The Runaway House

Nineteen . Betrayal

   "All you're going to do is rest," Penelope states the next morning. "You will not leave this bed."

Someone had closed the curtains and put extra blankets over the windows, shielding my eyes from the majority of the painful sunlight. The bedroom light was off when I woke, and it's stayed off. My heart is still warm from the sweet gesture.

"I'll make sure of it." The circles under Travis's eyes are dark from a long night. I'd heard him leave many more messages for Jeff through my restless sleep. Still, no answer.

I squeeze his hand.

"Do you need anything, Lee?" Penelope's eyes narrow as she watches us.

"No." Shaking my head, I slip my hand out of Travis's.

"All right. Let me know if you need anything." She begins to leave, but then turns. "Rest, Lee. The more you do, the better your recovery." And then Penelope's quiet steps fall as she leaves the room.

My hand edges back to Travis's. He smiles, chuckling.

"You don't have to hide this from her. I think she's figured it out."

"Oh," I whisper, my fingertips brushing his. They're clean. No grease from the van. Fear spikes through me. "You aren't heading into town, are you?"

He shakes his head. "I'm not leaving you." His fingers tighten around my hand as he glances up at me. "I was actually thinking of waiting until you were better. You could come with me. It'd do you some good to get away from here."

I nod. "I'd like that."

"Good," he murmurs. "Now we just have to get you better."

Maybe it's the way that he's looking at me, or his thumb running across my fingers, but I grin. "I think we can manage that."

There's a knock on the door, and Travis opens it partway. Zoe is there, clinging to Amy.

"Lee?" Her voice is wavering, unsteady.

"Aw, baby, c'mere." I sit up, my head and stomach protesting. But I persevere.

Zoe climbs onto the bed and falls into my arms, careful not to touch my stomach. And even though the action still sends my head whirling, I hold her close. "I was so scared," she sobs.

"I know, sweetheart. But you're okay now." I pull her onto my lap as Travis scoops up Amy and sits on the edge of the bed.

My eyes are locked in with his as I hold Zoe. Where would I be without either of them? Would I still be on the ground in my room, too disoriented to move? Thank you, I mouth to Travis.

He just smiles and nods, giving Amy a small kiss on the head. And even though it's a precious moment, meant for his little sister, I wish I could be the one Travis is kissing.

Maybe one day.

I hold Zoe until she stops crying. Travis disappears for a moment, returning with coloring books and crayons.

"Here." He sets them on the floor, and Amy snatches the one full of princesses. "You want to come too, Zoe?"

She shakes her head, clinging to me.

"Please, Zoe?" I whisper in her ear. "Can you color me a picture?"

She sighs. "Okay."

Before I let her off the bed, I wipe away her lingering tears. "Thank you."