Page 64 of Tempest at Annabel's Lighthouse
No!
She was in prison even here, standing on the shore of Lake Superior, her hair whipping wildly about her. She was caged by the knowledge of a man whose will superseded her well-being. She was never to be free. Never to be her own person. Even her mind had locked her away behind bars made of foggy, dark memories.
Abel’s hands once again grasped her shoulders, turning her gently yet firmly to meet his frigid yet somehow warm and inviting gaze. “What about your babe?” he asked. “Think of the child. You must protect it from those who seek to harm you!”
“What about my brother?” she snapped. “There’s no one to protecthimfrom my father.” Rebecca’s eyes burned, and she did little to hold back the tears that rolled down her cheeks. “I don’t know this child or its father, but I know my brother. I canfeelhim. And I will not desert him.” She spat the words, which were like a confession being dragged from her unwillingly.
“Rebecca, you—”
“Stop!” She slammed her palms into Abel’s chest, shoving him away from her. “Leave me.” The agony of her blocked memories, the trauma of her latest assault, and the dread of what she was yet to face all overwhelmed her. It hindered any ability to conceptualize her next steps. And the baby’s presence inside of her had stolen the last fragments of a life that had once been pure and hopeful.
Abel stiffened, his chest heaving. “I won’t let you go.”
“Youmust!” Rebecca yelled. The waves had grown fiercer, crashing now onto the rocks below, spray shooting upward.
“No!” Abel set his mouth in a grim line. “You will not return to your father!”
“I will!” She took another step backward.
“Please, Rebecca, don’t do this.”
“Let me go, Abel.”
“I can’t!” he insisted.
“Why not?” she screamed.
“Because your baby ismine!” Abel’s declaration rose louder than the waves, louder than the wind, and louder than the pounding of her own heart.
Air escaped her as though she’d been gutted. She stared at Abel with her mouth agape, his bold claim having ripped the words from her throat.
Abel’s eyes were pleading. He didn’t touch her, but he might as well have. He might as well have bound her to him in that moment and in a way she could not make sense of. “Your baby is mine, Rebecca.I’mthe father.”
She closed and then opened her mouth again to ask questions, to try to comprehend the meaning of what she’d just heard.
Abel’s voice dropped in volume as he bent close so that she could hear him above the lake’s insistent roar. Rebecca felt his breath on her face. She could imagine she felt the pounding of his heart resonating so loudly between them that the vibrations collided with her own.
“I belong to you, Rebecca. You are mywife.”
25
SHEA
Of many far wiser than we...
Annabel Lee
ANNABEL’S LIGHTHOUSE
PRESENT DAY
AFTER A PHONECALLwith her editor Pat, Shea had a bit of leniency regarding not only the direction of her manuscript but its deadline as well. Considering she’d spent the night in the hospital, running on restless sleep in a semi-comfortable recliner, and already sick of cafeteria food, Shea had officially called off the mission of writing and self-care for this trip.
The trip was now one of mere survival, and a huge part of her was ready to end her stay at the lighthouse and take Pete home the minute he was released from the hospital.
A groan from the bed alerted Shea to Pete’s wakening. He’dbeen awake much of yesterday, though Dr. Sturgeon had strongly advised Shea against drilling Pete for details about his fall while he was still heavily medicated.
“The details will come out eventually. We don’t want to stress him out right now. If things look good, he can go home tomorrow.” Dr. Sturgeon’s smile was laced with directive, and Shea had complied.
