West Ten #2
Whispering, I said, “Seb, Bluebell is to stay inside.” He nodded. “Finn, Gage, get control of your stomach’s limits and help our rescuers outside. I don’t think they’ve slept in over two days.”
Maddox and I were making our way to the bathroom when Ethan exited the bedroom. He stopped rubbing his sleepy eyes when he caught a glimpse of the blood and gore. I didn’t give him a chance to ask questions. “I need a garbage bag.”
As I guided a very heavy Maddox into the bathroom, Ethan slipped past us, heading toward the kitchen. Balancing the half-asleep body attached to mine, I started the shower. “Maybe she can touch your wounded soul.”
Ethan returned, looking spooked. He watched but said nothing.
From over the arm hanging around my shoulders, I told Ethan, “He’s okay, I promise. Can you close the door and help me remove his shirt?”
After shutting the door, he came forward, reaching out, timid about where to touch Maddox.
That’s when I realized I needed to clarify, “It’s not his blood. A certain threat is gone, and I want him off our friend.”
Ethan mouthed, Oh shit, and stepped into high gear, removing the soaked sweatshirt and a leather holster. I wasn’t sure why he stilled when seeing Maddox’s bare back, but understood when he whispered in my ear, “He’s the one who took a bullet for you today.”
I went utterly still. It came back to me. A rifle. The pastor pointing it at me. As it fired, a blur raced toward me from the right. Then his face floated past me, smiling endearingly, ‘Missed you, Sarah’. Arms wrapped around me and took me to the ground—
My body and mind asked to slip away again.
I told them no.
Then I peered up at the one I was practically carrying. “Thank you.”
His eyes were closed, but he whispered, “Love you, girl.”
He did. He had shown that throughout the years, endlessly. That’s why my throat tightened. I wanted to cry but feared if I started, I wouldn’t know how to stop.
Instead, I said, “Ethan.”
“Anything.”
“Help me take care of him.”
Together, we stripped away the rest of the soiled clothing, wishing we could take away all his sorrow and throw it in a garbage bag with his clothes.
Ethan and I helped Maddox into the shower. He could barely lift his limbs, so we helped with those, too.
Guiding him under the spray, blood instantly began to blend with the water in the tub and around his feet. Maddox stared at the drain, at the blood’s dance.
I found a washcloth and soap, then proceeded to clean his chest and stomach of the recently dried blood stuck to them.
On his chest was a symbol I’d never seen before, in the form of a scar.
When I gently scrubbed over it, removing blood, I felt a flutter in my stomach.
This scar was no accident and had an otherworldly purpose.
When done, Ethan held out a limp arm so I could wipe away more grime.
I demanded, “Breathe, Maddox.”
His chest expanded.
I wiped his left side free of any proof of revenge. His left leg. His left foot.
Ethan helped to spin Maddox around so I could clean his whole right side.
I asked, “How about another breath?”
His back stretched.
“Thank you.”
Under the spray of the water, I scrubbed his back, sure to be gentle around the bullet hole.
Gage had told Ethan and Finn about what he’d witnessed. But now, knowing Maddox was able to withstand bullets, was even more mind-blowing.
After asking Ethan to help Maddox face the water again, I asked our friend, “Can you sit for me?”
Maddox knelt in the tub, sitting on his feet.
Starting to hum, I cleaned his shoulders and neck. I kept humming as I lathered his hair.
His head drooped, his voice so weak. “Van Morrison.”
Loving to hear him finally speak, I smiled. “Yes, Seb sang me one of his songs in a sad shower, like yours now. I researched the song. Feels right to hum it now.”
Maddox grabbed my hand, then pulled it to his damp cheek. He sighed. “Noma loved his music.”
Sometimes things happen that appear small at first glance, yet are truly monumental. One puzzle piece creating many more to fall into place.
Suddenly, Maddox arched in the tub, sucking in air. His face to the ceiling, fresh water moved—not dripped—all over his body.
Ethan and I looked at each other in disbelief, then back to Maddox.
His body soon eased before he sighed. “She found me.”
Once we got Maddox into Noma’s bed and he was fast asleep, we closed the door because the house was getting noisy with a little girl loving her new freedom, so many things completely unknown to her.
I took a step in Bluebell’s direction but was confused when Ethan led me back to the bathroom. He shut the door, then stood behind me, spinning me to face the mirror above the sink.
I gasped. I was covered in blood, too.
