.

“Well, okay then,” Sammy sings in song.

“Hey, that’s my thing,” I scoff. “Can you see how much your woman wants to be me? Can’t blame her, really. I’m a pretty awesome, hexed, fucked up, and mega crazy person.”

“That you are, Abs, that you are.” Mosby chortles, leaning his head against mine.

Sitting across from us, Sammy stares into my eyes. She looks zapped of strength and courage.
I hate this look.

“So, when did he give you that back?” Her finger points at my neck.

“Huh?”

“The necklace.”

I realise it has fallen against my shoulder as I cuddled into Mosby. “This was mine then?”

“It sure was. He didn’t tell you, did he?”

“No,” I mutter.

“He really hasn’t told you much, has he?”

“Nope.”

“So how did you get it back then?”

“It was on the bed the first morning I woke up here. I wondered how he had purchased it so late at night.”

“Let me guess, in a white box?”

“Yes.” My brow must furrow because Sammy’s does the same.

“The same way he gave it to you the first time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Graduation present.”

“But I didn’t go to Grad. I’d just lost Dad.”

“I know. Have you turned it over and looked at the back?”

“No.” My body springs upright and my fingers play with the charm. “Do I want to?”

“You do.” Sammy smiles a half smile. “Here, let me help you.” She grins before making her way around the table. The tips of Sammy’s fingers brush the skin of my neck, sending a shiver coursing to my legs. The clasp undoes and the chain falls limp around my hand as Ginger takes her seat once more. “Well?”

With a heart that beats erratically, I turn the charm and lay it flat on my palm. I read the two words engraved on the back, “Forever mine,” in a soft voice.

“He knew right away that you were his, Abigail. He said he would keep you safe come hell or high water and that he would guarantee nothing bad would ever happen to you again, and he kept that promise until…”

“Until?”

“Now that you have to remember on your own.”

“Why?” I whinge.

“Because sometimes we have to wait for our mind to decide when the right time is, Abigail.”

“I fucking hate you right now, Ginger.”

“I know you do. I’m not my biggest fan today either.” Sammy’s eyes squeeze tightly together, and she pinches the arch of her nose.

“Headache?” Mosby says, concerned.

“Bad.”

“Abigail, she needs to lie down now. Her headaches have been really bad this month.”

“Have you been to the doctor and asked for stronger migraine tablets?” I huff.

“Not yet, but I will.” Sammy’s voice trails off as her face grimaces in pain.

“Bedtime, beautiful,” Mosby commands, taking her hand in his. “Abigail, where can she lie down?”

“My room. Top of the stairs and first door to the left.”

“Thanks,” he mouths, slipping his arms under Sammy’s legs and carrying her towards the staircase. “Big day, beautiful,” I hear him say before the sound of the door shutting upstairs lets me know she will feel better soon.

It doesn’t seem like Jackson’s been gone that long when he returns to the table. I’m still sitting in the same spot they left me. I’ve read these two words over and over and can’t stop wondering how after only knowing me a few short weeks back then, and in such circumstances, Marcus could declare I’m his.

“She’s out like a light.”

“Good.” My eyes stay glued to the necklace in my hand.

“Do you want me to put that back on?”

“Please.”

“This dude has a strong love for you, yeah?”

“Apparently.” The necklace is secured in place once more and having it around my neck makes me smile.

“What are you smiling for?”

“Someone loved me after only just meeting me. How can you know?”

“You do.” His voice confident. “I knew the moment my eyes caught Samantha’s that she was my girl. You must have felt the same way about Mike.”

But I didn’t.

“You felt that connection immediately?” I’m inquisitive that something that powerful could be so instant.

“Instantly, without a doubt.”

My mouth must form an exaggerated ‘O’ shape.

“Yeah, I think I looked just like you do now when those red locks bounced before me.”

I giggle. “You’re a good man, Mosby.”

“The best.”

“And cocky, too.”

He chuckles in response.

“Sleep,” I declare, pushing my palms against the table before finding my feet.

“Why don’t you go lie down with Sammy?”

“I think I just might. Will you be okay?”

“In this mega mansion, I’ll be perfectly fine. Someone’s going on a treasure hunt.”

“You do that.” I laugh, leaving him to his exploration.

Sammy’s face looks tortured when I lie down beside her. A small wrinkle creases between her eyebrows.

“Where would I be if I didn’t have you, Ginger?” My tone is soft. “Lost,” I answer for her before I drift off to sleep.

Lying down onto the bed in the home I shared with my mother and father, my heart weighed heavy. It was a weight only comparable to that of lead. Something poked into the arch of my back, causing me to become uncomfortable.

“Ouch,” I groaned, lifting my bottom before retrieving on sight a white box. “What? How did this get here?” With my feet flat against the mattress and my knees facing the ceiling, I rolled that box between my hands. Deciding to finally open the lid, I gasped at the sparkling letter ‘A’ hanging from a thin necklace. “Did Dad buy this for me?” I wondered aloud. “Graduation Day,” I remembered. “Dad.” Water began to fall from my eyes, just as it had done for the past two weeks. Crying was not an issue now. Crying was a normal part of everyday life. The tears only stopped when Marcus arrived to be with me. I didn’t like it when he had to leave because he was the glue that held me together.