The Ring of Fire: The Dragon Dream: Book Two Read online

  Her supplies weren’t in any of her bags. She’d put her tampons on the bathroom sink, so she wouldn’t forget to bring them, just in case this happened. And that’s probably where they still were.

  Pulling her smartphone out of her pocket, Angela called her house phone, hoping Nan was around. As she waited for an answer, her mind ran through the other places she may have left or misplaced them. On the third ring, the housekeeper answered.

  “Is something wrong, Miss Angela?”

  “Sort of. Are you busy?” asked Angela, as she hunted through her purse for any kind of emergency supply.

  “Not enough that I can’t help you.”

  Angela smiled at her housekeeper’s kindness. She found a single tampon in the bottom of the purse, and she was able to relax a little. “Can you run up to the master bathroom and check to see if I left my box of tampons on the sink?”

  “Of course.” She could hear the older woman moving. “Did you get in yesterday afternoon like planned?”

  “We did. I’d like to say I enjoyed the trip, but I slept a lot.” She slid the tampon into the pocket in her denim shorts as she waited.

  “That’s to be expected.”

  “Doesn’t make me feel better,” Angela commented, already moving towards the upstairs bathroom. “I did enjoy what I was awake for though.”

  “Good. And yes, they sit on the sink. I’ll just put them back since they’ll do you no good here.”

  “Yeah. Thanks. If you’ll excuse me, I have to see about getting some.”

  “Not a problem. Have a good visit, Miss Angela.”

  “I’ll try. Bye.” Her single tampon would do for now, but she’d need something more before too long.

  A quick look through the two bathrooms in the house revealed nothing. Didn’t Sherry have a period? She didn’t know the other woman well enough to know if she was on birth control or not. The petite blonde psychologist always wanted to prod her just like Burnhart had. She didn’t really care anything about Angela’s problems, just wanted information. At least, that’s how it had felt to her.

  She’d have to go across to the store to get a package, or have Craig bring her one.

  And Angela hesitated.

  Nothing in her wanted to walk across to the store. Just the thought caused her heart to seize. Just like the thought of asking her husband to bring her a box of tampons caused her face to flush with embarrassment. Would he even know what she used?

  Smartphone in hand, Angela returned downstairs and walked through the kitchen to the small anteroom on the side of the house. Standing at the doorway, she opened the inner door and looked out through the top of the screen door. Her hand rubbed at the middle of her chest as anxiety was already beginning to make it squeeze painfully.

  It really wasn’t that far, she tried reasoning. Just through the side yard, and across the parking lot. She wouldn’t even have to go around to the main door. After all, she was married to the owner and she could sneak in through the deli or through her husband’s office. It was early still, so there weren’t that many cars in the parking lot yet.

  Her hand on the door latch, the memories which had been hounding her since their arrival here pushed violently to the front of her mind and filled her entire awareness.

  It had been a cold wintery day, she remembered that much. They had just returned from their little honeymoon, but she didn’t remember the honeymoon…just coming into this house as they returned from it. After Craig had left to go collect Princess from their neighbor, Angela remembered walking to the table to pick up the note she’d found there. Derek had been threatening to come for her, and he’d been in this house while they were gone…

  She wasn’t safe here!

  She remembered standing at the edge of the sidewalk, wishing the van would just hurry and go by so she could run across the street to her husband. If she could just get to Craig, she’d be safe!

  Her chest hurt, and she couldn’t breathe. She wasn’t safe here!

  They’d thrown her to the bottom of the yellow van. She hated the color yellow now, except for Princess’ fur. The two shades were on opposite ends of the spectrum. But in this moment, her dog was nowhere in her thoughts.

  Because once he had her on the floor of the van, Derek had fallen on top of her and bitten her. Over, and over, and over again just like he had after senior prom. His hands had been rough, rough in texture and in how they touched her. His dirty nails were sharp as he’d pawed at her and torn her blouse open. How harshly he had laughed, they had all laughed as they watched Derek assault her, eagerly awaiting their turn. Pain filled her, covered her, overwhelmed her…She didn’t want to remember this!