Watching me through the mirror, he lifted my pajama shirt, exposing my breasts and smeared shoulders. Not taking his eyes off mine in the shared reflection, he slid his hands down my torso, his fingers featherlight along the trim of my PJ pants, then pushed them down, exposing all my nakedness.
My skin was laced with murder, yet I saw none of it. Only deep blue, bottomless eyes and loving hands.
The water was turned back on and, this time, it was me being showered with love. From head to toe, I was cleansed of the night and day that made it so we couldn’t go home. So that we couldn’t hug the only parents we’d had for the last few years.
Ethan at my back, a gentle finger lifted my chin and tilted it, so I could be blessed with the kiss I had been waiting for.
It wasn’t out of desire, but being affected by a dream connection.
It wasn’t a silent warning that my life was in danger.
It was… an innocent vow of how much he loved me and always would.
I wanted more. Ethan wanted more.
And that time would come.
First, we had to care for our growing family. The new addition. And the past.
After digging through bags for clothes, then checking on Maddox, I was surprised to find Kristen feeding Bluebell in the kitchen. Bluebell was in fresh little-girl clothes that fit her perfectly. Her hair was brushed and in a ponytail with a blue bow.
Kristen pointed to a Dora the Explorer backpack. “There are some more items in there, but that’s all I had in my trunk. I can’t be seen or recorded buying more due to investigators about to be swarming this town.”
I understood. “Thank you.”
Kristen, sitting at a table with Bluebell, added more cereal to her bowl. “All our phones have been destroyed. You will have new ones soon.”
These men were doing their best to think of everything to keep us safe and hidden. “With us all together, there’s no one to call anymore, I guess.”
I looked to Ethan, who had the same sad expression as me. No parents. Again.
Sarah quietly admitted, “They were the best I knew.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Have they been found yet?”
Regret owning her expression, she shook her head. “I’ve been told this is good news. Buying us time for solutions.”
“Are… they just… lying there?”
She stood and took hold of my shoulders. “What matters is that they are watching over us, hoping we figure out this very complicated situation.”
What to do with a bunch of foster kids.
“The men helping you believe you guys would rather be on the run than be separated.”
Ethan stepped to my back, speaking over my head. “That’s true.”
As if not completely convinced this was for the best, Kristen told us both, “That’s why some narratives have been created to calm down the heat. All morning, these men have been trying to set up a story so that you all can live a different life. Right or wrong, I think we can trust them.”
Maddox did. I would, too. “So, we can go with Johnny?”
“That’s what he’s demanding.”
Even though he just took a bullet for me, it felt good to know he was fighting for us behind our backs, too.
Kristen added, “But he’s as shattered as the rest of you, so we’re trying to reason with him.”
She had to understand… “No, he’s right, Kristen. This whole time, I’ve felt we need to be with him. I’m starting to think it makes us stronger.”
“Listen, two cops will be found murdered. Two foster parents deceased. And five registered foster children MIA.” She sucked in air.
“This is huge. It means goodbye to a baseball scholarship. Goodbye to graduating high school. Goodbye to California. Goodbye to your identities, and hello to new ones and a magnitude of lies.”
I thought of Maddox’s relief when I knew who he truly was, then covered my mouth.
Kristen exhaled. “Yes. This is bigger than what we’ve already faced together, and that is saying a whole lot.”
After a moment for the magnitude to sink in, Ethan asked, “Kristen, what happens to you? Will you be implicated somehow?”
She released my shoulders with a tiredness and concern for her own future.
“We’re hoping not, but I was just seen with Monroe yesterday.
” Hands in the air, she shrugged. “I’ll be interviewed, at least.” She went back to Bluebell.
“So, yeah. Sweet and honorable Harmony and Dale want to give all of us every second they can.”
Leaving Bluebell and Kristen in the kitchen, Ethan and I joined everyone else outside.
I brought them a slew of water bottles, which were greatly appreciated.
It was surreal because the sun was bright and uplifting, but there was a medium-sized fire in the backyard, burning soiled clothes and a torn-down shed.
I was quite sure that below those items blazed a pulverized figure who would never hurt another child.
I’d eventually learn that the bones would be discarded elsewhere, and that bleach is an ‘old remedy that can cause havoc for and in any expert lab’, but first I noticed a wooden casket being built in the corner of the yard.
My feet moved before I could stop them. I was suddenly standing next to it, holding the edge. Looking to Styx, the man building it, I was not sure if I should be thankful or irreversibly sad, all over again.
As if completely wise to my array of complicated emotions, Styx sighed. “Oh, how life can keep kicking us down.”