“All of it,” he replied. “They found Lilian’s journal, outlining the events.”
Fascinating. “I’d love to read it one day.”
“I’m sure Amy will give you a copy.”
She appreciated he wasn’t promising anything, as it wasn’t his to promise. She yawned.
“We could both do with getting an early night,” Arthur said. “There’s not much to do, and I imagine there’s going to be a big clean up tomorrow.”
He was right. She lay down on the mattress next to Jordan and Arthur lay on her other side. Jordan shuffled so he was curled into her, and Arthur spooned her from behind. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth and comfort of being loved and protected.
Despite the storm raging outside, she fell asleep immediately.
***
A thump on Gretchen’s back woke her with a start. She gasped and blinked, trying to see, but it was pitch black. Outside the wind still gusted, but not as fiercely as before. They were in her closet, sheltering from the storm. A loud groan and another slap coming from Arthur. “Arthur?”
No response.
Was he having a nightmare?
“Move back or I’ll shoot.” His snarl made her gasp, and she moved fast, shifting her and Jordan away, and flicking the lantern on. Jordan blinked sleepily next to her. “Mum?”
Her heart pounded as she pulled him close and shifted down the end of the mattress. Arthur was covered in sweat, arms flailing. She’d covered a little about PTSD during her studies; it could be dangerous to wake him.
“What’s wrong with Arthur?”
“He’s having a nightmare.” She called softly, “Arthur, wake up.”
He kicked out, just brushing her arm, and she jerked back.
“Arthur, you’re safe here.” She kept her tone gentle, not daring to touch him. His eyes flashed open, but unseeing. Fear slipped through her. “Arthur, it’s Gretchen and Jordan. You’re in Retribution Bay. There’s a storm outside.”
He made no sign he heard her but continued to yell incomprehensible words.
“Mum?” The fear in Jordan’s voice made her slip an arm around him.
“Sometimes soldiers have really real dreams that they’re still in a war zone,” she explained. “Arthur’s having one of those now.”
“How can we help him?”
“I don’t know.” All the documentation she’d read said to talk calmly to them. She knew enough not to get too close in case he mistook her for the enemy and accidentally hurt her.
“Singing always helps me feel better when I’m scared,” Jordan suggested.
It was as good an idea as any. “What do you want to sing?”
“There’s this song Lara sang the other day.” He broke into a familiar old song about not worrying and being happy. Gretchen joined in and Arthur’s twitches became less violent. When the song finished, they started again from the beginning. His eyes closed and his hands unclenched.
“It’s working,” Jordan whispered.
It was. Arthur’s breathing slowed, and Gretchen said, “Arthur, honey. Wake up for me.” She didn’t want him to slip back into his nightmare the moment they stopped singing.
She continued singing and at the end of the second round she called, “Wake up, Arthur.”
His eyes flicked open again, but this time they focused on her. “Gretchen, what’s wrong?”
Jordan crawled over. “You were having a nightmare, but we couldn’t wake you, so we sang to you.”
