After the Fall

real. She knew what it was like, and so did Chuy.

He even helped her by contacting her aunt’s ex-husband, who was driving in from North Dakota. When he read a Berenstain Bears book to Emma, Megan asked him to do voices as he read. Naomi couldn’t help but smile when his voice went up three octaves when he read the momma bear’s part.

“I hope she’s not in pain,” Naomi said as she watched Emma’s little chest rise and fall. “Do you think she can feel anything?”

“I don’t think so.” Jeremy’s voice was somber as he also focused his attention on Emma. “I’ve been doing this for a long time. I must have taken hundreds of children to the other side. I still can’t get used to it.”

“Really?”

He looked down at her, his eyes sad. “Yeah. They’re so full of life, so trusting.”

Naomi glanced over at Chuy just as his hands gently brushed back Emma’s hair out of her face, and she thought of Welita. She wondered how Welita was reacting to Chuy almost getting killed. She hadn’t been able to follow Chuy when he left the hospital briefly to visit Welita. Knowing Chuy, he probably hadn’t told her, or if he had, he’d played it down.

The thought that Chuy could have died, leaving Welita all alone, tore her heart. If only she could see her, somehow she would let her know that she was watching over her.

“Naomi?” Jeremy placed an arm around her shoulder. “What is it?”

She looked up into blue eyes that looked at her tenderly. “I need to see my grandmother. Please,” she breathed.

He held her eyes for a moment and then pulled her to him, pressing her against his chest. She heard his heart pounding frantically. She knew she should pull away, but she couldn’t help herself. She felt so alone, and he was her friend.

Lips pressed against the top of her head, and he sighed. “I know it’s been hard for you. I’ll find a way for you to see her.”

She squeezed him tight. “Thank you.”

When she looked up at him, the raw emotion on his face took her breath away. Intense eyes searched her face and then rested on her lips. Slowly, he ducked his head, lips parting.

A voice inside her told her to let go, step away.

“I can’t stand this anymore!”

Jeremy jumped at the sound of Megan’s voice.

Naomi pulled back and watched Megan as she rose from her chair and paced the room.

That was close. She couldn’t let that happen again.

“Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?” Chuy said, placing the book down on his lap. “I’ll stay with her until you come back.”

“No, it’s not that.” She pressed her hands against her forehead and shut her eyes. “It’s just that this didn’t have to happen. If we weren’t getting all these quakes, the pipes would’ve never gotten damaged, and Aunt Verna would still be here, and Emma...Emma would...”

Red blotches appeared on her face and she choked on tears.

Chuy immediately stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

She sobbed into his chest. “It’s not right. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“Megan, you’ve been here twenty-four hours straight. You need to get some sleep. You’ll feel better,” he said as he rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.

She shook her head. “No, I can’t just sit back and let them get away with this. All my life I’ve been pushed around. I never fought back because I thought I deserved it. I thought I was nothing. I’m not nothing. I am somebody.”

“Of course you are. What do you want to do?”

Megan sniffed. “I want to take Prescott Oil down. I just know this is happening because of all the fracking they’re doing. It’s messing up the land somehow. I even heard that they’re putting something in the water.”

“I don’t know, Megan.” He brushed a hand through his thick hair. “People have been saying that for years. There are entire organizations that have tried to bring them down. No one can touch them, and they’re gonna keep growing.”

Megan shook her head. “I don’t care. I’ll find a way. I’ll go to the media. Wait a minute.” She paused, furrowing her brow, deep in thought. Then her eyes widened, and she snapped her fingers. “You work for them. Maybe you can find out what they’re doing. I’m sure they’re doing things illegally.”

“I can’t do that. I don’t want to lose my job.”

“You still want to work for them? Emma doesn’t have a mother anymore because of them.”

“You don’t understand, Megan.” His voice was somber. “I have to take care of my family.”

“You could’ve died too, Chuy! Who would’ve taken care of your family then? I bet you wouldn’t go back to work for them if Prescott Oil killed your family.”

Naomi’s breath hitched as she watched Chuy’s brown eyes darken and his nostrils flare. His voice was low and steady as he looked intently at Megan. “I lost my uncle when Jane Sutherland killed him in a car accident. My cousin tried fighting back, and days later, she disappeared.”

“Oh, Chuy,” Naomi whispered as she felt tears stinging her eyes.

“I know she’s dead. I felt it the moment it happened. It was like a part of me disappeared that day.” His voice was thick. “I can’t help but think that somehow Luke Prescott was involved in all of it.”

Megan placed a hand on his arm, speaking softly. “Then how can you still work for them?”

“I have no choice!” He spun around and headed toward the window. Looking out with his back to her, he said, “They took everything away from us. Everything! I couldn’t get a job anywhere.”

Megan went to him and placed a hand on his back. “I’m so sorry.”

He turned to face her. “Believe me, I tried. I got a lot of interviews, but every time I showed up, it was like suddenly the job was no longer available. The only one who offered me work was the Prescott Oil training program. I didn’t even apply for it! I got a letter offering me a job. Lalo got the same letter two days later. We thought it was offered to everyone who lived in the neighborhoods that were bought out by the company.”

Chuy sank into the chair under the windowsill and dropped his head into his hands. “I sold out. I didn’t know what to do. I’m sorry, Naomi. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. God, I wish I had her strength.”

Tears streamed down Naomi’s face as she went to Chuy. She placed a hand on his head, wishing he could feel her. “It’s okay, Chuy. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help. I’m here for you now.”

Chuy lifted his head and looked around.

“What is it?” Megan asked.

He tilted his head as if listening.

Naomi’s eyes widened, and she looked to Jeremy. “Can he hear me?”

“It’s doubtful, but I think he can sense you,” he replied.

After a moment, Chuy shook his head. “Never mind.” He took a deep breath and reached for Megan’s hand. “Look, I know if Naomi were still here, she’d want me to help you.”

Her face lit up. “Will you?”

“Yeah, but we only have a brief window to do this. All Prescott Oil employees were given time off to attend the senator’s presidential campaign announcement Friday. You can get national media coverage there.”

“I don’t have any proof to expose them, or anything that will at least get the feds to investigate them.”

Chuy stood and reached for his cell phone. “Yeah, let me give Lalo a call.”

“Lalo?” Megan and Naomi voiced at the same time.

“They have him doing janitorial work in the offices where they keep confidential information. He can get into their servers and dig up some information for us.”

“He can?” Megan and Naomi said in unison.

Chuy grinned. “Lalo has mad computer skills that would make even Mark Zuckerberg drool.”

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