Page 103 of Red Mountain Burning
Nightmares
Brooks woke to a woman screaming, and it took him a minute to come to his senses. Peeling his eyes open, he saw Adriana, lying on her stomach, striking the bed like she was fighting off an attack. Her next gut-wrenching scream jolted him to reality.
He reached for her. “Hey, baby. It’s a nightmare. That’s all. It’s just another nightmare.”
Adriana struck the bed again with her fists, screaming, “Let go!”
Brooks shook her shoulder forcefully. “Adriana! Everything’s okay. You’re having a bad dream.”
She came out of it like someone had slapped her face.
As she made her own journey back to consciousness, Brooks rolled over and put his hand on her cheek.
She pushed him away. “I’m okay.”
Once she was fully awake, he said, “You really need to talk to someone, A. This has been happening for months now. It’s not healthy.”
Ignoring him as usual when it came to her seeking help, she asked, “What time is it?”
He turned to the digital clock on the nightstand. “Three.”
She sighed, threw her legs off the bed, and mumbled something about getting a drink of water.
Returning his head to the pillow, he listened to her movements in the bathroom, wondering what he could do. He didn’t like how she buried her feelings. It was like these nightmares were the only time she allowed herself to feel at all.
When she slipped back into bed, she said, “We can talk about it later, okay?” She kissed his forehead. “Go to sleep.”
“But we won’t talk about it,” Brooks said. “You never want to talk about it, especially if Zack is anywhere in the house. I’m serious. You need to see someone.”
He braced for her to scold him for the suggestion, wondering why she was so strongly opposed to seeing a therapist.
“I’m dealing with it my own way,” she said.
“That might not be enough, A. You were in an abusive relationship for a long time. Before that, it was your father. I’m not sure waiting for these feelings to go away is the right answer. No offense, but I don’t see you dealing with it at all.”
“I appreciate you worrying about me, Brooks, but this is my fight.”
“That’s always the way it is with you. Your fight. Neverourfight. You know who I’m really worried about? Zack. He can sense all this stuff going on inside you. That’s why he’s been a handful lately. He’s just mirroring everything going on at home.” Brooks felt like he’d just pulled back the string on a bow and loaded the arrow for her.
She popped up, ready to shoot. “Don’t you think I know that about Zack? And can’t you see I’m doing the best I can?”
“I do see that,” he admitted, “and I think you’re an incredible mother. What I wish is that sometimes you’d accept a little help. Let’s do the bestwecan to get past your life with Michael and to give Zack the leg up he needs.”
Adriana turned away from him, shaking her head. After a long pause, she turned back. “I’m doing my best.”
“Lean on me a little bit, Adriana. Stop taking on the world by yourself.”
* * *
At Lacoda,Brooks was still thinking about Adriana when Carmen burst into his office without a knock. “What the hell have you done?”
He whipped his head toward her like she’d bitten his arm. “What?”
“You told Emilia you’d give her a job?”
“Now, hold on. I told her to talk to you and Jake.”
“You told her you’d give her a job.” Carmen could win awards for the way she delivered her accusations.
