Who-knows-how-many miles outside of Harrisburg, Bryan turned onto a deserted road that wound through luscious fir trees. His shiny sedan plowed her way through inches-deep snow, then angled down a winding driveway that dead-ended in front of a house large enough to be a lodge.
“This is where you live? It’s breathtaking.” If I snapped a photo right now, of this lodge nestled among the evergreens, it’d make the perfect Christmas card.
“It better be.” He shut off the car as two bundled-up figures trudged through the snow toward us. A golden retriever lolloped along behind. “The Guardians lorded over every detail of this place, from design to construction.”
“The Guardians?” I cocked my head at him, unsure if I’d heard him right.
“Incoming,” he pointed at the passenger side window. Subtle.
As soon as I opened my car door, Bryan’s mom wrapped me in a giant hug. “I’m Cindy. It’s so good to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Coo—, uh, Cindy.” I hugged her back.
“Brooke has been talking about you non-stop. Ever since she got home with Abby.” She put her arm around me and led me down the driveway. “You’ve been so good for her, helping her come out of her shell. We’re so grateful.”
The golden retriever jumped up, its paws landing near my shoulders. Foul breath assaulted my frozen nose as I dodged its lolling tongue.
“Down, Ginger.” Cindy patted the dog’s golden fur. Ginger landed on all fours and followed Cindy to the front door. At the porch, she called back. “Mark, don’t forget the bags.”
Mark towered over me, offering a lanky arm. “Hi, Lucy, nice to meet you. That’s my cue.” Hard to guess where Bryan got his broad shoulders.
I plowed through the snow after Cindy, leaving the guys to their luggage duty. She ushered me into the foyer where I shook off snowflakes under a vaulted ceiling.
As I hung my parka on the coat rack, Brooke rushed up to me. “Lucy, I’m so glad you’re here.” She squeezed me tight around the waist.
A lanky girl hovered behind Brooke, unable to hide because she stood a good six inches taller. She fidgeted with her long blonde hair, twirling it around her index finger.
“Don’t be shy.” Brooke motioned the girl over. “This is my older sister, Abby.”
“Nice to meet you.” Abby’s face broke into a smile as warm as her mom’s. “You look so much like your brother.”
“Hello, she’s a girl. That’s not very nice,” Brooke scrunched her forehead at her sister.
“Oh, that’s not what I meant. I’m sorry. It’s just with the dark hair and those big brown eyes. Just like James . . .” Abby’s blue eyes darted from Brooke back to me as she resumed her hair twirling.
“Don’t worry about it. I actually think that’s a compliment, especially now.” I shrugged it off as my brother’s goofy grin flashed in my mind. I wish James was in Europe somewhere, having the time of his life no doubt. Yeah, right. I wish. More like running from Nexis, no doubt. Pressure built behind my eyes at all the what-ifs whirring in my brain. But I couldn’t go there. Not right now.
“I’m sure you miss him a lot.” Abby grabbed my hand, just like Bryan would if he was here. “I know just the thing to cheer you up. You wanna see your room?”
Without waiting for answer, she gripped my hand and tugged me across the fluffy entry rug, then down a hardwood-lined hallway.
“Here we are.” She gestured to the perfect little white and oak room. “Maybe later we can talk about your brother, if you’re up for it.”
“I’d like that.” I couldn’t help but smile at that. “I love talking with people who knew James.”
“Great. Maybe tonight after dinner.” She offered me a James-like grin. Then she slipped out of the room, her long blond hair swishing in waves behind her.
The guest room was small but comfortable room, complete with soft white carpet, a white quilted bedspread, and matching oak furniture. I padded over to the window, taking in the snowy scene outside. Tall pines fringed the backyard, almost like the landscape hanging over the bed. The cavernous ceiling was pristine with beautiful rustic beams, but it wasn’t my room. Back home, I’d filled my room with color and random doodles—my own organized mess.
Out of nowhere, an overwhelming wave of homesickness washed over me, gnawing my bones with its icy loneliness. This would be the first Christmas I’d ever spent away from home. Even if things weren’t right with my family, they were still my family. And I missed them.
I reached for the phone to dial my dad’s number, but my finger froze mid-air. What would I say to him if he answered? Hey, Dad. Sorry I don’t wanna come home and face all the drama of my stalker ex-boyfriend and keep secrets from my sister about our brother who is really our half-brother. Yeah, I’m sure that’d go over real well.
Instead, I set the phone on the nightstand in easy reach in case they decided to call and check in on me.
Tucking my suitcase under the bed, I curled up in a ball on the giant four-poster bed. In a house full of familiar strangers, I felt so alone. All the emotions I’d held in since the attack churned in my gut, threatening to bubble over.
Sheer anger rose to the surface. My blood boiled as I tried to shove the memories of Jake back into the dark pit from which they’d come from.
I couldn’t understand it, couldn’t wrap my brain around it. Flashes of that night played in my head. Jake shaking me, yanking my arm out of its socket. Trying to take me God knows where so Nexis could do who knew what with me. If it wasn’t for Angel, my angel, who knew what would’ve happened? To think, I used to date that guy. And the whole time he’d
