CHAPTER 2
High-pitched beeps pulled Jesse from sleep. She fumbled for the button to silence the noise before lifting her head to squint at red numbers. She rolled onto her back with a moan—seven o’clock. Each blink felt like sand being dragged across her eyes. Fighting the temptation to turn her face into the pillow, she swung her legs over the side of the bed to pad barefoot to the window seat. Shielding her eyes against the bright sun, she watched birds scamper across the front lawn in search of their morning meal. At the sound of squawking, she noticed a blue jay flapping its wings at competition before claiming a place at the bird feeder. As the larger bird’s weight tilted the feeder, a sparrow darted across the yard to pick at the seed trickling down. She smiled at the smaller bird’s cunning.
Yawning, Jesse stood up to stretch. What time were they supposed to be at the hospital? Had Gabriel said nine? No, that was the discharge time. Gabriel told her grandmother they would be at the hospital earlier. At the sound of knocking, she pulled on her robe and hurried across the room. Pulling the door open, her eyes focused on the mug in Gabriel’s outstretched hand.
“I thought you could use this.”
“Oh, you just don’t know,” she said, taking the offered cup. “Thank you.”
He glanced at his watch. “I was hoping to leave before eight, if you don’t mind.”
“Um, sure,” she said, between sips of coffee. “Twenty minutes.”
He looked doubtful. “Twenty minutes?”
“Less than twenty,” she said, smiling before closing the door.
Taking another sip of coffee, she closed her eyes, savoring the rich taste. He remembered she took sugar.
Gabriel walked into the kitchen just as Jesse was finishing the last bite of pancake.
She picked up her plate and headed to the sink. “I can’t believe how fluffy your pancakes are.”
“Thank you. It’s an old family recipe.” He smiled before adding, “At least that’s what the package said.”
As she neared the sink, he took the plate from her hands. “We’ll leave these until we get back. It’s getting late,” he said, turning to put the plate into the sink.
Fiery eyes bored into his back. “I don’t appreciate being treated like a child. Ever since I got here, you’ve been controlling everything—at the hospital—what time we leave. In case you need reminding, you’re not big brother bossing around little sister.”
He turned slowly to look at her. They were standing so close that she could smell the light, woodsy scent of his soap. When he crossed his arms, she fought the impulse to step back. Instead, she crossed her own arms and lifted one brow to match the arch of his. Seconds ticked by before he broke the silence. “I’ve made every effort to be courteous since your arrival, Jesse. Perhaps courtesy has become obsolete in Long Beach. Have manners become so uncommon as to be misconstrued as bossy and offensive…by some? Whatever the case, I refuse to discard civility to pacify you or anyone else.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Manners—misconstrued, he was sorely mistaken and she was in the mood to tell him so. “This isn’t about manners. This is about—what you’re doing is—” She stopped without finishing the sentence. Putting his crime into words was proving difficult.
Seeing her expression go blank, he said, “Right,” before stepping around her to leave the room.
She turned around slowly in the empty kitchen, confused. Why was she angry? Big brother? Did I really just say that? She had completely overreacted. But to what? She closed her eyes, wishing she could turn the clock back ten minutes.
Pulling the front door shut behind her, Jesse looked out to see Gabriel leaning on the passenger side of the Jeep, waiting. She could only guess at what he must be thinking. Her ears began to heat up with embarrassment. She didn’t look at him as she got into the vehicle to stare straight ahead. The new car smell, nice leather seats, multiple levers and buttons—she would have normally commented, but she didn’t. Neither spoke as they traveled miles of road stretched out along the valley floor. She stared out the window to see grassy fields with the occasional cow. Biting her lower lip, her focus moved to the radio controls. Music would be nice—anything to fill the silence.
Just when she might have risked turning the radio on herself, she began to see the faint outline of a cluster of buildings in the distance. Then people started coming into view. Finally, something interesting to look at. She thought it strange to see so many people in town. People jostling along sidewalks in a hurry to some unknown destination was a familiar sight in the city, but here in the small town of Mountain Valley, not so much. And these people didn’t seem to be going anywhere. Some milled around aimlessly while others sat along sidewalks. She risked a sideways glance at Gabriel but his taut face kept her from asking questions.
At the hospital, her grandmother was packed and ready to go. Gabriel walked in and offered a quick greeting before picking up the overnight case and saying he would meet them out front.
