2. Breaker

Chapter 2

Breaker

“Don’t worry, big guy. You’re going to be just fine.”

Her voice.

It flows around me like warm water, reaching parts of me I didn’t even know were there. For a moment, I lose myself in the feeling. It doesn’t even matter that it’s not familiar at all. I’m positive I don’t know her. If I had heard this voice before, it would have been burned into my brain. It’s akin to molasses, smooth, thick, and clinging to me with a silky sweetness that I’d happily drown in. It makes me ache.

I struggle to open my eyes. I need to put a face to the voice. I want to see her. I try my best but can’t do it regardless of how hard I try. Darkness tries to overtake me, but I fight it. I need to look at this woman. It just isn’t familiar. Actually, nothing is.

Where am I ?

I try to remember, but it’s like my mind is blank. I start to panic. This can’t be normal. My heart begins to beat erratically, getting faster and faster. There’s a mask on my face. Maybe oxygen? My nose burns. Am I in the hospital? Does that mean the voice belongs to a nurse or a doctor? Am I dying? Is that why I can’t open my eyes? She said I was going to be okay. Was she being honest or just telling me empty words to make me feel better? I try to concentrate so I can lift my eyelids. Somehow, I think if I can just see the woman behind the voice, I will feel better.

I feel her hand brush against my face. “Shh … Calm down. It’s going to be okay. I’ve given you some medicine to keep you relaxed so you can heal. You’ll be groggy and disoriented for a bit. Today, I’m going to start backing off it. You’ll be up and about in no time, but you need to take it easy. You’re lucky to be alive.”

Lucky to be alive.

The words keep repeating my mind. What the hell happened to me? The air around me doesn’t smell like a hospital. It’s a mixture of cherries and vanilla. Still, I’m definitely on oxygen. Plus, the woman said she gave me medicine. That would have to make her a doctor. I can feel the frustration mounting inside me. Then, once more, I feel a gentle hand slide against my forehead, fingers brushing into my hair. Almost instantly, I relax. It’s like her touch is magic.

“Mommy!” I hear a little girl yell. “Mommy!”

“Tinny, what did I tell you about running and screaming in the house?”

“Not to do it,” the girl announces proudly. If I could laugh, I definitely would right now.

“So, why are you doing it?”

“I’m sorry, Mommy. I was just excited. Uncle Cooper and Aunt Iva are going to take me into town for dinner. We’re going to have McDonald’s! Isn’t that cool? I’m going to get chicken nuggets,” she explains, barely pausing to breathe as she explains.

“Why are you going into town?” I hear the woman ask.

“We’re going to pick up the man Carson is sending to help you. Then we are all going to have dinner.”

“If you don’t mind, bring me back some food. I’m not choosey, but please, no nuggets.”

I hear the man laugh. I find myself jealous because he can see and talk to her, while I can’t.

“You got it, Indy.”

Indy. Her name finally registers, and I can feel my lips twitch as I try to smile.

“There’s money on the table by the door, Coop.”

“That means it’ll still be there after I’m gone,” the man responds. I wonder why it upsets me he’s buying her dinner. I can’t explain it, but it does.

“Dang it, Coop,” she huffs.

“Don’t fight me, Indy. I’m old and mean,” he says, but I can hear the unspoken laughter in his voice.

“If I don’t like this man you’re bringing me then he’s not staying, Coop.”

“Indy—”

“Tinny must like him too,” she warns. I’m trying to understand the conversation. Is he fixing her up with a man? Just the thought upsets me.

“Tinny likes everyone. You’ll like Jeff too. He’s a good guy. He just needs a place to heal.”

“I’m not a shelter for people with wounded souls, Coop. I have problems on my own.”

“Yeah, that’s why there’s a stranger in your guestroom, when most people around here would have just let him die.”

In her guestroom? Why would people leave me to die? What the fuck is going on here?

“You and Iva wouldn’t.”

“And that’s why we’re family. You’re just like us.”

There’s a moment of silence before I hear the little girl once more. “Come on, Uncle Coop, I want a happy meal!”

“We’re going sweet girl. I was just saying goodbye to your momma,” the man responds.

“What’s wrong with the pretty man, Mommy?” she asks as I feel her hand touch mine. Her touch feels sweet and soft—much like her mother’s.

“Pretty?” the man they call Coop laughs. Asshole. I hope he’s the woman’s brother. Either way, I think I’d like to hit the bastard—and I don’t even know why.

“Yeah. He’s got a really bad boo-boo. Mommy had to help him feel better. Mom? You kissed it and made it better with a Band-Aid, right?”

Her question makes me want to tease her mother. I really need to find a way to drag myself out of this darkness. Maybe then her mother would kiss me and make me feel better.

“Kind of,” she laughs. “But it was a really bad boo-boo. So, he still has to get better.”

I feel lips press against my hand. “There,” the little girl says. “I helped, too. He’ll be better now, Mom.”

“Yes, sweet girl, but remember, he’s a stranger, so I want you to stay away from him until me or Uncle Cooper talks to him to make sure it’s okay for you to be around him. Okay?”

“He’s not a bad man, Mommy. I can tell.”

“You’re still going to do as I ask, Tinny. Promise me.”

I hear the little girl let out a loud, exaggerated breath. “Okay,” she responds, sounding sullen. She’s not happy. Honestly, I’m not either. I don’t like them thinking that I would hurt the little girl, or her mother, for that matter. Is she afraid of me? Something about that doesn’t sit right with me at all.

“Good girl,” Indy says, her voice gentling.

“We’ll be back soon,” the man they call Cooper replies. “Keep your gun close.”

“I will,” she says.

This entire conversation is putting me on the edge. Why would they think I’d do anything to hurt Indy? Why do they think I’m a threat? I need to figure all this out, but the darkness keeps calling me. I finally give up, deciding to stop fighting. I really am tired. It’s taking all of my strength just to stay alert this long. I let the darkness pull me under, while wondering what Indy looks like. For some reason, I find myself hoping she’s a blonde. I have no idea why, but the thought that she might be makes me happy.