Wake Me

Chapter Six

For awhile, Dani had sat in silence. She wished she could hear a sigh or any sound as confirmation that her mother was listening. A part of her wanted to pack up and leave because she was alone. She pushed that negativity from her mind as she struggled to gather her next thoughts.

Suddenly, her eyes flashed over to the dark thicket of tall pine trees that bordered one side of the graveyard. She could've sworn she saw something white rush by. With watchful eyes, she looked over her mother's headstone, then peering back down the other rows of grave markers. She considered that that was her sign; her mother was there with her, listening.

She grinned, "So, to say I was confused or rather frazzled by Lars that night would be saying it mildly. David claimed Lars nearly kissed me. I would've remembered something like that. Then, David claimed I was totally into Lars kissing me. That, I would totally disagree wholeheartedly. I mean, I would've needed to be hypnotized or drugged to be okay with Lars kissing me.

"Now, maybe my opinion would've been different if I didn't know Gunner was coming home. Just that thought alone put a spark under the bundle of hopes and dreams I had been stacking up forever, it seemed. But no matter the situation, Lars stole something from me; something I had never given freely to anyone. My agency—My control..."

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When the next morning finally came, I was so grateful. I had a fitful sleep because my dreams were distorted and unsettling. I kept waking up several times to look at the clock, hoping it was time for the alarm to sound.

At breakfast, I didn't look at David and didn't speak to anyone as no one had anything to say. I was so thankful David didn't mention what happened last night. And before I knew it, I was alone for the morning. Lunch came and went, again silence filled the kitchen, which normally would signify that everyone was either tired or pissed off. My leg shook under the table, wondering if David ended up telling dad what he stopped from happening last night. But again, not a word was said about it.

Then, after lunch, I saw dad leaving in what appeared to be in a rush. I tried calling him a few times, but he didn't answer his cell phone. That ticked me off because first of all, he didn't bother asking if I wanted to come and second, if I were in town and wasn't answering the phone, I'd have h-e-double-hockey-stick to pay upon my return. And once he got back, his face was beaming to high heaven.

Something is going on with him! I considered, watching the bounce in his step.

Without the few groceries I had planned on getting, I ended up pulling a pan of frozen lasagna from the freezer for supper. While it was thawing, I took a moment and relaxed on the couch to read my book.

I heard the screen door slowly open. "Hello?"

I stood up, hiding the book behind my back. "What do you want?" My eyes narrowed, seeing Lars standing in my kitchen.

"Your dad sliced his finger pretty bad. He said you have bandages and Betadine I can take back to him."

Lars was holding his hat in his left hand, the one that held me captive last night. "Wait outside. I'll grab it."

He nodded, his face was flushed and dripping in sweat. "Yes, ma'am." He strode back out the door without a fuss.

I ran to the laundry room and grabbed the first-aid kit. I gathered everything I could think dad would need to patch up his finger. He would only go to the ER if he had an appendage dangling from ligaments, and that's never happened, knock on wood.

Pushing open the screen door, I refused to look Lars in his eyes as I handed him the bag of supplies. "That should have everything my dad will need until supper."