Before he could get to the door, her grandmother called to him. “Gabriel, does Nick have someone in the hospital? I thought I saw somebody that looks like him walk by the door a few times yesterday.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t. I just talked to him last night.”
Her grandmother watched him walk out. “I wonder what’s got into him. Did he say anything to you?”
“What?” Jesse asked, feigning distraction. “Say anything? About what, Grammy?”
“Did he say anything about what’s bothering him? Did you two have an argument?”
Jesse blinked innocently. “Argument?” She stalled a few seconds, pretending to mentally rewind the morning’s events to show just how forgettable her earlier spat with Gabriel had been. Just as she was about to confess, a nurse sailed into the room.
The nurse was talking as she came through the door. “Okay, Ms. Ray, the doctor has signed off on your discharge papers. We’ve already gone over everything and I just need your signature right…here,” she said handing her grandmother a pen and holding the clipboard upside down for her to sign.
Slowly inching her way toward the door, her grandmother nodded agreeably as the nurse issued final instructions. Realizing her grandmother’s intent, the nurse called her name. “Ms. Ray, you can’t leave until the orderly gets here with a wheelchair.”
Jesse watched the smile slide from her grandmother’s face. “Wheelchair? Oh, no, dear. Thank you, but I don’t need a wheelchair.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Ray, but you do need a wheelchair.” The nurse quickly rattled off hospital guidelines. “Our policy requires transport of all patients by wheelchair, which will be here shortly.”
Looking from the nurse to her grandmother, Jesse stepped back. Uh-oh, she thought as she two women faced each other. Not missing the slight shake of her grandmother’s head, the nurse crossed her arms, prepared for the familiar battle.
The silence lasted only seconds but seemed longer. Jesse’s eyes darted around the room, searching for any distraction. Too bad her cell phone was on a nightstand in her apartment two thousand miles away. Although useless in the area, at least she would have something to focus on.
After a few seconds, Jesse saw her grandmother’s face begin to relax before saying, “I’m just being contrary. Of course, I’ll follow the rules.”
Immediately, the nurse’s face brightened as if the battle of wills never happened. “Thank you, Ms. Ray, for understanding.” Looking at her watch, the nurse headed for the door. “It won’t be long,” she called over her shoulder.
Ten minutes later, Jesse sat tapping a forefinger on the chair arm, waiting for the promised wheelchair. The nurse had stuck her head in a few times to assure that it wouldn’t be much longer.
Hearing her grandmother’s sigh, Jesse said, “They’re probably on their way.”
“Mm-hm,” her grandmother said with a hint of sarcasm. “I’m sure it won’t be long.”
Jesse turned so her grandmother wouldn’t see her smile. A few minutes later, the same nurse came back into the room. She sounded flustered. “I’m so sorry. I guess all the orderlies are busy.”
“You know,” Jesse, said, getting the nurse’s attention, “I can push Grammy out if you have other patients to see.”
The nurse bit her lower lip, thinking, before looking at her watch. “I am running behind. Sure you don’t mind? I would appreciate it.”
Less than a minute later the same nurse pushed the elusive wheelchair into the room. Jesse looked over to see her grandmother eye her rolling carriage with distaste. “Hospital rules, Grammy,” she said, coaxing her grandmother into the chair.
Inside the elevator, her grandmother waited for the doors to shut before twisting around with a scowl. “Humph! Rolled around like an invalid. Well I’d ride a gurney down Main Street in a hospital gown to get out of here.” She turned back in a huff to cross her arms.
Jesse fought the impulse to laugh. “Really, Grammy? A gurney down Main Street in a hospital gown?”
Her grandmother’s shoulders began to shake with laughter. “I guess that was too dramatic. How about a gurney minus the gown?”
Jesse snorted with laughter. “Minus the gown? Talk about drama. Now that would give your church friends something to talk about.”
“Oh, stop it,” she said, feigning indignation. “You know what I mean.”
Outside the front entrance, Gabriel helped her grandmother into the Jeep before covering her legs with a light wrap. He was rewarded with a warm smile and pat on his hand. Watching the two of them, Jesse wondered when they had become so close.
