Chapter 38
Kallie
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The steady beep of the barcode scanner and the soft rustle of grocery bags had become the soundtrack to Kallie's days.
She went through the motions without thinking, her mind drifting to Finn more often than not.
He'd worked at the motorcycle shop for a month now, and though she was proud of him, she still felt that little knot of worry every time he walked out the door.
Some days, she wondered if she'd ever conquer her fear of losing him.
She was halfway through ringing up a customer when Amy appeared in her line, waving like she'd spotted a long-lost friend.
"Hey, Kallie." Amy dropped a container of gum and a bottle of water on the conveyor. "You wanna walk with me after you get off?"
Kallie opened her mouth to give her usual answer—no—but stopped. Finn wouldn't be home for another hour. She could squeeze in a half-hour walk. It might even make the time pass faster.
"Actually, I'm getting off work," she said, surprising herself. "I'd love to walk with you. Can you give me a half hour to clock out here, get home, and change my clothes?"
"Sure." Amy grinned. "I'll meet you outside the apartment in half an hour."
The next twenty minutes flew by. Kallie closed out her till, handed the envelope to her manager, and headed straight for the frozen food section. She grabbed a tub of vanilla ice cream and a bottle of chocolate syrup, then paid quickly before stepping out into the warm evening air.
Since Finn started working, they'd been able to put all his wages into the savings account.
At night, after making love, they'd stay awake and talk about their dream house.
Neither one of them had lofty ideas. They wanted something to call their own, about the size of the house Finn had in Everstill.
More than a house, she wanted his boots by a wood stove and their laughter in the kitchen. They'd share dinner every night and stay in bed on their days off.
Her heart fluttered at the thought.
At home, she tucked the groceries into the freezer, scribbled a quick note for Finn in case he got back early, and changed into shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers. The evening was warm, the kind of soft summer heat that put everyone in a better mood and gave her more energy at the end of the day.
Amy was waiting on the front step, stretching her calves, when Kallie stepped out of the apartment. Kallie pulled her hair back into a low ponytail and slipped on a hairband.
"Ready?" Amy rubbed her hands together.
"Yeah," Kallie said, locking the door behind her. "I used to walk every day and haven't done much lately. I miss it."
They set off down the sidewalk, their footsteps soon falling into sync. Kallie wasn't sure what to talk about with Amy. She'd lived next door to her for two years but barely knew anything about her beyond the occasional greeting or invitation.
Amy didn't seem to mind filling the silence.
"So, I work at the bowling alley five days a week. Well, three days and two nights," she said, swinging her water bottle. "You bowl?"
Kallie shook her head. "No, I've never bowled before."
Amy stopped mid-stride. "Never? Everyone bowls as a kid."
Kallie shrugged. "I grew up in foster care. Guess I missed that rite of passage."
"Oh. Well, we'll fix that. I'll take you sometime." Amy's expression softened. "Sorry about your childhood."
Kallie smiled politely, unsure what to say. As a child, other kids made fun of her for being a foster kid. As an adult, she found people were prone to pitying her, which made her uncomfortable.
It was the life that was given to her. She accepted that there was nothing she could've done to change the past.
Finn never made her feel different about how she was raised. He was the one bright spot in her childhood. She might not have learned to bowl, but she had Finn. What ten-year-old could say that?
"So does your man bowl?" Amy asked.
Kallie hesitated. "I don't know. We've never talked about it. I'll have to ask him."
They walked a little farther, the conversation drifting to Amy's job, her coworkers, and the weird customers she dealt with.
Kallie nodded along, trying to stay present, but her mind kept drifting back to Finn.
To the way he walked into the apartment each night, grabbed her by the front of her shirt, dragged her to him, and kissed her deeply.
Then he'd hold her all night.
She picked up her pace, eager to get home to see if he was already off work. Amy laughed and hurried beside her, probably believing her purpose was to get in better shape, not her obsessive need to be with Finn.
They turned the corner onto their street when a shimmer caught her eye. Kallie stopped dead.
A ripple in the air at the far end of the road distorted her vision. It hovered above the pavement, a wavering mirage that bent the light in a way that made her stomach drop. It was faint, barely there, but unmistakable.
It reminded her of the rift.
"Did you see that?" she whispered.
Amy turned. "See what?"
"That." Kallie pointed, but the ripple was gone.
The road looked normal. Empty.
Amy frowned. "There's nothing there."