  “Angela…stop it honey…”

  Somebody was touching her! She reached out to claw the person she couldn’t see through the red haze filling her vision, but his hands were strong and caught hers in his grip, which was surprisingly gentle.

  “I’m here, Angel, you’re safe…” Arms went around Angela, pinning her arms to her sides. As firm as it was, she could feel how gentle his grip was. Could feel his love seeping into her, chasing the pain away. “Breathe, honey…oh God, please, please let this end soon…You’re safe…you’re safe, Angel…”

  Was she? Then why did the person holding her sound as afraid as she felt? But his grip around her never wavered. She struggled to focus on his voice; if she could just get to the source of this loving voice, she’d be safe. She knew that truth better than her own name.

  “That’s it, Angel…I’ve got you…you’re safe…I won’t let go…I promise, honey…”

  She could smell him now. Clean, and fresh…and pizza? “Craig?”

  A kiss was pressed to her temple as her vision cleared. “I’m here, honey.” His lips moved against her skin as he spoke against it in his soft voice. “I’m so sorry, Angel. I didn’t think being here would do this to you.”

  When she was finally able to take a deep breath, Angela realized she was on the floor of the anteroom in her husband’s lap. She blinked and saw the worry and strain on his face. “I’m safe?”

  “You’re safe.” Craig relaxed his grip on her and brought a hand to her face. “I’m so sorry, Angela. I never thought being here again would give you a panic attack, flashback, whatever this was.”

  Her hands free, Angela brought one up to her husband’s temple. Not all scars are seen. She hadn’t heard this phrase in a while, but it reminded her how sometimes she forgot her husband had been left as injured as she had been, she just couldn’t see it. “He shot you…”

  “He grazed me, that’s all.” He leaned into her touch, seeming to draw as much comfort from her touch as she was from his. He kissed the side of her arm.

  “I tried to come across to the store. My head says I’m safe, that everyone involved is either in jail or dead…” Her breathing hitched again, and Craig tightened his hold on her. “I had my hand on the doorknob…and…”

  “Shh,” he whispered, his hand brushing against the side of her head again. She was the one with physical scars, even if they had faded with time. At least on the outside. “I have you, Angel. Next time just text me and I’ll bring you whatever you need.”

  “Even if it’s just you?” She shifted in his grip and pressed her face into his neck.

  “Even if it’s just me.” Her husband kissed the spot below her ear. “Is that all you needed?”

  “No, I need tampons too. I didn’t…” She drew a deep another deep breath as her eyes began to tear up. It was a stupid thing to be crying over. “I didn’t know if you knew what kind I use or anything, so I was going to try to come over.”

  “It’s alright,” he said again. He spoke softly in her ear. “Tampax Pearl. Regular. We’ll go over after we’ve had some pizza, alright?”

  She nodded. “What time is it?”

  “Almost eleven. I know it’s a little early for lunch, but I know it’s one of the foods you won’t turn down.”

  Laughing she pulled away to look him in the eye.
“You’re right.”

  “Think you can stand?” he asked, his hand still shaky as he cupped her face.

  “I think so.”

  They helped each other to their feet. His fingers wiped at her collar bone and Angela looked down. “I was scratching myself?”

  “Yeah,” he said softly.

  “Did I get you too?” She tried checking his arms, but he wouldn’t let her. She’d scratched her father before during flashbacks, and he had brushed it off much as her husband was doing now.

  “I’m fine.” Craig scooped the pizza box up off the floor with one hand. With his other, he guided her back into the kitchen.

  “Craig, if I hurt you…” But his lips cut her off, and she found herself pressed up against the door. He was scaring her; she’d never seen him like this before. She curled her hands in his hair and let him finish his kiss. It was a nice kiss. “Craig?”

