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Her father took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt. “You’re right. I’m beat. Are you sureyou’reokay?”
“Yes.” She attempted a smile but knew it was weak. She wasn’t okay. She hadn’t been okay for years now.
She drove her father’s Cadillac, the glow of the headlights dim through the dank, gray fog. The damp weather seemed to infiltrate her body, blurring her thoughts until they all led to the same desperate conclusion. If she didn’t heal Hannah tonight, her sister would die.
She parked the car in the driveway and turned to her father; his head lolled against the seat.
“Dad, wake up.”
Her father startled and opened his eyes, his dazed look gradually clearing. “I’m sorry, I must have drifted off.”
She peered around as far as she could see through the mist. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but she could never be too careful. Although it had been two years since she’d left, Kinetica could still be watching. “It’s okay, Dad. Looks like the coast is clear. C’mon.”
She shivered as she zipped her jacket and grabbed her purse. Her mother had warned that unless Kinetica believed Lillian was dead, they would never stop searching for her. If they were watching the house, they’d find Lillian and kill her dad if he got in the way.
She got out of the car and stayed alert to any sudden movement, but when nothing disturbed the silence, she let out the breath she held and followed her dad through the side door and into the kitchen. She sniffed the air, swallowing a pang. “Hmmm…it smells like coffee and waffles in here. Two of my favorite smells.”
“It’s good to have you home, Lillian, even if it has to be under such terrible circumstances. Are you hungry?”
“A little.” The pang intensified into a physical ache when she spied the painted white cabinets and bright-yellow-flowered wallpaper she and Hannah had helped their mom pick out when they were little girls. She swiped at the sudden moisture in her eyes. Not much had changed over the years.
“You sit.” She pointed to a chair at the small kitchen table. “I’ll whip us up a late lunch.”
Her father did as she asked. She’d never been much of a cook, but she made grilled cheese sandwiches and heated soup from a can she found in the cupboard, then cleaned up the dishes.
“Thanks, sweetheart. A little crispy, but it hit the spot.”
Her father was being kind. She was so preoccupied worrying about Hannah and Kinetica, she burned the dang sandwiches.
He wiped his lips with a napkin, pushed his chair from the table, and stood with a small smile. “I see some things never change.”
Pressure built behind her eyelids. How she’d missed her dad’s familiar teasing.
“I’m going to bed for a little while.” He wrapped her in a hug, the familiar smell of coffee and Old Spice aftershave enveloping her. “You should, too. You’re safe here, and you need to rest.”
“I can’t stay, Dad. You know that. If Kinetica has any idea I’m still alive, this is the first place they’ll look for me. It’s not worth the risk. I’ll stay at the hospital. Hannah needs me. I have to keep trying to heal her.”
Her father touched her arm, fear and concern reflected in his dark-brown eyes. “I’m worried about you. But I’m not going to tell you what to do. Somehow, you’ve managed to stay safe these past couple of years without us. It’s nearly killed me.” His voice cracked. “Be careful, Lou-Lou. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
“Hey, I’ve survived this long, haven’t I?” Lillian kept her voice light. “Don’t worry, Dad. Nothing’s going to happen, I promise.” Lillian hugged her father and swallowed past the hard lump in her throat. She tightened her hand around the keys to his car. “Get some rest. I’ll call you if anything changes.”
Her dad nodded, then turned and shuffled to his bedroom, while she forced her shaky legs to move toward the kitchen table where she’d left her purse. She couldn’t remain here and risk her dad’s safety. That was true two years ago. It was still true today. And despite the ache in her heart for home and the people who loved her, it would still be true tomorrow.
She parted the curtains and peeked out the kitchen window. Thunder clouds lined the March sky, the fog blanketing her dad’s car. She tugged on her lower lip. If Kineticawerewatching the house, the fog provided cover. But would Kinetica still be searching for her after all this time?As far as she knew, they believed her dead. And they wouldn’t come after Hannah since she hadn’t inherited the healing gene, and Kinetica either didn’t know or didn’t care about her sister’s other talent. If Lillian stayed hidden, she and her family would be safe.
She opened the garage door. Nothing moved, not even a tree branch. The silence seemed to lie in wait like a big cat ready to pounce. She hunched into her jacket and hurried to the car, careful to lock the doors as soon as she was safe inside. She grabbed the wheel with both hands to stop them from trembling.
What if I’m wrong? What if Kinetica knows I’m still alive and is waiting for me at the hospital?
The thought kept her heart racing during the thirty-minute drive. It didn’t let up when she pulled into the visitor’s parking lot and hurried toward the glass doors. They opened when she stepped in front of them at the same moment a tall man did.
“Oh.” She gasped and stumbled out of the stranger’s reach.
“After you.” The stranger paused, gesturing for her to go in front of him, his deep voice causing her heartbeat to accelerate even more.
She hesitated, but he made no move to grab her, so she slipped by him. His height made it easy for her to bend her head and avoid meeting his gaze. Still, she caught a glimpse of a firm jawline, dark hair, and a black computer bag strung over one shoulder as she passed.
She continued moving toward the infectious disease wing where Hannah was staying, the beat of her heart matching thetap-tap-tapof her shoes against the floor. The man followed behind. No one else was nearby, so she could hear the soft tread of his shoes. She quickened her pace, her breath coming faster now. Her stomach did a flip, and her throat tightened, preparing her to flee or scream if the situation demanded it.
