Maddy wanted to believe that. He’d brought Nora home safely, after all. But He didn’t always keep everyone safe. People died in the prime of their lives. Daddy had died, hadn’t he?
Maddy’s shoulders slumped. “All right.”
Gram put the umbrella back and wrapped a spare throw around Nora’s shivering shoulders. “You need a warm shower, honey. But first, let’s go get you patched up.”
“I’ll do it,” Emma blurted. All eyes turned to her. “It’s the least I can do after you brought Pippy back safe and sound.”
Something passed between Nora and Emma as Maddy looked on. Something soft and sweet. Something long overdue.
“You risked your life for her,” Emma choked out. “I’ll never be able to thank you for that.”
Nora’s eyes flooded with tears. “I’m so sorry for everything, Emma. I’m sorry I hurt you back then. I’m sorry I betrayed you. And I’m sorry I’ve been so stubborn all these years. I was just drowning in guilt. I handled it all wrong. Please forgive me.”
“I do.” Emma gave Nora a sad smile. “I haven’t exactly handled it well either, and I’m sorry for that.”
A quiet moment passed, as though the air was sighing in relief.
“Well, it’s about time,” Gram said, all smiles. “Nora, you’re bleeding all over the place. The first aid kit is in my bathroom under the sink. Wait a second, take a flashlight.” She scurried to the kitchen and returned with a heavy-duty flashlight and a jar candle with three flickering wicks.
The sisters headed upstairs, Pippy still tucked like a football into Emma’s side.
Maddy’s legs quivered under her. She looked at the door feeling more helpless than she’d felt in years. Heart in her throat, she pulled out her phone and dialed Connor again. She could hardly hear the ringing over the sound of her blood rushing in her ears. When his voicemail kicked on, she disconnected the call, fighting the tide of despair.
Gram took her arm, leading her to the sofa. “Sit down, honey, you’re shaking. Give me your phone. I’ll call 911 and give them an update.”
After Gram made the call she sank down beside Maddy. “They said they’d keep an eye out for Connor.”
“Thanks, Gram.” Her words sounded mechanical. She clasped her phone, willing it to ring.
“My, my,” Gram said. “You really are smitten with that boy, aren’t you?”
Someone had set the flashlight upright on the coffee table. Its cone of light spread onto the ceiling above them, giving the room an eerie glow.
“He’s a man’s man, dear. He knows how to take care of himself. Don’t you worry.”
The rain pummeled the roof, and the faint sound of radio warnings drifted in from the kitchen.
Maddy stared into the darkened room, her chest aching with regret. “You don’t understand, Gram.”
“Sure I do. You’re in love with him, anyone can see that. But you have to have faith.”
Maddy’s eyes stung until her vision blurred. All she could think of was the look of hurt on Connor’s face. The pain in his eyes. The raw scrape of his voice.
“You don’t understand.” Maddy bit her quivering lip.
“Aw, honey. Come here.” Gram wrapped her arms around Maddy. “What is it?”
Maddy buried her face in her grandma’s soft shoulder, letting the tears come. Connor was a good man. He deserved so much better than her. He deserved to fall for someone whole. Someone unbroken. She was an awful person.
“I broke up with him,” Maddy said, sniffling. “Right before he left.”
Gram rubbed her back. “Now, what did you go and do that for?”
“I don’t know.”
Gram drew back, giving her a direct look. “Well, that’s just nonsense. Of course you know.”
She was right. Maddy knuckled her tears, trying to form words to explain the deep well of emotion that roiled inside.
