Meaning her and Mark.
“Oh.” Clasping my hands together tightly, I stared out the window. “Then I don’t know.”
Caoimhe continued to complain all the way to Sinead’s, while my anxiety continued to intensify. When we finally pulled up outside the familiar house, I bolted up the driveway and into the house without giving my sister a backwards glance.
I couldn’t have if I’d wanted to.
Because I was about to burst.
Moving on instinct, I barreled up the staircase, not stopping until I reached his bedroom door.
“Jesus Christ, Liz!” Hugh exclaimed when I practically blew his bedroom door off its hinges in my rush to get to him. “What’s wrong?” His tone was panicked. “What happened?”
I didn’t answer him.
Because Icouldn’t.
Instead, I walked straight to him, not stopping until I had clambered over the books strewn across his bed and was nestled on his lap.
The tears I had managed to hold in all the way over here had reached their breaking point and my emotions exploded out of me in a flurry of heaving sobs.
Hugh tossed the book he was holding aside and quickly wrapped me up in that familiar cocoon of safety and warmth. “It’s okay,” he coaxed, tightening his arms around me. “I’m right here.” He smoothed my hair over my shoulder and rocked gently. “Shh, Liz, I’m right here with you.”
Hearing his voice only made me cry harder and cling tighter. “It happened again.”
“You had another nightmare?”
“It felt so real this time.” Nodding, I trembled violently. “Please don’t leave me.”
A tremor racked through his big body, and I slowly felt him relax on my mattress. “I’m not leaving, Liz.” His arm came around me, and then his lips were on my ear. “I’m staying.”
Two words that meant more coming from him than any declarations of love or promises of forever.
Just tostay—that’s all I needed.
And he was giving it to me.
I was making so much of a racket that Claire barreled into the room, demanding to know what was wrong, but Hugh didn’t have the answers, and I couldn’t tell.
Eventually she gave up and left, only to return with her mother and my sister.
“Oh my God,” I heard Caoimhe groan from somewhere behind me. “I am so sorry about her, Sinead. I’ll call my dad to come pick her up.”
“No!” That was Hugh. “She can stay, can’t she, Mam?”
“Of course she can,” I heard Sinead reply. “Lizzie, sweetheart, what’s upsetting you?”
I couldn’t explain it.
Because itwasn’treal.
Because Sinead would think I was crazy.
Just like everyone else.
“Why don’t you come and have a little chat with me before I leave for work. Hmm?” She gently squeezed my shoulder, and her touch felt like Hugh’s. “Would you like that?”
I shook my head, unable to release my hold on her son.
