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“Clara!” I stumble out of the truck, the ground blurring around me. “No.No!”
I’ve been holding the plastic bag of contact lenses in my fist since leaving the cabin and it’s still there, useless at my side. She never got to wear them…she never got to walk around without fear of tripping or running into things. I failed. I lost her. I failed. She’s gone. Jesus, she must have been so scared in those final seconds. And I wasn’t here to save her. It was myjob.
I double over and bellow at the asphalt road, my voice choking off when I see her black rubber skid marks. I might as well have died with her. Can’t breathe…need to rage. Need tokill.
I’m going to murder whoever took myClara.
Deadly purpose cuts through the misery and I stand, lunging for the truck driver who appears to be speaking—to me—but I can’t hear anything over the cymbals crashing in my head. “Where is she?Where is she?” I grab him by the collar and I’m in the process of jerking his face down to connect with my knee…when I feel a familiar light touch on my arm. Clara’s spirit come to saygoodbye?
I let go of the truck driver and turn. There she is. Beautiful as I left her in the passenger side of my truck. “Ah, girl.” I swallow hard. “Always knew you’d make a perfect angel,” I manage, reaching out to touch her…and I find her solid.Solid?“Clara?”
“Uncle Rex, I’m fine. I’ve been telling you…” She swipes at her wet eyes and I see scratches and blood all down her arms. “You wouldn’t listen. I’mokay.”
“You’re here,” I breathe, not ready to believe what my mind is telling me. If she’s gone, I would go crazy, after all. It could be a trick. “Yourbike…”
“I jumped off at the last second. It bit the dust. I didn’t.” She glances down at her arms. “Well I wiped out, but that’s nothingnew—”
She doesn’t get the rest out because I’m pulling her into my arms, trying to absorb her goodness into my body. I’m still so fucking cold, but as my sanity slowly returns, so does the heat. I’m holding Clara. She’s okay. She’s alive. I didn’t lose her. My life is still flashing in front of my eyes, though. Christ. I lived without her on this earth for a full minute and it was the longest sixty seconds of my life. Never again. “I love you,” I growl into her hair. “I love you and that means you have to stop getting hurt. Can’t take it, girl. You’re my fucking worldnow.”
My chest catches her sob. “I love you, too. I was turning around to come home. I’m sorry. I’msorry—”
Moved by the revelation that this incredible girl loves me, too, I catch her chin and lift it. “You’re sorry,who?”
Awe transforms her expression, a new sparkle shining in her eye. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she murmurs. “I won’t scare youagain.”
Something clicks in place inside me. Something so unshakable, I have no problem meeting the truck driver’s eyes and daring him to comment. “Come on, girl.” I lay a possessive kiss on her mouth, letting my tongue taste her nice and deep. “Let’s get you home. We’ve got plans tomake.”
Her hand slides into mine. “What plans are wemaking?”
“The kind that gets a ring on your finger.” I lift her knuckles to my mouth and kiss them, leading her to my truck. “And you in my lifeforever.”
Epilogue
Clara
A couple of weekslater…
Istareup at the house that I used to call home knowing my mother and stepfather are inside. I glance over at Rex. He gives my hand a little squeeze, reminding me he’s here withme.
“You don’t have to go in, Clara. I can get whatever youneed.”
I bite my lip, debating it. The last few weeks have been wonderful, but I know I need to face them. They got home today from vacation and are already blowing up my phone wondering where I am. I have to tell them I’m moving out and that I’m going to be withRex.
I know things are going to be bad and I don’t want my stepfather to be mean to Rex. I think I’m more worried about that than what he might say tome.
I push the new pink glasses Rex got me back up the bridge of my nose. He smiles then leans over and kisses me. I’ve been doing so much better now that I havethem.
“You go in and get what you need. I’ll talk to them.” His words leave no room for argument, so I simplynod.
He hops out of the truck and makes his away over to my side. He unbuckles me then lifts me by my hips and places me on theground.
He leans down and gives me another kiss. “Sayit.”
“I love you, Daddy,” I answer, giggling. It’s my favorite thing to say and every time it makes himsmile.
He leans against his truck as I go in the front door and shout a hello into the living room. No one is in there, and the place is quiet so I go straight up to my room. When I get there, I grab my bag out of the closet and go over to my dresser. I open the drawers and begin filling my bag with the things I know I don’t want to leavebehind.
Looking around the room, I see the bed covered in stuffed animals and I’m going to have to decide which ones to take with me.Just as I’m walking over to pick a few out, my doorcreaks.
