wearing in here and I’ll run it through the wash and have it ready for you by morning. All I want you to do tonight is eat and sleep and not get up at any particular time. Nurse’s orders.”
Julia smiled. If she was one—she had also better listen to one. Though Laura’s specialty had been the neonatal ICU.
“Lotion and a hair dryer are by the sink. New toothbrush and toothpaste, as well. Living up here, you never know who’s going to stop in stranded with few if any of their belongings.” She stood. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to chat with you. I always felt like you were the kind of girl who could be the daughter I never had, and I know you lost your own mother, so take this with the love it’s meant to convey.” Laura ran her fingers through the water, testing the temperature, and then adjusted the knobs slightly. “I know things have been hard for you, Julia, but there are people here to help you. You are not going to go through this alone. I won’t allow it.”
All Julia could offer in response was a tired smile. “I can’t thank—”
“Saying thank you is generous and not necessary. James says you’re family and you can stay here as long as you need to.”
And with those words she left Julia alone.
Julia stood in front of the mirror. Her clothes, now dry, stuck to her in a wrinkled mash of crusty fabric. Her hair was matted with leaves, and branches stuck in the tangles. She reached her arms out, noting the deep purple bruises that dotted areas on her lower forearms. Nothing that wouldn’t heal. Nothing that would leave a scar.
At least a physical one.
She brushed her fingers over the scars on her neck, new tears coursing down her cheeks. Would she ever stop crying? The scarf she’d been wearing was long gone. Both of Eli’s shoes were claimed by the river. Though the act was generous, the clothes that Laura had left her were not going to cover up what she most wanted to hide. Even when her clothes were washed, these scars would be exposed. People would see. People would ask her. She’d have to share her story.
Would that crush her or save her?
* * *
The table was set to evoke peaceful solace. Eli felt almost human. The expected muscle soreness hedged with a hefty dose of ibuprofen. Dr. Solan had numbed up the cut on his forehead, washed it out and closed it with five stitches. He was clean and dressed in dry clothes that fit better than expected. Will, having not had a free rafting trip, remained in his business suit and sat next to Eli. Julia sat across from him in a loose-fitting pair of sweats.
Would she ever drop her hand from her throat?
The smell of bacon and earthy corn from Laura’s chowder caused Eli’s stomach to turn over with anticipation. Even the fresh, cold water was taking the edges off his exhaustion.
James sat at the head of the table. “Shall we say grace?”
Julia dutifully dropped her head. Eli looked down, his hands settled in his lap. These moments felt strange to him. He longed for connectedness—this type of connectedness. Friends and family sharing a meal together. He had family, but they were distant. Rarely did they communicate unless there was an emergency.
“Father, we thank You for keeping Eli and Julia safe today. Bless our time together. Thank You for providing Eli and Will to be watchful protectors over Julia and allow them to bring to justice this criminal who threatens Julia’s life. Amen.”
Julia repeated the Amen. Eli lifted his eyes. Laura began to scoop full ladles of the soup into their bowls. A basket of homemade white dinner rolls passed by, and Eli hoped taking three wouldn’t seem too aggressive. Next was the soft, real butter that he slathered on, followed by cherry jelly.
If only all was perfect.
What Eli couldn’t deny was the ceaseless tightness and pain in his chest. Between each bite of chowder he coughed. At one point, he brought a clean white napkin to his lips and hacked into it. Bringing it away,
Julia smiled. If she was one—she had also better listen to one. Though Laura’s specialty had been the neonatal ICU.
“Lotion and a hair dryer are by the sink. New toothbrush and toothpaste, as well. Living up here, you never know who’s going to stop in stranded with few if any of their belongings.” She stood. “It’s been a long time since I’ve gotten to chat with you. I always felt like you were the kind of girl who could be the daughter I never had, and I know you lost your own mother, so take this with the love it’s meant to convey.” Laura ran her fingers through the water, testing the temperature, and then adjusted the knobs slightly. “I know things have been hard for you, Julia, but there are people here to help you. You are not going to go through this alone. I won’t allow it.”
All Julia could offer in response was a tired smile. “I can’t thank—”
“Saying thank you is generous and not necessary. James says you’re family and you can stay here as long as you need to.”
And with those words she left Julia alone.
Julia stood in front of the mirror. Her clothes, now dry, stuck to her in a wrinkled mash of crusty fabric. Her hair was matted with leaves, and branches stuck in the tangles. She reached her arms out, noting the deep purple bruises that dotted areas on her lower forearms. Nothing that wouldn’t heal. Nothing that would leave a scar.
At least a physical one.
She brushed her fingers over the scars on her neck, new tears coursing down her cheeks. Would she ever stop crying? The scarf she’d been wearing was long gone. Both of Eli’s shoes were claimed by the river. Though the act was generous, the clothes that Laura had left her were not going to cover up what she most wanted to hide. Even when her clothes were washed, these scars would be exposed. People would see. People would ask her. She’d have to share her story.
Would that crush her or save her?
* * *
The table was set to evoke peaceful solace. Eli felt almost human. The expected muscle soreness hedged with a hefty dose of ibuprofen. Dr. Solan had numbed up the cut on his forehead, washed it out and closed it with five stitches. He was clean and dressed in dry clothes that fit better than expected. Will, having not had a free rafting trip, remained in his business suit and sat next to Eli. Julia sat across from him in a loose-fitting pair of sweats.
Would she ever drop her hand from her throat?
The smell of bacon and earthy corn from Laura’s chowder caused Eli’s stomach to turn over with anticipation. Even the fresh, cold water was taking the edges off his exhaustion.
James sat at the head of the table. “Shall we say grace?”
Julia dutifully dropped her head. Eli looked down, his hands settled in his lap. These moments felt strange to him. He longed for connectedness—this type of connectedness. Friends and family sharing a meal together. He had family, but they were distant. Rarely did they communicate unless there was an emergency.
“Father, we thank You for keeping Eli and Julia safe today. Bless our time together. Thank You for providing Eli and Will to be watchful protectors over Julia and allow them to bring to justice this criminal who threatens Julia’s life. Amen.”
Julia repeated the Amen. Eli lifted his eyes. Laura began to scoop full ladles of the soup into their bowls. A basket of homemade white dinner rolls passed by, and Eli hoped taking three wouldn’t seem too aggressive. Next was the soft, real butter that he slathered on, followed by cherry jelly.
If only all was perfect.
What Eli couldn’t deny was the ceaseless tightness and pain in his chest. Between each bite of chowder he coughed. At one point, he brought a clean white napkin to his lips and hacked into it. Bringing it away,
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