As they made their way through town, Gabriel adjusted the rearview mirror so he could see her grandmother in the backseat as he talked. “People are worried, Florence. Strangers are flooding into town with nowhere to stay. Local church resources are already overwhelmed.”
“I know,” she said. “People are worried and starting to leave cities. Another virus spreading in Asia. And last night I heard on the news that whole regions from northern Minnesota to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan don’t have water.”
Gabriel shook his head, sighing. “Virus, drought, storms along the coast, crime—people are scared.”
Her grandmother issued a dismal prediction. “It’s going to get worse.”
As they neared the house, Jesse felt her grandmother’s hand on her shoulder. “You haven’t said much, Jesse. Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine, Grammy. Maybe a little tired from the trip.”
When the Jeep came to a stop in front of the house, Gabriel turned to study Jesse’s face. “Different time zone. Jet lag can make us tired and irritable.”
She knew he was offering an excuse for her earlier behavior, and she took it. “I think you’re right.”
In the living room, her grandmother refused the light blanket Gabriel offered. The note of concern in his voice was unmistakable. “The doctor said you should relax a few days, Florence.”
“And I’ll do just that, but there’s no need to make a fuss.”
When Gabriel left the room, Jesse sat down on the sofa next to her grandmother. “Would you like something to drink, Grammy? Maybe some tea?”
Her grandmother’s face brightened. “That sounds good. I’ll make us both a cup.”
Jesse placed her hand on her grandmother’s shoulder. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re supposed to rest. I think I remember where everything is.”
Just as the kettle emitted a high-pitched whistle, Gabriel came into the kitchen wearing jeans, work boots and a T-shirt. “Did you find everything okay?”
“Yes, I did,” she said starting to pour water into cups without looking up. “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Not right now. I have some work to do.” He dropped his work gloves onto the kitchen island. Watching her, he said, “I’m not angry. You’ve had a long trip, a lot on your mind.”
She set the kettle aside and faced him. “You’re right. The trip was long and I was worried about Grammy, but that’s no excuse. I’m sorry. I was out of line earlier.”
“Apology accepted,” he said, picking up his gloves. “Let’s just put it behind us and start over.”
She took his number down and promised to call if they needed anything. Watching him leave, she felt a wave of guilt. She had been too busy wondering why he was there to think about the benefits of having him around. Her grandmother lives in a large house with no immediate neighbors. Instead of questioning, she should be thanking him. Obviously, her grandmother was fond of Gabriel and he seemed to dote on her. She was glad to know that her grandmother wouldn’t be alone when she returned to Long Beach.
Feeling better now that she and Gabriel had resolved their earlier disagreement, Jesse smiled as she set the tray on the coffee table and settled in next to her grandmother.
Returning her smile, her grandmother said, “I’m so glad you’re home. How many years has it been?”
Not wanting to admit the number, Jesse sidestepped the question. “I’m just glad that you’re okay, Grammy. That’s what matters.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” she said, her focus moving to stare off distractedly across the room.
Jesse watched her grandmother a few seconds. “What’s on your mind, Grammy?”
She set her tea aside and looked back at Jesse without saying anything.
Seeing her grandmother's grave expression, Jesse slid her shoes off and moved to sit cross-legged with her back against the arm of the sofa. Whatever talk they were about to have could take a while. She might as well get comfortable.
As the silence stretched out, Jesse started to squirm. When she couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “Well, let’s hear it, Grammy. It must be pretty serious.”
“Oh, it is serious. Very serious. I need you to do something for me.”
That’s it? A favor? Jesse breathed a sigh of relief. “You know that I would do anything for you, Grammy. Just ask.”
“Anything?” Was her swift response.
Jesse noted the excited look on her grandmother’s face. What had she just agreed to? She smiled weakly. “Well, I can’t imagine anything I wouldn’t do for you, Grammy.”
Not giving Jesse time to reconsider her agreement, her grandmother blurted. “I want you to move home.”
Head slightly tilted, Jesse stared at her grandmother. “Move home? Do you mean leave Long Beach and live here permanently?”
To avoid any misunderstanding, her grandmother spoke slowly. “Yes. I’m asking you to leave California and move here permanently. I need you here with me.”
“But—but, you have Gabriel.”
“No, you don’t understand. I don’t need you here to help me. I need you here where it’s safe.”
