Page 36 of Right in Front of You

MOLLY, AGE 20

As soon asCarter left with his father, I ran to Doctor Burke’s office in town.

“Can I be of any help?” I asked.

“I’m going to head on over to the fire. I don’t suppose we’ll get many people here because everyone is heading for the barn, but in case there’s an emergency… yes, please stay here, Molly. You can call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

While Doctor Burke headed toward the fire, I took over the reception area of his office, praying no one would be hurt. A herd of townspeople passed by the window as they made their way toward the commotion a mile or so to the east. My seven-year-old brother opened the door to the office.

“Molly, there’s a fire. A barn is on fire!”

“I know. What are you doing here? Where’s Mom?”

“She’s at the grocery store. She said to come here where it’s safe.”

“You don’t want to go home?” I asked.

“No.” He shook his head. “Mom saw Father wandering around town.”

My stomach swirled, and my heart stopped for a few seconds. He wasn’t supposed to be back. Not yet. Had I made a mistake by coming back to Hope Bay? He didn’t know that I was back, did he?

“When did this happen?” My voice shook and my palms started sweating.

“She was looking for you too, but by the time we got to Auntie Jo’s wake, you were already gone.” Even though they weren’t related, Nathan had always referred to my best friend as his auntie.

“Oh… did she say where she saw him?”

He shook his head.

“But she said it was safe here,” he repeated.

“Yes, of course it is. Do you want some pencil crayons?” I asked, not wanting to raise the level of his fears. Ever since my mother had thrown Father out of the house, she’d been protecting Nathan, and so would I. She was afraid Father would get to him the same way he got to me, except she didn’t know just how much Father had hurt me. I did, and I’d do anything to keep my little brother safe.

Nathan had a knack for arts and crafts, and his eyes grew wide when I showed him the new coloring book I’d bought but hadn’t had a chance to give him. I took him to the back room, where he settled into his drawing groove. He looked so innocent. I could have stared at him all day long, but the front door chimed and so I went back to see who’d come in.

Holding a case of water and some muffins Jo’s father had packed for the wake, Mrs. Gladstone pushed the door open with her wide behind.

“Let me help you with that.” I grabbed the case from her and set it beside the counter.

“I thought people would come here with injuries.”

“Let’s hope we won’t have too many of those.” I smiled.

“That fire is blazing hot.” She placed her hands on her hips and gave a tired exhalation.

“Have you seen Carter? Is he all right?”

“Oh, dear. I didn’t even get that close to the action. The sheriff blocked off access. Too many kids were interested in the commotion. Even Betsy won’t stop mooing. Can I use the bathroom before I go back to see if they need help?”

“Go ahead. Nathan and I are the only ones here.”

“Thank you, dear.”

As soon as she left, the front door opened again and my heart stopped. The perfectly executed smirk on his face gave me the chills, and I felt weak in my knees.

“Wh… what are you doing here?”

---