Maybe that’s the reassurance I need, too.
“I checked everything again.” Jareth props his forearms on the top rail of the fence.
“Thank you. You should head out and have some fun in town tonight. You’ve done more than enough.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. Go enjoy the festival. You got a date?”
“I do, actually.” He grins, his happiness shining through before he shutters it, out of deference to my loss. He touches my shoulder lightly. “You gonna be okay?”
Nope. Not at all. Both of the new rescue mares, Carrie and Miranda, are gone. I think it would have hurt more if ithad been two horses I’ve known for years, but it’s still agonizing to lose them when we were just getting to know each other.
Even so, I don’t want Jareth to feel compelled to stay, so I lie. “I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t wanna leave you alone here.” Jareth glances around. “You’re protected from your sister as long as you’re on the property, but sadness and isolation aren’t great for the soul. Personal experience.” He smiles again, ruefully this time.
“It’s all good. Rick said he’d come out tonight when he’s done at the diner. Thanks for everything you did today.”
“It was a pleasure. Let me give you my number in case you need anything else. Call anytime, Marlowe. I mean it.”
I like his earnestness and his protective brotherly energy. When he’s gone, everything seems too still and quiet once.
Why haven’t I heard from Rick? The diner was supposed to close at eight, and it’s half past the hour now.
I’m being silly. He’s probably got a shit-ton of work to do, cleaning up, dealing with receipts, ordering supplies, and doing all the other things a diner owner would do at the end of the day.
I put the horses in for the night, then wait another hour while pretending to watch the desperately angry and jealous housewives of something-or-other on TV.
At nine-thirty, I finally break down and call Rick.
I squeeze the corner of the sofa pillow in my fist while I wait for him to answer. But when a breathless voice replies, it’s not Rick.
“Hey sis,” says Valeria. “Sorry, had to shift back. Took me a few seconds. What’s up?”
I sit there, stunned. Then I look at my phone, just to make sure I called the right number.
“Hello?” Valeria prompts innocently.
“Why do you have Rick’s phone?”
She chuckles. “You already know the answer.”
A great black void opens up inside my soul. I feel as if I’m turning inside out, becoming that hideous emptiness. My teeth begin to elongate in my mouth.
“Hellooo…” croons Valeria. “You still there?”
I can’t speak. I can’t do anything except breathe fast and furiously as I get off the couch and stalk to the front door.
“You can chill out with the heavy breathing,” Val says. “He’s alive, okay? But how long he stays that way will depend on you. Took you forever to call. I’ve been waiting all day.”
“I texted,” I grit out.
“But I wanted to hear my dear sister’svoice.”
“Where is he?”
“Where arewe, you mean. You know the lighthouse? We’re on the far side, a mile or so up the beach. There’s the cutest little rocky inlet and this pool… it’s picturesque.”
