Page 53 of Tucker
Herushes to her and they hug while I consider pulling his arms off like the wingsfrom a fly. “Leah, I just heard.” He runs his gaze over her. “Are you okay? Areyou hurt?”
“I’mokay. I wasn’t hurt. We’re waiting to hear about our friend.” She suddenlyrealizes she’s being watched by a room full of people and her gaze flicks tomine before she turns back to him and says, “Let’s talk out in the hall.”
Theboyfriend. I’d forgotten about him.
Afew minutes later, she reappears and sits beside me again. It’s not the time toquestion her about him, so all I ask is, “Did he leave?”
Shenods. “I told him I’d call him later. He doesn’t really know anyone here and itshould be just us. Just family.” Her head falls back to my shoulder, and I wrapmy arm around her.
There’sa boom in the distance, followed by another and all of us are on our feet in asecond before Dare points to the window.
Fireworks.
It’sthe Fourth of July and the big fireworks are going off at the river.
Nomatter the tragedy, life just keeps going on around us with cruel indifference.
Thedoctor enters and asks for Frannie’s family. “Her mother is on her way,” Zoesays. “But it’ll be a few hours. I’m her sister. Please, tell me she’s going tobe okay.”
Nobodyblinks at Zoe’s lie. It’s the only way they’ll tell us anything.
“I’mvery sorry,” the doctor says. “We did everything we could, but she lost toomuch blood. We couldn’t save her.”
Leahcollapses against me as Zoe’s cry echoes around the room.
* * * *
“Ijust need to be alone for a little while,” Leah tells me. Though it tears me upto watch her suffer and not be able to help, I nod and kiss her forehead.
“I’llbe in my workshop.”
Leahgrabs her bottle of water and walks out toward the large field behind my place.She sat out there for a while yesterday too, and it seemed to help her get herhead together, so I’m not surprised when she returns today.
Todaywas Frannie’s funeral. It’s been four days since the shooting and Leah hasn’tleft my side except to sit in the field.
Dandelionshave taken it over and her feet send thousands of white puffs into the airaround her, but she’s oblivious in her sadness. She looks so beautifulsurrounded by the cottony tufts. All I want to do is help her get through this.
Leahis always so full of childlike happiness. The way she gets excited over thelittlest things, the way she sees beauty where no one else thinks to look; Idon’t want her to lose that. Especially because three brainwashed assholesdecided to wipe out a bunch of people who never did anything to them.
Theguys in question were in their young twenties and had been part of a cult thatpreached against consumerism and greed. In their heads, a shopping mall was anevil place. All three were killed by agents during the raid. It’s too bad. Iwould’ve loved to get my hands on them.
Twenty-twopeople died. Twenty-two pointless deaths. It’s a hard fact to face, and I thinkLeah is having just as much trouble dealing with the fact she lived when somany—including a friend—died. Frannie and Leah weren’t close. They’d only hungout a few times, but she was one of them, part of their little group. It’sgoing to take her a while to come to terms with things.
Inthe meantime, she’s staying with me. I haven’t really given her a choice, butshe has no desire to go home anyway. Being surrounded by the peace and quiet ofnature seems to help after so much chaos.
Darehasn’t objected, although I know he doesn’t like it. He’s too busy trying tocomfort Ayda. None of the guys are really talking much since we’re all focusedon helping the women in our lives.
ExceptJeremy.
Jeremyand Frannie had an on again off again relationship for the last few years.Everyone assumed they’d end up together eventually. I wasn’t really sure howmuch Jeremy cared for her until I watched his reaction to her death.
I’dsay he closed down, but that would be an understatement. He won’t talk toanyone about it and has stayed locked up at his place ever since. Justus hasbeen checking in on him, especially after he missed her funeral today. Heswears he’s okay, just hurting. Like Leah, he wants some space.
Leahleans back on her hands and tilts her face towards the sky, soaking in the sun.I’ve never felt such fear when she was in danger and I know now I never want tobe without her. I don’t want to overwhelm her right now, but I won’t wait longto tell her the words that have been itching the tip of my tongue since I sawher walk out of the haze of tear gas unharmed.
Ilove her. I need to say it.
Ifshe had died there and I’d never had the chance to tell her, I’m not sure Icould’ve lived with it.
