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“Repeat?” Orly asked in horror as Luke wrapped his arm around his wife, clearly sensing her concern for Hallie.
Hallie nodded. “Yes. I see it over and over again until it happens.”
“Shit.” Blake spat out. “So, you see this church exploding over and over again?”
“She feels it too,” Caden added.
“Caden,” Hallie griped.
He knew she wouldn’t want him revealing that small detail, but his friends needed to know just how much this affected her, and how urgent this situation was.
“It’s just something I’ve lived with my whole life,” Hallie added, trying to minimize their reactions, but Caden watched their expressions, and while they didn’t outwardly show it, he knew them well enough to know that her words hadn’t softened the blow.
“I say we go over there,” Garrett said. “An explosion could mean the heater or the boiler. Those would be the first things I’d take a look at.”
“Not a bad idea.” Tanner stood to take the burgers off the grill. He piled them onto a platter and placed them in the middle of the table.
“Should we take some of these to go and head out?” Luke asked.
“I’m down for that,” Caden said. “Anything to help Hallie end this recurring nightmare in her head.” And now that he knew it was a preschool, it was all the more reason to figure it out before the kids returned on Monday morning.
“I’m going with you,” Hallie said.
“No,” Caden would never let her go anywhere near the kind of danger she was describing. “I want you to stay here with Orly and Blake.”
“I’m not staying,” Blake protested.
Caden glared at his friend. “You’re still injured and I don’t know what the hell we’re going to find there. All Hallie knows is the place is gonna blow. I don’t know when or why, and I’m not putting an injured man in harm’s way.”
Luke turned to Orly. “Will you be okay here? I can probably get a ride with one of the guys if you want me to leave the car?”
Orly nodded. “I’ll be fine. Do what you need to do.”
Luke kissed the top of her head, grabbed a burger, slapped it on a bun with a slice of cheese, and added some ketchup. Then took a bite and grabbed a napkin. “Let’s do this,” he said.
Caden was grateful for his friend’s initiative. He followed suit, making himself a burger, filling it with what he wanted, and taking it to go. When he looked at his other friends, they were all doing the same.
“I never would’ve guessed,” Garrett told Hallie. “I think you were always meant to find your way to Caden. Let me be the first to say, welcome to the family.”
Hallie smiled. “Thanks.”
“We’ll take care of this in no time and be back before sunset.” Tanner boasted.
“Trust us, you’re better off staying here. We’ll keep you posted,” Garrett said. “It’s probably an easy fix like the damn heater’s too old or something like that.”
Caden wrapped his free arm around Hallie and pulled her in. “What aren’t you saying?” He asked, seeing the tension in her features.
Hallie sighed. “I’ve seen it a few more times while you and the guys were talking.”
“Shit, are you okay?” He’d been so focused on his friends; he hadn’t even noticed.
“It’s not me I’m worried about. I told you; they can’t hurt me. I’m worried about all of you. I paid attention when it replayed. The explosion is big and it comes from below.”
“Below?” Caden asked. “Like a basement? Cause that jives with Garrett’s idea of it being the boiler or heater.”
Hallie shrugged. “I don’t know. I just felt it come from below.”
“Okay, I’ll tell the guys. We’ll start with the basement and work our way up.”
