Home Tears

Dani had no plans of seeing either, but she couldn’t help herself. “My Aunt Kathryn.”

“What?”

“She’s my aunt too.”

“Oh.” A wrinkled line in his forehead increased. His eyebrows pinched even harder against each other. “Yeah. Yeah. I know.”

And then suddenly, as quick as the fight came to her, it left her in one sudden whoosh. She was tired, all the way down to her bones. She didn’t know another time in her life when she’d been this exhausted. She knew there’d be a time when she and Jake should talk. They never did, not after he told her he was leaving her for Erica, and she took off the very next day, but that time wasn’t today. It wasn’t now.

“Look, Jake.” He lifted his head, finding her. She added, “You go back and let Julia know that I got her message.” It was better if Julia thought she was adhering to her command, and not that she was staying away because Dani didn’t want to see Julia or Kathryn. Julia was just one of those people. It was her way, not someone else’s, but Dani didn’t want that fight on her doorstep either. “I’ll stay away.”

“That’s it?” Jake frowned.

She shrugged. “What else do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. I just—” He cut himself off. “You’re right. Maybe there’s nothing else to say.” He clipped his head in a nod, returning to his car. “I’ll let Julia know. I’ll tell her you send your best to her too.” He was at the car. She went with him, and he reached for the door handle. Jonah had moved. Dani didn’t see him, but she knew he was around. She could almost feel his presence, but she was focused on this ghost from her past.

“Jake—”

She didn’t know what to say. There wasn’t anything, not at that moment anyway. It was too soon.

He ignored her and said instead, still turned toward the car with his back to her, “I best be going now, Dani. I’ll let Julia know you’re okay with staying out here.”

“Thank you.” She nodded.

He opened his door, but suddenly looked back up at her. “Where’ve you been these ten years, Dani?”

Why are you back now? That was the unspoken question in the air.

She didn’t answer. She didn’t want to and she couldn’t find the words anyway. Jake waited a beat, but when there was no response, he didn’t look surprised. He got inside, started the engine, and pulled out of the driveway.

There was an extra heaviness on her heart, but ignoring it, she turned for the cabin and there he was. Leaning against her door, Jonah Bannon flashed her that smirk again and dropped his arms that had been crossed over his chest. His hands slid into his pockets and a dimple in his right cheek winked at her. “Now, about that Mustang of yours…”

“No.” Dani shook her head. “Why were you with him, anyway?”

He laughed. “When he heard you were here and he was coming with or without me. I just hitched a ride.”

“It was a wasted trip.” She stepped around him and pulled out the key. Unlocking the door, she stepped inside, but turned around to block him from following her. She placed a hand against the doorframe. “You should’ve gone back with Jake, because I’m not letting you in.”

“Are you serious? I just want to—”

“I remember you from school, but that doesn’t mean I know you. And I’m not talking about my car. It’s not for sale and no, you can’t take it for a ride if you were going to ask.” She jerked her chin up, indicating behind him. “If I remember right, it’s a long walk from here to your place. You should get going if you want to get home before dark.”

Then she shut the door, locked it, and forgot about him, or tried to forget about it. She didn’t really. He was in the back of her mind, but what she said had been true. She didn’t know Jonah Bannon. She didn’t owe him anything either. He wanted her car, that was obvious, but it wasn’t until she got ready for bed that she started wondering if she’d been too hard on him. He came into the bar asking questions and not respecting the answers he was getting. He was like a tornado, but she had enough of those storms in her. She could only handle one at a time, and lying in bed, she hoped some of them were staying at bay.

She needed to sleep. Badly.

It was the screams first.

Then the babies started crying.

People running. It was so silent, but those footsteps. They were pounding on the pavement. People were rushing for their lives, and then an eerie moment of silence, and the water came down.

Gasping, Dani jerked awake. She moved to the edge of the bed and dragged in some air. Deep breaths. One in. One out. In. Out. She kept going, her eyes closed, and waited for her body to remember. She was safe. She wasn’t there.

Safe.

I’m safe.

Dani could still hear the sirens in the distance, and she flinched, gritting her teeth.

“Hell.” Dani cursed, catching a glimpse of the clock. Three in the morning. She’d gotten five hours of sleep. It had been almost three months since she had a full night’s sleep.

She’d been given a card for times like this. If the nightmares kept coming, she’d need to talk. But that was the problem. Dani didn’t talk unless it was necessary, but her hand still reached for her purse and pulled out the card. The number was bold and black, emblazoned for easy reading.

“You’ve been through an awful and horrible event in your life. You’ll need help, and when you want it, it’s there, Dani.”