Reclaimed

“Yup, I just forgot. I’ll get ready real fast so we can spend some time together before you go. All I need is five minutes.”

She sprinted up the wooden steps to the bathroom, and made quick work of brushing her teeth and showering. She threw her hair in a messy ponytail and dressed in a black shirt and black yoga pants. It suited her today. It matched her dark mood, she concluded, as she nodded in the mirror.

Miss Daisy Sunshine, I am.

She ran downstairs and accepted the coffee her sister held out to her. “Thanks,” she mumbled. “Do I look as tired as I feel?”

“Worse, probably. You had quite the nightmare, huh? I thought someone was killing you.”

She cringed and cursed herself for mentioning her lack of sleep. “Sorry, I have nightmares when I’m writing. I should have warned you. I tend to blend my book into real life. After you went to bed, I calmed down,” she lied. “I wrote down the scene, and went back to sleep.”

Marie raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is Isaac in your book? And who, exactly, is Elijah?”

“No, Isaac isn’t in it. But Elijah is a character in my book. In my dream, Elijah tried to kill Isaac, and it upset me. It’s all silly, in the light of day.” She plastered as much of a smile as she could manage on her face. Hopefully, she didn’t look demented. Now she’d have to add an Elijah to her book, or tell Marie she’d changed the name.

Great.

“Yeah…silly,” Marie agreed. Sabrina could hear the confusion in her sister’s voice, but also knew that though her story didn’t quite add up, Marie couldn’t guess the truth. It was too damn unbelievable. “Really, do you think I’m an idiot? What’s going on?”

She groaned and buried her head in her hands. “Please, for once can you just let it be?”

Some of the desperation in her voice must have gotten to Marie, for she floundered for a good ten seconds, opening her mouth and closing it as she shook her head. Sabrina watched as her sister battled every instinct that screamed at her to question Sabrina further, and won.

“Fine,” Marie griped. “But this is not over.”

Her sister’s eyes probed hers, silently asking to be told of the secrets she kept. Sabrina returned the stare, content in the knowledge she would not find the answers she sought.

“Fine. Question me all you want tomorrow when you’re home. But for now, please, just enjoy the last few minutes we have?” Deciding upon a quick change of subject, Sabrina asked, “So, are you all packed?”

“Yeah, I woke up early. I miss Sam. And my husband, of course.” Excitement shone in her sister’s eyes, and Sabrina fought back the pain that coursed through her. She had nothing to be excited about any longer. “But I miss my baby more.”

“I bet. She’s growing so big. Those pictures you showed me are adorable. I’ll have to come out to visit, once my nephew makes an appearance.” She reached out a hand and rubbed Marie’s protruding stomach. She gasped in awe when she got kicked in her palm. She laughed and forgot for a brief moment about Isaac.

Very brief.

“You made him excited, see? He can’t wait for his favorite aunt to come visit him.”

“I’m his only aunt,” Sabrina teased.

“Inconsequential.”

She met Marie’s eyes, and they each smiled. A knock on the door caused them both to jump in alarm and grin at the other’s show of surprise.

Sabrina trudged to the door with a racing heart and trembling legs. She couldn’t help but feel lik

e a prisoner walking to her execution. She feared it was him, and yet dreaded that it wouldn’t be. Wiping her sweaty palms on her pants, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

Isaac’s lips were compressed, and his brow furrowed, but damn it, he looked as gorgeous as ever. His searching gaze roamed over her face, seemingly taking in every little detail, until she glared at him in frustration. He flushed and shifted on his feet. He looked away from her to focus upon Marie, who had come up behind her.

What the hell was he thinking? Why did it have to be so hard to figure out his feelings? Was he mad? Angry? Betrayed? Or did he not care anymore?

He hid them too damn well.

Anger flowed through her blood like a drug.

Well, screw him.

“I came to say goodbye. I knew you were leaving early. I hope I’m not intruding.” His voice sounded warm, but Sabrina noticed his clenched fist and his hard eyes.