Her eyes fluttered open, taking a minute to register before she focused clearly. “Where are we?” She asked groggily.
I glanced over my shoulder at the bungalow and then back at her. “The summer house,” I watched as she stared at the little white and blue house for a moment. “Let’s get you inside. Can you walk or do you want me to carry you?”
She diverted her eyes back to mine, silent for a moment. “I can walk.”
I gave her a nod, wondering where her head was right now but deciding not to push too much. I opened the glove box and pulled out the key hidden inside of it before standing up and holding out my hand for her to take. Adrianna climbed out of the car, draping my jacket over her shoulders and followed me up the sandy walkway to the house. I fitted the key into the lock, opened the door feeling along the wall for the light switch, and flicked it on. She stepped around me, standing still in the hallway as I closed the door. I dropped the keys onto the table next to the door and stepped towards her. I placed my hands on her shoulders and leaned close.
“I haven’t been here since I was a kid.” She said in a monotone voice before pulling away from me and stepping into the living room. She pulled off the white sheet that covered the couch, dropping it onto the floor. She stared at the floral sofa silently before running her fingers along the arm of it. “Nikki and I used to get in trouble because we would come in from the beach, still wet from the water, and sit on the couch leaving water stains on the cushions.” She tore her eyes from the sofa, turning around and glanced at the fireplace and pointed directly at it. “We would sit around the fire and fight over which of us would get to pick the story dad would read us before bed.” She smiled sadly. “I don’t know if he hated to hear us whine or hated that we were bickering but he would let us each pick a story in the end and read them both to us.”
I shoved my hands into the pockets of my slacks and stared at her as she reminisced about times spent here with her sister. She turned around abruptly to face me, her eyes glaring into mine.
“Luca,” she whispered. “I need my son. I need to know he’s okay.”
“Sshh,” I whispered, walking towards her and cupping her face in the palms of my hands. “He’s fine. I have one of Jack’s guys driving him up here.”
“Jack’s guys? He’s a baby Anthony …” she started, and I silenced her by placing my finger to her lips.
“A, I’m not strapping Luca onto the back of a Harley, relax. One of Jack’s brothers, a guy named Riggs, went to my mothers and picked up her and Luca and is bringing them here.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
I nodded. “He’s going to bring us some clothes and some necessities since the house has been closed for a while. In the meantime why don’t you take a hot shower and I’ll start a fire. I’m sure there is a robe or something lying around here.” I paused, taking a moment to try to read her. “You want me to help you to the shower?”
“No, I’ve got it,” She said quickly as she turned around, leaving me in the living room as she headed to the bathroom. I heard the door close behind her and let out a breath I didn’t realized I was holding. It was ripping me apart knowing there wasn’t anything I could do or say to ease her troubled mind. I cracked my knuckles, trying to release the tension building inside of me and then a nervous energy took over my being and I ripped the sheets off the furniture in an attempt to bring some normalcy to her.
I balled the sheets up and threw them in a corner, looking around at the furniture before stalking towards the fireplace. I placed two wooden logs into the pit of the fireplace and reached into my pocket pulling out a matchbook. I scraped the tip of the match against the mantle, the amber flame ignited and I flicked the wooden match onto the logs watching as the wood burned.