Kallie swallowed hard, her pulse thudding in her ears. "I... must've imagined it."
Amy shrugged and kept walking, but Kallie didn't move right away. She stared down the street, waiting for the air to ripple again, waiting for the world to glitch the way it used to.
Nothing happened.
But the unease lingered.
She hurried after Amy, her steps quickening as they approached the apartment. She thanked Amy for the walk, waved, and rushed inside, locking the door behind her.
For a moment, she leaned against it, breathing hard.
It was probably nothing. Just heat on the pavement. A trick of the light.
The back of her head hit the door. Deep down, in the part of her that had survived Everstill, she knew better.
Some places refused to let go.
She pushed off the door and took a quick shower. Once she finished, she started dinner when Finn walked into the apartment. She jumped, startled. He froze, reading her instantly, his expression shifting from tired to alert in a heartbeat.
"Kallie?" he said softly. "What's wrong?"
She swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I... I saw something when I was walking."
He crossed the room in three long strides. His hands came up to her arms, steadying her. "Tell me."
"Amy asked me to walk with her." She took a shaky breath. "We were on our way back, about a half a block from the apartment. It was just for a second, but...it looked like a shimmer. Like the air shimmered. Like—"
She couldn't finish.
Finn's jaw tightened. He guided her to the couch, sitting beside her, his hand warm around hers. "Breathe."
She inhaled deeply. The scare stayed with her. What would happen if the rift got hold of one of them?
"Kallie." Finn ran his hand over his beard. "I've had moments when I think I've seen the rift, too."
Her gaze snapped to him. "You have?"
His eyes darkened. "Little things. A flicker in the corner of my eye. A shadow that disappears when I look at it. Once, I thought I heard something...like the hum the rift made."
A chill ran through her.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered.
"Because it always goes away," he said. "And I didn't want to scare you."
She let out a shuddering breath. "Too late."
He squeezed her hand. "We're letting our worries get the best of us. That place messed with our heads. It's normal to think we're seeing things."
She wanted to believe him. God, she wanted to.
"But it looked so real," she said. "Just like before."
Finn shifted closer, cupping her cheek with a tenderness that made her eyes sting. "We made it out alive," he said roughly. "We're never going back. Everstill can't touch us here."
She leaned into his palm, closing her eyes. "You promise?"
"I promise," he murmured.
She rested her forehead against his, breathing him in, letting his warmth chase away the cold knot in her chest. His thumb brushed her cheek, reminding her that he was here.
They were both scared of losing each other.
The past was louder in their minds than the real world. All she wanted was him.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. "I don't want to lose you," she whispered.
"You won't," he said, pulling her closer. "Not now. Not ever."
And for tonight, she let herself believe him.
"I heated the leftovers," she whispered. "Are you hungry?"
"How about we skip dinner and have ice cream?"
"That's what you always say." She kisses him. "But tonight, I won't fight you. We'll have ice cream for dinner."
Going to the kitchen, she put the food away and dished up the ice cream while Finn took a shower. When he finished, she carried the bowls to the couch.
Sitting beside him, she tried hard to shake off her worries. They were safe.
But the rift was bigger than both of them.
After she finished eating, she took both their bowls to the sink and returned to Finn.
She curled against his side, tucking her legs beneath her and resting her head against his chest. The lamp cast a soft golden glow across the room.
The faint hum of the refrigerator, the quiet tick of the clock, the steady rise and fall of Finn's breathing soon lulled her into relaxing.
She felt him shift slightly, his arm tightening around her. "You're quiet," he murmured.
"Just thinking."
"About what?"
She lifted her head, meeting his eyes. "About us. About...everything. How close we came to losing each other when we left Everstill."
Finn cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin with a tenderness that made her chest ache. "We didn't lose each other," he said softly. "And we're not going to."
She swallowed, emotion tightening her throat. "Sometimes I still worry. About the rift. About Everstill. About the shadows."
He leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. "Kallie," he whispered, "nothing will ever tear us apart. Not even the rift. Not Everstill. I won't let it."
Her breath hitched. "You really believe that?"
"I know it," he said, his voice steady and sure. "We're here. We made it out. We're alive. And we're staying right here. Neither of us is looking for the veil."
She closed her eyes, letting his words sink in and settle the last trembling pieces inside her.
As Finn slowly kissed her, she believed this was their forever. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Kallie with a K," he whispered back.