Snapshot (20 page)

Grandma mentioned a doctor’s appointment while I was a camp. Why didn’t I see the signs?

Tony looked away. Marti followed his gaze to find her friends gathered on the sidewalk. Concern and curiosity showed on their faces. She looked back at Tony and then to her cabin door.

“Thank you. I think I’ll go inside now,” she uttered in a strained voice.

Marti opened the creaky screen door and entered the cabin. She looked at her bed. The colorful bedspread that grandma bought her. Her camera, a Christmas gift from Grandma. She saw the cookie tin on her bedside, the lid ajar, its contents nearly gone.
 

Numb, she walked to the sink and glanced in the mirror. She didn’t recognize the reflection. She turned and looked out the window to find Adam and all her friends gathered around Tony. The curiosity on their faces shifted to shock. She looked away and wandered the small cabin. She should do something, but what? What should she do? She knew her mother would be useless. She couldn’t believe the woman actually offered to come get her. Marti sank onto her bed.

Grandma died.
 

She couldn’t call her. She couldn’t talk to her ever again. A fresh wave of grief arose, breaking through the numbness. Her throat tightened as she fought back the sobs. She stood.

She wanted to rush to Grandma’s side, to give her comfort, but it was too late. Any comfort she could offer should have been given the last few days. Grandma was gone. She died on a sterile, cold table with no one she loved nearby. It wasn’t fair. Marti should have been there. Instead she was here, goofing off, having unprotected sex with Adam. Shame consumed her.
 

The door creaked. She didn’t look up. Adam’s hand appeared on her arm.

“Marti, I’m so sorry.”

She nodded. What could she say?

“What can I do?”

She turned and faced him. “There’s nothing anyone can do anymore.” Tears rolled down her face. She choked back her sobs.

Adam embraced her, his body warm and comforting. His good arm wrapped around her like a strong safety net. His cast pressed against her back, reminding her of how fragile life could be. She rested her head against his chest. The beat of his heart sounded in her ear. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head.
 

She didn’t want to move because that meant facing reality. In Adam’s arms, nothing else mattered. She didn’t want to face reality, she didn’t want to think of what happened next. She didn’t want to have to figure anything out. She wanted to stay in his cocoon of protection.

The door squeaked again, and the girls appeared, their faces stricken. Adam released her, and Marti let each of her friends hug her and tell her how bad they felt. It was nice they said the words, but none of it really made any difference. Nothing changed the situation or made it more tolerable.

The guys stood awkwardly on the porch. She knew they cared, but they didn’t know what to do or say. Neither did she. She grimaced and shrugged her shoulders. They returned the helpless gesture.
 

“Do you want anything?” Haley asked. “I can go get you something.”

“No.” She shook her head. The silence in the cabin made it hard to breathe.

Adam rested his hand on the small of her back. “Do you want to be alone?”

“I want to get out of here.” She looked around the claustrophobic room.

“Sure, whatever you want.”

Marti went to her dresser, dug to the bottom of the drawer and located her phone. She hadn’t used it once, and now it was too late. Her breath hitched back a sob. She slipped her phone into her shorts pocket. She looked up. All faces pressed toward her expectantly as if she was supposed to lead them through this tragedy. She offered a tight smile and left the cabin. Adam joined her outside.

“I think I’d like to be by myself for a while. I might make a couple of calls.” She looked away quick, because if she lost herself in his eyes she might lose control, and she didn’t want to do that.

“Okay, whatever you want.” He hugged her close. She wished she enjoyed it more, but she needed to escape.

*
 
*
 
*

Adam waited on the front porch of his cabin for Marti to return. Lights-out came and went, and still she didn’t return. Too worried to sit any longer, he took off looking for her. He remembered the terror he experienced last year when his dad suffered a heart attack. He could imagine Marty’s agony.

Normally the group went off on some rule-breaking mission at night, but tonight none of them could muster any interest. For the first time, they stayed in their cabins, conducting a silent vigil for Marti and her grandma.
 

When he didn’t find her on the dock or at the beach, he realized where she must be. He heard the music before he saw her shadowy form at the piano, in the comfort of the nature center.

The pulsing strains of Bach filled the room. Marti bent over the piano keys and played like a mad scientist. A bottle of vodka and a half empty glass sat on the piano. He wondered how she’d gotten her hands on Justin’s liquor stash.

He sighed in relief that she was okay, sort of. She played the mournful tune with passion and heartache. When it ended, he quietly approached and sat on the edge of the bench.

She reached for the glass and took a long, slow drink.

“You doing okay?” Adam asked.

“Um hum.” She put the glass down. “Wanna join me for a drink?” She gazed at him through sad, red eyes.

“Sure.” He reached in the bag containing her contraband and found a small stack of plastic cups and the fruit punch. He poured a drink and took a sip. It reminded him of the night they met, when he kissed her for the first time.
 

“Is there anything I can do for you?”

“I just want to play.” She focused on the piano as if it was some sort of lifeline. And maybe it was.

“Alright. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to stay.”

She nodded and began her next somber, classical piece.

Adam noticed someone walking outside. He rose to check it out, and discovered Tony, also checking up on Marti.

“She’s kind of obsessed in there with playing.” The melancholy tune drifted out to them.

“That’s probably a good thing. It’s a healthy way for her to let her emotions out,” Tony said.

Adam hoped Tony didn’t go inside and discover the not-so-healthy bottle of booze. “If it’s okay with you, I thought I’d sit up with her.”

“That’s fine. I understand her parents are out of the picture, and she lived with her grandmother. Poor kid. She’s got a rough road ahead.” Tony scratched his chin. “How’s your arm feeling?”

