Broken Dreams(104)

“Elaina! Oh, my god! I thought I lost you forever.” We were both drenched in a matter of seconds. I let go and stood on the sidewalk.

He held my face with both of his hands and wiped my eyes, not that it mattered. He planted a passionate kiss on my lips. I loved him so much.

“I love you,” Henry said, as he pulled away. “I thought you were gone.” I began to sob. “Love, why did you leave without telling us? Don’t ever do that again!” He couldn’t decide if he was angry or relieved.

“It was real; I felt her!” I was trying to speak through my tears, loud enough for the storm not to drown me out.

“What was real? What did you feel?”

“My mother. It was real.”

“Love, what was real?”

“I dreamt about her. She was searching for me. I felt her pain. I feel her.” I put my hand over my heart and continued sobbing.

“Oh, love.” He pulled me close again. Claire came running up to us.

“Come on! Let’s get into Sophie’s truck.” She grabbed our arms, and we bolted for the truck.

Nick hopped out so Henry and I could get into the back seat. He ran to the very back and opened the lift gate so he could get in. All the doors slammed shut. I started shivering, and my teeth were chattering. I was soaked to the bone.

“Nick, there’s a blanket in the bin,” Sophie spoke up. “Grab it for Elaina.” He pulled out a thin blanket and wrapped it around me.

“Thank you,” I said through my sobs and chattering teeth. Henry wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. Claire had turned around in the front seat, and she grabbed my hand. She rubbed the top gently with her thumb.

“Elaina, you scared the shit out of us.” She was speaking to me in a concerned manner, but she was lecturing me at the same time. I had been waiting for a reprimanding from someone in the truck. I couldn’t look at her. “Why did you go?”

“I had a dream that my mom was looking for me. I felt her. It was so real.” I was ashamed of what I had put them through. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s all right, love. We’re together now.” Henry rocked me, holding me tight to his body. His arms were always a comfortable place to land.

“I had a similar dream about Mom.”

I whipped around. “You did? When?” I wiped my nose on my arm.

“Last night,” Nick mumbled. “I didn't want to say anything to you, though.”

I gasped. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I felt that I needed to convince Henry that we needed to go look for my mom. “Henry, it has to be true. If we both had a dream…”

He cut me off. “Listen, love, those are dreams. It’s just your mind’s way of working out your problems.”

“But what if she is out there, alone and scared?” I pleaded.

“I highly doubt it,” he said as he stroked my cheek with his thumb. I looked down at my lap, and fiddled with my fingers. Henry pulled me into him again. “I want to believe that she or someone else’s loved one is alive, but the possibility is really slim.”

“If there is a slim chance, I want to try to find her!” I was becoming irate.

“There’s no way. We barely have enough supplies to get us through the night. And we are severely low on gas.” I looked at him in disbelief. In my heart, I felt that she was still out there.

When I looked at Nick for some assistance, he shook his head. I pulled myself completely away from Henry. I was acting like I was a two-year-old who didn’t get her way. “There has to be a way! Please, Nick. Please help me convince him!”

“Listen, I love Mom, but it’s far too dangerous to try to go get her…if there is even a her to get!” I didn’t like his response, either.

“How is it any more dangerous than all of us leaving and trying to find that Gunther assface that you two so desperately want to get to?” Everyone was silent, looking at one another.

“Henry, take Nick and get into your truck. We are going to go look for their mum,” Sophie said. I was shocked. “She has a point. Let us see if we can get to her home. If she isn’t there, then we will go find Gunther.”

Henry looked back at Nick, then opened the door and readied himself to hop out into the storm. He looked back at me for a moment. I could tell he wanted to say something. I felt Nick put his hand on my shoulder. “I hope we find her, sis. I hope this is worth it.” Then he hopped out.

Henry was still looking at me. I didn’t have anything to say. Then they both closed their doors and headed to Henry’s truck.





Chapter 14