Page 48 of Final Escape
Carrie expected to face the woman’s anger over whatever issue had precipitated Noah’s withdrawal from summer school. The look of defeat in Linda’s eyes caught her off guard. “I’m so glad to see you two. I’ve missed Noah in class.”
Linda’s gaze darted protectively toward the boy, then skated back to Carrie. “Well, he won’t be back. Not this summer, anyway.”
“But—”
“Please, just drop it. I— It isn’t possible.”
“I only want to help,” Carrie said softly.
Linda swallowed hard. “His father has done everything he can to shelter Noah after what he’s been through. Undue attention just makes things worse.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“But it happened. And it was all I could do to convince David to stay in Granite Falls and let Noah come back to school here in the fall. He thinks his son needs a fresh start elsewhere, where no one knows about Sheryl’s death and no one will ever bring it up. I think Noah needs familiar surroundings, but I’m not the one to decide.” She glanced again at the boy, and lowered her voice. “Look, his father and I do know about the pictures he draws. He’s done them at home—many of them. The counselor says he’s trying to deal with his mother’s death this way. We’re keeping him close to home for the rest of the summer, where he can feel safe with the last two people he has left in this world. Understand?”
“I can only imagine how hard this has been for all of you. If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.”
“What you can do is just leave us alone. Don’t be telling people about his drawings and how troubled he is. Understand? I know he’s got problems. His father and I are dealing with them, best we can.” She closed her eyes briefly, then continued in a lower tone. “When you talked to the principal, he had his secretary contact us. We don’t want Noah labeled as being ‘disturbed,’ understand?”
“But I didn’t—”
“It’s all the same, if people talk about his ‘crazy pictures.’ Dottie is one of the biggest gossips in town, and now that could happen.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Everyone knows about Sheryl’s murder. They don’t need to make Noah an object of pity or curiosity.”
“Honestly, I didn’t know they were Noah’s drawings until that day. I was just worried about the child who’d anonymously left them for me. I thought it might just be the usual stuff fifth-grade boys like to draw, yet...”
“Look, Noah still has nightmares. He wakes up screaming several times a week. Sometimes he awakens and cries into his pillow for his mom, trying to avoid waking up my brother and me. During the day, it’s better. But...well, the counselors say it will just take a long time.” Linda glanced down the street and shifted uneasily. “He wasmortifiedwhen you asked the class who might have drawn those pictures. So just leave us alone. You’ve done enough damage as it is.”
* * *
LOGAN HELPED THE LASTGirl Scout out of the raft, then pulled it higher up the bank and took off his life jacket and tossed it back in the raft.
By the time he turned back to group, Carrie had already emerged from the office and was helping the girls and their leaders with their own life jackets.
She was dressed in a pretty pink top and khaki shorts today, colors that emphasized her deepening tan. He needed to stop noticing what she wore and how she looked.
Since he’d told her about competing in rodeos, there had been a wall of ice between them that time was never going to melt. And that was just as well.
He’d be leaving in a few weeks—unless the murder investigation forced him to stay—and wouldn’t be back for six months. Even if the impossible occurred and she deigned to give him the time of day, he already knew how well long-distance relationships worked. Not at all.
When the last girl climbed back on the shuttle bus, Carrie dusted off her hands. “Nice group.”
“Sharper than the last group of adults Tina took down the river. Did she tell you about them?”
Carrie’s pretty bow of a mouth tipped up briefly. “I believe that was the group with the lady who asked about when Montana’s deer molted and turned into elk.”
He laughed. “I just want to know how Tina handled that one. I think I would have lost it, right then and there.”
“City folks.” She grabbed an armload of life jackets and wrestled them into the boathouse, where she began hanging them on a row of pegs by size.
He grabbed the last three and followed her. “You don’t seem as chipper as usual. Is something wrong?”
She settled the last life jacket into place. “No.”
“There is, too.” He cracked a smile. “Was someone rude on the phone?”
