Sanctuary(41)

she blinked as a light flashed in her eyes. "What's that for?" she demanded as Jo lowered her camera.

"You looked so damn smug. Shift over closer to Lex, Ginny. Let me get the three of you."

"Here she goes," L4exy muttered, but she flipped her hair back and posed nevertheless.

It was rare for her to take portraits, even candid ones. Jo indulged herself, letting them mug or preen for the camera, framing them in, adjusting the angle, letting the burst of light from her strobe flash illuminate them.

They were beautiful, she realized, each in her own unique fashion. Ginny, with her bottle-blonde frizz and wide-open smile; Lexy, so selfaware and sulky; Kirby, carelessly confident and classy.

They were hers, Jo thought. Each one of them, for different reasons, was part of her. she'd forgotten that for too long.

Her vision blurred before she knew her eyes had flooded with tears. "I've missed you all. I've missed you so much." she set the cam'de has Iy, then rose from her crouch. "I've got to pee."

"I'll go with her," Yirby murmured as Jo rushed out of the clearing. she snagged a flashlight and hurried after. "Jo. Hey." she had to double her pace to catch up, grab Jo's arm. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

"My bladder's full. As a doctor, you should recognize the symptom."

When Jo started to turn, Kirby simply tightened her grip. "Honey, I'm asking as your friend, and as a doctor. Granny would have said you look peaked. I can tell from this brief session that you're run-down and stressed out. Won't you tell me what's wrong?"

" I don't know." Jo pressed a hand to her eyes because they wanted to fill up again. "I can't talk about it. I just need some space."

"Okay." Trust always had to be gained by degrees, Yirby thought. "Will you come and see me? Let me give you a physical?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I'll think about it." Jo steadied herself and managed a smile. "There is one thing I can tell you."

"What?"

Still've got to pee."

"Well, why didn't you say so?" Chuckling, Yirby aimed the light on the path. "You go running out of camp without a light, you could end up gator bait." Cautious, Kirby scanned the thick vegetation fringing the near pond.

"I think I could walk this island blind. It stays with you. I missed it more than I realized, Yirby, but I still feel like a stranger here. It's a shaky line to walk."

"You haven't been home two weeks. Give yourself that time you said you need."

"I'm trying. Me first," Jo said and ducked into the little outhouse.

Yirby started to laugh, then found herself shuddering. The minute Jo closed the door she felt completely alone, completely exposed. The sounds of the slough seemed to rush toward her, over her. Rusfles and calls and plops. Clouds drifted slyly over the moon and had her gripping her flashlight in both hands.

Ridiculous, she told herself. It was just a leftover reaction to her experience in the woods that afternoon. she was hardly along. There were campsites pocketed all through the area. she could even see the flicker of lights from lanterns and fires. And Jo was only a single wooden door away.

There was nothing to be frightened of, she reminded herself There was nothing and no one on the island that meant her any harm.

And she nearly whimpered with relief when Jo stepped out again.

"You're up," Jo told her, still buttoning her jeans. "Take the flash. I nearly fell in. It's black as death in there, and nearly as atmospheric."

"We could have walked over to the main toilets."

"I wouldn't have needed them by the time I got there."

"Good point. Wait for me, okay?"

Jo hummed assent and leaned back against the door. Then almost immediately straightened when she heard footsteps padding softly to her right. she tensed, told herself that the reaction was a by-product of city living, and watched a light bob closer.

"Hello, there." The male voice was low and pleasant.

she ordered herself to relax. "Hello. We'll be out of your way in a minute."

"No problem. I was just taking a little moonlight walk before I turned in. I'm over at site ten." He took a few steps closer but stayed in the shadows. "Beautiful night. Beautiful spot. I never expected to see a beautiful woman."

"You never know what you'll see on the island." Jo squinted as the light from his lantern reflected into her eyes. "That's part of its charm."

"It certainly is. And I'm enjoying every bit of it. An adventure in every step, don't you think? The anticipation of what's to come. I'm a fan of ... anticipation.

No, she realized, his voice wasn't pleasant. It was like syrup-too sweet, too thick, and it carried that exaggerated drawl that Yankees insuitingly believed mimicked the South.