“It aches, but I’m fine.”

“That’s good. There’s never a dull moment around here. Well, if either of you need anything, come get me.”
 

“I will.” Adam went back inside. Marti didn’t even pause when he picked up his drink. He tossed a couple pieces of wood on the dying embers in the fireplace. Sparks flew, reminding him of the fireflies they watched a couple nights ago.

He took a comfortable spot on the couch with his drink. He leaned back against the side arm with his legs stretched out, so he could watch Marti and still give her space.
 

She played song after song. He couldn’t believe her repertoire. She played each piece like a master. Her dad definitely passed his musical genius on to her. He wondered how Marti felt about that or if she even realized.

She paused after each number and drank. He probably should tell her to stop, but hell, why? This seemed pretty innocent, and he was here for her.

Marti played another piece he recognized as Chopin. Her mastery of the piano blew his mind. Under different circumstances he would love to play together. Her on the piano, him on the guitar. He tried to move his hand and realized the restraints of the cast. Shit. More crappy reality. But nothing compared to what she faced.

She’d be leaving tomorrow, and he hadn’t let himself think about it. It sounded crazy, but he was pretty sure he loved her. At their age, everyone would say they were too young, but he couldn’t deny what he felt.

The music stopped, and she sat quietly for a moment. She glanced up and offered him a crooked smile. She then joined him on the couch and lay with her head on his chest, molding her body against his.
 

He rubbed her back with his good arm and pushed a lock of hair from her face. She sighed and kissed him on the mouth. Adam didn’t mean to get turned on, but Marti’s sexy mouth was hungry and aggressive. She tasted of vodka, fruit punch and passion. She noticed his hard on and pressed against him. He slipped his hand down the back of her shorts and caressed her bottom with his free hand, turning them both on even more.

They kissed and whispered and moved their bodies together until he could barely stand it. Then Marti sat back, positioned between his legs and started unbuttoning his shorts.

Adam brought his hand down and stilled her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Sure it is. It’s a great idea.” She pushed his hands away and successfully unbuttoned and unzipped his cargo shorts.

“Marti, you just lost your grandma, you’re upset. I don’t think this is a good time.”

“Bullshit! It’s the best time.” She paused in her disrobing of him. “You could have died hitting those rocks yesterday. I could die on my ride home tomorrow. Plus, I have no idea if I’ll ever see you again.”

And honestly, neither did he. He wanted to, he planned to. “Of course, you’ll see me again. Now that you’re in my life, I’m not gonna let you disappear.”

A spark of happiness glinted in her eye. She smiled and pulled her off her shirt, tossing it away.

“What are you doing? Someone could walk in at any moment!”

“No they won’t. It’s the middle of the night. Plus, if they did, who cares?” She got up and slid out of her shorts. She stood before him in a slinky little thong that caused him to grow even harder.

She gazed at him, all sexy and vulnerable. “Will you make love to me? Because I need you more right now than I need to breathe,” she whispered.

He saw the hunger and desperation in her eyes. He swallowed. “Of course, I want you. I’ll always want you, but…”

And she silenced him with a kiss that took his breath away. He meant to say that they couldn’t keep having unprotected sex, but she teased him with small kisses until he relaxed. Then she captured his mouth with hers. Her tongue teased and aroused him. Her hand moved down his chest and released him from his clothes. He groaned as she lingered over him. His heart pounded. “Oh god, Marti.” She’d taken control and he couldn’t make himself stop her. And he didn’t want to anyway.

*
 
*
 
*

Adam awoke, rubbed the sleep from his eyes and realized they’d been asleep for the past couple hours. He moved to detangle Marti’s body from his. Her face looked so peaceful in the low light. He wished he could let her sleep, instead of waking her to the reality of her grandmother’s death, but he knew he must.

“Marti.” He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “Wake up,” he said softly.

“Hmm.” She moaned and snuggled closer.
 

He tipped up her chin. “I need you to put your clothes on. I’m not gonna let you get caught like this.” He gazed at her naked body, illuminated by the warm glow of the dying fire. He felt the familiar pang of desire stir within and forced himself to ignore it.

Marti nodded and peeled herself away from him and dressed.
 

Adam felt an immediate void and wanted to pull her back. “Do you want to go back to the cabin and take a shower or crawl into bed?” he offered.

“No. I don’t want to face anyone else. Can we stay here?”
 

She looked so small and fragile, such a shift from her usually strong, stubborn persona. “You bet.” Adam threw a couple more pieces of wood on the fire. He grabbed a soft fleece blanket and positioned the throw pillows on the couch. He lay down with his back against it. “Come here.”

She crawled in like a lovable pup and snuggled her cute little behind up against him. He arranged the blanket. With his cast-covered arm under the pillow, he wrapped the other protectively around her petite frame.

The fire began to crackle and flames licked at the wood. “You must be exhausted. Do you think you can sleep?” His low voice rumbled in her ear.

“Probably not. I keep trying to pretend Grandma didn’t die, but then it keeps popping into my head, and I can’t stop thinking about what a horrible way it was to die. I wonder if she was scared going in to the hospital. Did she now she might die? Why didn’t she call and tell me this was happening? I would have come home.”

“I don’t know.” He caressed her hair and then tucked his arm back under to hold her hand.
 

A log crackled and sparks flew. He rubbed his bare foot against her tattooed ankle. They watched the flames in comfortable silence.

“After tomorrow, will I ever see you again?” she asked in the most unemotional way, as if she asked if it might rain tomorrow. Apparently his earlier reassurances didn’t sink in.