25. Talia
25
Talia
T alia slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Her eyes landed on a wolf mandala hanging on the wall in front of the bed. A large tapestry featuring wolves baying at a full moon covered another wall.
This isn't my room , was her first thought. Then, other thoughts flashed through her mind. Where am I? Did I die? Is the baby okay? Where is Sebastian?
She tried to sit up but was too weak. A soft hand gently pushed against her shoulder. A familiar voice called out softly to her. "You're safe. Lay back down. Everything is okay."
Talia turned her head to the other side and saw Taryn sitting in a chair, holding a book.
"Taryn. Thirsty."
"I'll be right back," the girl said, rushing out of the room.
Talia could hear her calling through the house. "Mom. Talia's awake."
Taryn returned a minute later with a cup of water and a straw.
"Take tiny sips. If you drink too much, too fast, you'll get sick."
Talia tried to nod but the effort made her head hurt. She sipped the water and the cool liquid slid down her throat, soothing it. She licked her lips and her eyes roamed around the room again. "Where am I?"
"Our house," Beth said, walking in the door holding Zane. "You've been very sick, but Savvy, Taryn, and I have been using our magic to heal you and protect the baby."
"How long?" Talia managed to squeak out.
"Three days," Taryn said.
She rubbed her belly and looked at Beth and asked in a pleading voice, "The baby?"
"She's fine," Taryn said. "I've scanned her several times a day, and she hasn't suffered any from the fever, pneumonia, or dehydration. She's healthy."
Talia felt her muscles melt as she lay against the cool sheets.
"Is Sebastian back yet?"
Beth pressed her lips together and handed Zane to Taryn. She sat down on the bed and picked up one of Talia's hands. "He and Rory found you. Marvin carried you off the mountain, and then Sebastian and Rory brought you here. Sebastian believed the people responsible had something to do with the mission he had just returned from. He wanted to make sure that nothing like this could ever happen again, so he and his crew went back overseas to deal with the problem. He called Rory this morning and told him that the situation was handled and that Sebastian and his crew are on their way back."
"General Sorn," Talia whispered.
Beth raised her eyebrows. "You know him?"
"The men talked about him. They were afraid of him."
"They should have been. I've been reading up on him and he is a very nasty character. Zac and Conner took care of the men who kidnapped you, so they don't have to worry about anything ever again."
Talia started to close her eyes but then they popped wide open again. "My job."
"I talked to Principal Jones. She knows what happened and your job is safe," Beth assured her.
"She stops me in the hall every day to ask how you're doing," Taryn said.
"Good, I'm glad. I love teaching, especially at the school I grew up in." Talia felt very weak, and she heard her voice fading. Darkness reached in from the edges of her consciousness and soon, everything faded to black.
Talia stayed another week at Beth's. She slowly felt herself get stronger. Finally, she decided that it was time for her to go home.
She was afraid that she would be uncomfortable in her own house. Her windows and doors had been locked and the alarm set the night that she was kidnapped. However, as she walked around the familiar rooms, she was comforted. Someone had come in and cleaned the house and made sure that the fridge and cabinets were stocked.
Talia smiled. She loved the people in her life. She wandered around her house again and a sense of peace settled over her.
There is no way in the world that I'm going to let those jerks steal my happiness, my home, or my life from me.
She went back to school the next morning. Principal Jones called her into the office soon after she arrived.
Great. I haven't even been in the building for ten minutes and I'm already being called to the principal's office. Some things never change – everyone dreads going to the principal's office whether they are kids or teachers.
Talia knocked on the door. "You wanted to see me."
"Please come in, shut the door, and have a seat."
Crap.
Talia plastered a smile on her face and did as she was instructed.
Principal Jones steepled her fingers and peered at Talia intently.
"How are you feeling?"
"A lot better. I'm back to my old self."
"Most of the teachers know what happened, but we haven't shared that information with the kids. The official word was that you were out sick. Some of them probably know the truth, though, because of their parents. You know how kids are – they're curious and they might ask you about it."
Talia shrugged. "If anyone asks in class, I'll just tell them that things happen that make us stronger. I'm stronger, and ready to be their teacher again and change the subject back to what we're talking about in class. I won't let them engage me in conversation about the details of what happened. If they ask me how I felt or any other detailed questions, I'll just tell them it's in the past, but right now we're talking about the importance of decomposers in the environment."
"Sounds good." Principal Jones nodded. She hesitated for a second and then sighed. "Why didn't you come to me about Joe Ellis?"
Talia groaned. "At first, I blew him off. Then, because I was new and didn't want to make a scene."
"Your safety is important. Joe has been known to harass other teachers and parents, although he hadn't ever taken it to the extent that he did with you."
"I'm sorry." Talia hung her head. She half expected to be required to call her parents and have a conference with them.
The principal smiled at her. "You're a part of our family. Welcome home."
"Thanks."
The bell rang and Talia gratefully escaped from the principal's office and ran upstairs to her classroom to greet the kids. They were excited to see her, giving her hugs, high-fives, and fist bumps. Most of them had made get-well cards for her and a few even wrote letters. None of them asked awkward questions or made inappropriate comments.
She checked her phone several times throughout the day, hoping that Sebastian texted her.
Radio silence.
She got home and looked through her fridge and cabinets. They were full, but she didn't have the inclination to cook.
Howlers' was busy when she walked in. Jade and Sean rushed over to greet and hug her.
"I heard you were up and about," Sean said. "I'm proud of you for making your escape. That took some thinking and courage."
"Thanks, friend."
"Dinner is on the house," Sean said.
"I can't accept that. You have a business to run."
"That's right and it's my business. You are my pack sister, you went through hell, and I can celebrate having you back any way I want. Tonight, your money is no good here." He grinned widely. "Tomorrow is a different story."
She laughed and took a seat at the counter. Her stomach rumbled loudly.
"Feed me, Seymour." Sean laughed, quoting the famous line from The Little Shop of Horrors.
Talia ordered a double cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, and onions, with a side of cheese fries, and a large sweet iced tea.
It was so hard to believe that anything bad had happened. She was the same Talia sitting at the same counter in the same bar and grill she had since she was young. No one made a big deal out of her experience, although most of them didn't know about it. She felt good. Now, if Sebastian would just come home.
The food was delicious and satisfied her and the baby's hunger. She was just about to leave when she heard a couple of people talking about Sebastian. Apparently, he had been back in Angel's Creek for two days and was staying with Rory. He'd suffered from a couple of injuries and was healing at his brother's.
Her heart sank and her soul ripped into a million pieces. Talia left a tip on the counter, smiled and waved at Sean and Jade, and then drove home, blinded by the tears in her eyes. He had been home for two days and hadn't even sent her a message asking how she was or just to say hello.
I guess he didn't love me like I thought I did. She rubbed her belly. I guess it's just you and me, kiddo.