Page 3 of Running to You

Trying to emulate his brother’s soothing tone, Sam said, “Is that all right with you, Eliza?”

She seemed to relax at the use of her name. “Okay.” She took a step but seemed to lose her balance.

“Whoa.” He caught her and kept her from falling. She held on as if he were the only thing keeping her from tumbling over. He scooped her into his arms.

“Oh.”

She didn’t seem alarmed, just surprised, as he carried her into his living room toward the sofa.

Again, her fingers found his whiskers. “I like it. It makes you look fierce.”

“Hold up.” Daniel grabbed a fleece throw from a basket and laid it over the white upholstery. As if Sam cared about stains.

At that moment, all he could think was Please, let her be all right.

He’d spent five years trying not to think about Eliza. Apparently, not time well spent.

He settled her on the blanket and sat on the coffee table across from her. “What happened?”

“I don’t…”

Her words faded when Daniel pressed the button that closed the curtains. She watched them slowly cover the wall of windows and the darkness beyond.

“Eliza.” Sam tried to maintain the calm tone as he pulled her focus back. “What’s going on?”

Daniel hit a switch, and the overhead lights came on.

She winced and closed her eyes.

What was she hiding? “You show up here after—”

“Sam.” Dan’s voice was still low, but now it held an edge of warning. “Would you let me, please?”

“Fine.” He stood and stepped away, running a hand through his hair, not sure what to do.

Daniel took his place.

Eliza’s eyes opened, and she shrank back at the sight of him so close.

“It’s okay,” Sam said. “Daniel’s my brother. You remember I told you about him? He’s a doctor.”

She nodded, keeping her head down.

The lights were bothering her. He turned on a table lamp beside them and flicked off the overheads. The room dimmed considerably.

“Is that better?” Daniel asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“Does your head hurt?”

Sam watched from a few feet away as Eliza nodded, squinting as if even that pained her.

“Can you tell me where exactly it hurts?”

She probed the back of her skull. “It’s all over, but this is the worst.”

“Would you mind if I take a look at it?” He didn’t move toward her, just remained steady, giving her the opportunity to refuse.