Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy) by Sara Mack

nightmare.
    “Whatever
it is, it’ll be okay,” she tries to console me.
    I shake
my head violently.
    “I’m
right here.  I won’t let you go.”
    She
holds me and rocks me like a baby.  Eventually the sobs subside, leaving me drained. 
I disentangle myself from her and lie down.  She lies beside me, and Shel
crawls in on my other side.  I fall asleep tucked between the two of them, like
an infant, my tears still tacky on my cheeks.

Chapter 10
    Over
the next few days, my parents and Shel give me plenty of space.  No one brings
up my sobbing episode and neither do I.  I do manage to ask my mother about the
plant in the bathroom, since it was still there and, thankfully, not a figment
of my imagination.  She said it was delivered to the house the day Shel and I
were at training, but there was no card to say who it was from.  She assumed it
was sent by someone with condolences, and she meant to call the flower shop to
ask about it.  She put it in the bathroom since orchids like a humid climate,
but quickly forgot about calling after Matt’s visit and then my late night
disruption.  I really don’t care who it’s from as long as it’s real.  But aren’t
there any other kinds of flowers in the area besides those that match what
James used to give me?
    Our
first day at Bay Woods was a little hectic, but as the week went on, Shel and I
fell into a steady rhythm.  The environment was friendly, our manager
easy-going, and driving the beverage cart around outside in the sun was an
added bonus.  It was exhausting work, however, with all the stocking and
lifting.  I was using muscles I never knew I had.  Shel’s hope was that, by the
end of the summer, we will have built up some core strength and have amazing
tans.
    “This
routine agrees with you,” Shel comments at the end of the week.
    I add
more hot dogs to the roller.  “How do you mean?”
    “You
look rested; your eye bags look smaller.”
    I
grimace.  “Thanks for noticing.”
    “You’re
welcome,” she smiles.
    “I have
been sleeping really hard.  I’m so tired by the time we get home.”
    “Tell
me about it.”  She stretches her back.
    That’s
when I realize I haven’t had any more memory dreams.  Not one.  I try to think
back to the last one I had.  My face falls.
    “What’s
wrong?”
    Before
I can stop myself, I say “I’ve stopped dreaming.”
    Shel
looks confused.
    “Never
mind,” I say quickly, shaking my head.
    A
customer approaches the counter and needs Shel’s attention.  I go back to the hot
dogs.  Have I thought about James every day?  Yes.  But my dreams have stopped
and it makes me sad.  I enjoyed the memories my subconscious found and shared
with me again.  Silently, I pray that the dreams will return; I don’t want to
forget anything.  Ever.
    “I hate
it when you’re sad.”
    James’
voice rings loud and clear in my head.  A perfect rendition, just like when I
was in the shower.  My head snaps up.
    “I’m
right here with you.”
    Shel
nudges me.  “We’re out of napkins.  I’ll go get some more from the back.”
    I nod
at her and move to the front to take over the register.
    What
was that?  Hearing his voice again?  Maybe my mind is compensating for the lack
of dreams by recalling his voice.  I smile.  That’s okay with me.
    I busy
myself checking the condiments to make sure they are full and notice the salt
shakers are low.  I crouch down and start to rummage around under the counter
for the funnel to fill them.
    “Man,
the service in this place sucks.”
    Seriously? 
I pop up from behind the counter to see Matt standing there, pulling on the
fingers of his golf glove.  I sigh in relief.  “I was ready to let you have
it!”
    He
smiles at me.  “How’s the job going?”
    “Pretty
good.  How’d the course treat you today?”
    “Not
too bad,” he turns slightly and tilts his head to his left.  “My old man still
beat me though.”
    “Hey
Matt!” Shel says as she returns