Rescued(13)

“So are you staying around town, Hunter?” Uncle Stewart asked.

“I was planning on getting a motel around here, actually. Me and Lorrie are gonna hang out some more before I head back to Studsen.”

My uncle nodded. “There’s no need to do that. We have room for you here and Caroline and I don’t mind having you stay.”

I was pretty sure my jaw had just dropped, but I didn’t even have time to check before my aunt chimed in. “I think it’s going to break the boys’ hearts if you leave without letting them play with those kittens just a little more.”

Hunter looked back and forth between them, as surprised as I was. “Oh no, I can’t do that. I really don’t want to be a burden, especially with the kittens.”

“Nonsense,” my aunt said. “I love cats, and none of us are allergic. I’m sure those little darlings will be no trouble at all. They’ve already gotten so much bigger!”

Hunter opened his mouth to respond, but Uncle Stewart spoke first. “You good with tools?”

Hunter’s mouth closed quickly and then he answered. “Pretty good, yeah. I used to help out with some repairs at my gym.”

“Well, how about you stay with us a few days and help us redo the dining room? It’s been a slow project and it would help us out a lot. I’ve been so busy with work and Caroline has to take care of the boys. Besides, it doesn’t make sense for you to waste money at a motel when we’ve got plenty of space here.”

Hunter looked back and forth. Both my aunt and uncle were gazing at him expectantly. I was too stunned to speak. He looked to me briefly, but I just shrugged.

“Uh sure, I guess,” he said finally. “That sounds great. Thank you very much.”

“Perfect,” Uncle Stewart said. He smiled and went back to his food.

I was so confused. Why were my aunt and uncle seemingly doing their best to keep Hunter in the house as long as possible? It was so unlike them, especially my uncle.

We all finished up eating and then helped clean up the kitchen. I tried to catch my aunt’s eye to see if she could fill me in on why she and my uncle were so eager to have Hunter stay with us, but it was no use. After dinner it was family time, and I couldn’t get her alone. I’d have to wait.



The rest of the evening flew by in a blur. It was strange seeing Hunter in the Perkins house after everything that had happened the past few weeks. He looked like he was totally comfortable, and spent most of the evening playing with Joel, Billy, and the kittens. My aunt and uncle seemed happy to have him. I sat on the couch and tried my best to hide my confusion and process everything that had happened today.

When Bones came up to me and meowed at my feet, I picked him up and snuggled him to my face. I was glad Hunter had brought the kittens. They were a fuzzy reminder of our happiest times.

Finally, it was time for bed. Aunt Caroline cleared out the guest bedroom of most of its junk and changed the sheets so Hunter could sleep there. Everyone said their goodnights—my cousins spent a long time with the kittens—and went to bed.

From the moment I said goodnight to Hunter, all I could think about was how I wanted to curl up with him and fall asleep in his arms again. I knew we couldn’t though. I hadn’t even told him about getting Marco’s letter yet and I still hadn’t fully wrapped my head around his condition.

I didn’t know if it was going to be easier or more difficult to work things out with Hunter staying with us, but I was starting to feel a lot better than I had this morning.





Chapter Five

A NEW MORNING




I couldn’t breathe. My chest spasmed in pain as I tried to inhale. My limbs were slow and heavy. Wet. I was underwater. My left ear itched.

The algae green waters churned around me, bubbles blocking my view. Something rough and strong circled around my waist, clutching around me and making me feel safe. He was going to save me. I kicked and flailed my arms, reaching up to my savior. To air. To life. But every movement of my limbs just made me sink deeper into the darkness. A fuzzy warmth rubbed against my nose.

I sank deeper. The darkness stretched out into eternity away from me. I floated along for some time before a face came into view.

It was too dark and I couldn’t make out the features, but somehow, I knew it was my dad. I blinked and tried to see him more clearly, but I still couldn’t picture him. He was too out of focus. His mouth was flapping. It looked like he wanted to say something to me, but I couldn’t hear it. Reaching forward, I tried to swim towards his voice, but it faded away.

When I turned, another face appeared suddenly in front of me. The eyes were wide and crazed, lolling around in the sockets, his grin frozen on his face.