Page 62 of That Summer

Her breaths grew shallower and shallower. “It’s sneaking in. It’s sneaking in.” Her fists were clenched as tight as her eyes.

“Okay,” he said, trying to remain calm.

Distract. Distract. Distract.

“I want you to think of Nate. Right now.” Chris mentioned how he needed to be firm in his tone, but he was terrified of scaring her further. He swallowed and spoke with authority. “Tell me what you see.”

White-knuckling, he turned onto the service road. They were so close now. Could he keep her focused on Nate for long enough to get them to stop number two?

“I see Momma beside me.” She inhaled.

Oh shit. Yellow light.

With his attention focused on her, he hadn’t been watching the lights and planning accordingly. It was either gun it through or come to a full stop.

Shit!

Pedal to the floor, he increased the speed and drove through. It turned red half-way into the intersection.

Keep her focused.

“Where’s Nate?”

“He’s not there.”

Dammit, another red light.

He glanced all around. Cars in every direction. A strip mall ahead, not ideal, but at this point in time, it’s better than having her breakdown in the middle of 50th Street.

Should I still chance the VIC? It’s only a kilometer away.

Trying to keep the panic from his voice, he swallowed down his fear and said, “Look harder, do you see him? Is he in the background somewhere?”

From the corner of his eye, she shrunk further into the seat. “It’s too dark.”

No… oh God, she’s about to go under.

He squeezed the steering wheel in anger. Not angry with her, just mad that traffic wasn’t moving fast enough.

Doesn’t anyone know what’s going on in here?

He breathed out in a huff. In trying to keep her collected, and himself to a small degree, he rested his hand over hers. Geez, it was cold. Like ice. “Keep looking. I’m sure he’s there. Take a few more steps.”

Relief settled over him as a smile broke out and she said, “I found him.”

“What’s he doing?”

Finally!The parking lot was ahead, but he needed to wait for the car in front of him to inch through the intersection first.

Move it, buddy.

“He’s looking at me, but he’s smiling and seems very happy.”

Great.

Turning the car into the parking lot, he parked in the first available spot. Aurora continued her focus on whatever image played out in her head, so he jumped out and raced over to her door. Wiping away a bead of sweat and throwing out the tinge of fear he had, he opened her door.

“I figured you needed some air,” he said, hoping to sound casual.