Page 97 of Hush Darling
Let them live vicariously through her adventures, she thought, no longer caring about how they judged her. At least she had an adventure to speak of.
And who was to say that adventure had to be her last? If she wanted to get out of this cage, she only needed to flip the latch and leave. Fear was the only thing holding her there.
Rising from the bed, she went to the window and opened the glass. The wind kicked up the tails of her coat like heavy sails. If she closed her eyes, she could vaguely scent the salt air coming from the coast. And if she concentrated hard enough, she could imagine the rocking creak of a ship.
Turning to face the nursery, she looked at the room dispassionately. It was a time capsule that would prevent her from growing up as long as she stayed safely inside.
She went to the sewing kit, where she hid her money and counted her savings. It was enough to get back to the Isles of Kassel, but how far would she have to go to find James? He could be anywhere by now.
Her mind spun like a compass, whirling wildly over all the possible places he could have gone. It wouldn’t take long for her to spend her savings, and then how would she survive?
A devious thought took hold. The old Wendy might be easily defeated, but she was no longer that malleable, obedient girl anymore. Even if it came to stealing, she would do what she must to find James.
Red-Handed Jill was going to see her Black Jack again.
Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she imagined falling into his arms. He said he didn’t know how to love, but that wasn’t true. Love was acceptance, and James accepted her without condition. He wanted all of her—the light and the shadows—and she wanted all of him.
Mind made up, she zipped her travel bag and changed into jeans. The coat she’d come to love rested comfortably on her shoulders as she looked back at the nursery one last time. There was no hesitation as she shut the door to her past and turned toward her future.
Her parents’ bedroom door was closed, a dim light shining beneath the crack. Wendy would call them in the morning, not to justify her decision but to save them worry.
Tiptoeing down the stairs to not wake Nana, she quietly unlocked the door. This was it. She was finally doing what she wanted and through trying to please everyone else.
Slipping into the cold night, she shut the front door with a soft click and turned the key.
Sometimes, her mind played tricks on her, and as she turned, her blood chilled. In the shadows of the streetlamp, a figure stood, much like James, with natural authority and dispassionate ease.
“He’s not real,” she whispered, but the shadow moved to the gate in a way only James moved.
“Going somewhere?”
She didn’t trust her eyes. Her gaze dropped to his hand. If he were really standing there, his hand would be gone, but the ruffled cuff of his jacket hid it from view.
“It’s gone.”
Her breath hitched. That was his voice. Only he could send chills racing down her spine like that.
“Are you really here?” she whispered, pinching herself to see if she felt the pain and gasped when the sting registered.
“I’m sure I’m the last person you want to see?—”
“No,” she stopped him right there, tossing the bag off her shoulder and onto the pavement as proof. “I was coming to find you.”
“You’re running away?” His gaze flicked from the bag back to her.
“I was running to you.”
“Why?”
A shaky smile skated across her lips, and her confidence wavered. What if he didn’t feel their connection as deeply as she did? “You’re all I think about.”
“In what way?”
She bit her lip. “Every possible way I can. You’re my happy thought.”
He glanced away and cursed under his breath. “Don’t toy with me, darling.”
“I’m not. You’re all I’ve thought about since I left the Never Lands.” Heat crawled up her neck. “At night—when I’m alone—it’s intolerable.”