  “Angela, I don’t give a damn if you scratched my arms. You might not remember this, but I have never seen you harm yourself before. Your dad told me it was possible if the flashback was strong enough, but…Oh my God Angela, it scared me to death to come in that door and seeing you kicking and screaming and scratching yourself.”

  She ran her hands over his hair, understanding now. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was screaming?”

  “Yeah, I didn’t hear you until I got close. You kept begging him to stop biting you…” His breathing was as ragged as hers had been. “How can you stand to have me touch you after something like that?”

  “Because you don’t hurt me.” She pulled him back to her for a gentle kiss, now the comforter. “Please don’t leave me here by myself again.”

  “I won’t.”

  A ngela leaned heavily against him that evening in the warm gymnasium. Craig tried keeping his arm around her light, knowing how badly she was bruised from her incident with Buster. “Hey, you okay?” he whispered to her.

  “Enough,” she whispered back. She laced her fingers through his one his free hand and their hands rested on his leg. Sitting in the end seat on the row was all he could do to protect her here. He could feel her mother’s disapproval even though Angela’s grandmother and father both sat in between the two women. He didn’t understand what was causing his mother-in-law to frown at them so.

  He could feel Angela dozing off during Pastor Mark’s sermon. He could understand why. The heat had returned after the brief morning coolness the nighttime thunderstorm had brought, and the gymnasium had poor air circulation. Between the intense flashback he’d walked in on, and the remains of her concussion, his wife had been complaining of not feeling well. He decided to let Angela doze.

  Pastor Mark’s sermon sounded like the general run-of-the-mill sermon one expected at a Baccalaureate service. Looking to God along life’s journey and facing the world as adults. Moral living in college, financial responsibilities, God has a plan for your life and you just have to work with Him to figure it out. When the man finally wound down, Craig gave his wife a gentle nudge.

  “Hey,” he said again as people began to stand and leave. The noise of the crowd gave them a few moments of privacy. The back of his hand caressed her cheek checking for an elevated temperature. “Are you really feeling alright?”

  “I’m just too warm,” she answered. “I really want to throw up.”

  “If you’re still feeling this bad tomorrow, I’m calling Dr. Ryan. Or Dr. Evans since we’re here.”

  She nodded without argument. “Okay.”

  That wasn’t a good sign.

  On the other side of Angela, Grandma Pearl rubbed her granddaughter’s shoulder. “I’ve never seen her look this bad after a concussion,” the older woman said to Craig. “How many days has it been?”

  “Five,” answered Craig.

  “You’re not still going to come and help tomorrow, are you?” Pearl asked her granddaughter. “Your Grandmother Rose will be there, and Cassie. I’m sure we can manage without you.”

  “Mom expects it,” Angela answered. “I should be fine so long as I don’t overdo it.”

  “We’ll decide that in the morning,” said Craig firmly. His wife didn’t voice an objection, which confirmed exactly how ill she was feeling. “If you’ll excuse us, Pearl, I think I’d better get her home.”

  “Of course,” replied the grandmother with a smile. She glanced at Philip and Maude who were talking to friends in the row behind them. “I’ll let them know you’ve gone, and why.”

  “Thanks,” Angela said as he helped her to her feet. His arm stayed around her as he led the way out of the crowded building. She managed to say hello to those who greeted her, but he knew he was telegraphing Do Not Disturb to those in their path. She didn’t seem to mind.

  It wasn’t any cooler outside, but even Craig thought it was easier to breathe. The gymnasium hadn’t been overly packed for the religious service, but it had felt it. Graduation was sure to be worse.

  Once in their truck, his wife leaned against him as she sat in the center of the seat. Angela sighed contentedly as the cool air from the air conditioning began to blow from the dash vents and he wasn’t surprised when she angled one to blow directly on her.

  “When did you start feeling this way?” Craig inquired.

  Angela sighed, though he could hear the pleasure his concern brought her. “Shortly after we got there, Dr. Moore. I think it’s just the heat Craig, really. Can we get something to drink?”

  “Sure. Drive-thru, or you want to stop somewhere?”

  “Drive-thru’s fine.”

  “It’s amazing how much these towns have changed these past few years,” Craig mused out loud a few minutes later as he pulled into the drive-thru lane. He was mildly surprised she didn’t have music going yet, another sign she wasn’t feeling well. He was content with the quiet sound of her breathing, so he didn’t turn the radio on either. “Well, Tyler’s Grove hasn’t, but Sawyersville sure has.”

  “I don’t think that town will ever change. Have you even put an ATM in the store?”

  “Two summers ago,” answered Craig, amused. He didn’t think he’d ever mentioned that to her. She never seemed very interested in the store, even though it had been where they’d fallen in love with each other. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Whatever lemon-lime soda they have.”

  “You really aren’t feeling well,” Craig muttered under his breath. When it was his turn at the drive thru, he ordered their drinks. The fast-food restaurant was busy tonight. They weren’t the only ones with the bright idea to stop in after Baccalaureate. Soon enough, he had paid for their drinks and was passing Angela hers while he slid his ice coffee into the cupholder in the dash.

  “I can’t believe how tall Jared’s gotten,” Angela commented after swallowing more than a little soda through the straw.

  “Cassie’s pretty tall too,” replied Craig. Both her younger siblings were almost as tall as he was.

  “Yeah. I guess I got the short gene.” She leaned her head against him. “Better than the red hair, I guess.”

  Craig smiled, thankful for the darkness that covered it. She continually denied the red highlights in her hair, even knowing her birth parents had both been bright redheads. “You’re not that short, Angel.”

  “I still can’t reach the top shelf of most things,” she answered, her tone accepting of her height. “My height is horribly average, even for the tall side of it.”

  He laughed. “I doubt there’s anything average about you, Angel. Besides, you’re a perfect fit for me.”

  She didn’t answer, just drank more soda through her straw.

  “Are you blushing?” he asked, still amused.

  “Maybe.”

  Craig smiled at the memories her answer provoked. He’d been so awkward at the beginning of their relationship, that when a moment came to admit to her that he was interested in her romantically – his best answer had been maybe. And his awkwardness hadn’t scared her away. God, he loved this woman.

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nbsp; The rest of the trip home was spent in comfortable silence. Once back at Kevin and Sherry’s, Angela headed straight upstairs while Craig paused in the living room to talk with his friends.

  “You’re back earlier than expected,” remarked Kevin, turning the volume of the television down.

  “Angela’s not feeling well,” Craig told him. He turned his face upstairs, shaking his head as the shower kicked on. “She’s sick to her stomach, too warm and flushed. It might just be the heat. The gym was stifling.”

  “Tomorrow won’t be any better,” commented Kevin. “Too bad they don’t have an outdoor area where they could hold graduation.”

  “But then it might rain,” Sherry put in, her lips twitching in an almost smile.

  “That’s usually how it goes,” smiled Kevin.

  “I’m not sure whether to let her go help with party preparations or not.” Craig sat adjacent to them in the armchair. It wasn’t as comfortable as it used to be. “I know Angela wants to make her mother happy, but if she’s feeling this poorly, it’s only going to make her feel worse.”

  Kevin leaned back in his seat, his expression thoughtful. “Angela and I were talking yesterday, right before you walked in from the store. She made a few comments which make me wonder about her relationship with her mother.”

  Craig’s eyebrows shot up in mild surprise. He pressed his lips together tightly before answering. “It was fine for a while, but recently there’s been a strain. I’m not sure what the cause is; the most Angela will say is it’s a mother/daughter thing and I wouldn’t understand.”

  Sherry laughed. “I agree with her. Men don’t understand. It’s a complicated relationship, even the best ones.”

  “I agree,” said Kevin, with a faint smile.

  Craig appreciated their humor, but it did nothing to ease his concern over the issue. Today’s earlier episode was still taking its toll on him and his protectiveness was at an all-time high. He wouldn’t have told his friends about it if they hadn’t asked about the scratches on her collar bone and the ones on his arm.

  But back to the present.