Jesse sat in stunned silence. Did her grandmother realize what she was asking her to do? Give up her job, her apartment, friends, Amber—no, she couldn’t possibly leave Amber alone in California. She and Amber had agreed to stay in the city where they had gone to college together.
The smile was forced. “Grammy, you’re such a worrier. I know we’re having some problems but it’s no worse in California than anywhere else. Things will get better soon.”
Her attempt to lighten the mood failed miserably. Her grandmother’s expression was solemn. “No, things will not get better. We have moved into a time prophesied long ago, a critical time like no other in history.”
Prophesied? Religion, Jesse should have known. Not ready to give in, she tried again. “Didn’t you see the news? Experts say the economy is showing signs of improvement.”
Her grandmother’s tone was skeptical. “Experts? If you want to hear the opposite of what any expert says, just turn the channel. And sticking our heads in the sand won’t stop the title wave. The economy is crashing. You saw those people in town. They’re here looking for a safe place for their families.”
By her expression, Jesse knew her grandmother couldn’t be swayed. She had no choice but tell her straight out that she would not move home. “I’m sorry, Grammy—”
“Jesse,” her grandmother said, cutting her off, “the Earth is being shaken to its very core, and it will get worse, much worse.”
Closing her eyes, Jesse’s fingers came up to pinch the bridge of her nose. She could feel pressure at her temples signaling the start of a headache. After a few seconds, she dropped her hand to look at her grandmother. “How do you know that, Grammy? Seriously, how can you possibly know the future?”
Her voice was quiet, somber. “For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom and there will be famines, pestilences and earthquakes. All these are the beginning of sorrows, the beginning of birth pains. We are well past the beginning. When God takes the church out of the world, the dam holding back utter evil will be removed. The Earth will be filled with unspeakable horror.”
Jesse's mouth fell open as she stared back at her grandmother. The bleak forecast was unnerving. Her grandmother seemed so certain. Utter evil, unspeakable horror—the words painted a picture that left Jesse on edge. The truth came out in a whisper. “I can’t leave Amber.”
Her grandmother’s face lit up. “Leave Amber? Of course not. She can come here. We have plenty of room. She’ll love it here.”
Jesse shook her head, doubtful. “I don’t know, Grammy.” Would Amber leave California? She pondered the possibility. She certainly wouldn’t admit that she and Amber had recently talked about how bad things were getting in Long Beach.
“Take a break,” her grandmother urged. “If you’re right and things do get better, then you can go back out with a fresh start, a new job. Amber works from home and you said yourself that you’re thinking about a job change.”
Jesse considered her grandmother’s hopeful expression. She had called her a worrier, but that was far from the truth. Her grandmother was sensible and smart. If she was worried, there was a good reason. Keen eyes watched Jesse’s face, waiting. Evidently, this was very important to her grandmother. Could she say no to the woman who had given her everything and asked for nothing in return? Jesse released a long breath. “I can’t promise anything, Grammy.”
“But…?”
“But I’ll talk to Amber. See what she says.”
In her grandmother’s excitement, she clapped her hands gleefully before standing to hold out her arms waiting for a hug. “Oh, thank you, Jesse. You just don’t know how much this means to me.”
“I’m beginning to think I do,” Jesse said, as she stepped back from the tight embrace.
Her grandmother’s smile melted as she looked closer at Jesse’s face. “Is that circles under your eyes? Why don’t you go upstairs and rest for a while?”
Given her long flight and restless night, she did feel tired, but she had never been one to sleep during the day. “Maybe later, Grammy. Besides, I don’t want to leave you down here alone.”
“Alone? Why, I’m never alone.” Picking up the remote, she sat down on the sofa. “You should go upstairs and relax…or you could call Amber. I’ll be right here watching the news.”
The news—Jesse had seen too much news lately. Her fingers came up to massage the light throbbing in her temple. “Well, if you don’t mind, I think I will go up for a while.”
In her room, Jesse curled into the window seat to gaze out over the mountains. A large hawk circling in the distance drew her attention. She watched in awe at how the bird glided so easily through the air. What would it be like to fly, to live in the moment with no worries about the future? Was that what her father had loved about flying, the freedom? Like the hawk, he had soared the skies on silver wings. She never knew where he was coming from or going.
Mental snapshots of her father floated through Jesse’s mind. Reserved, soft-spoken, he wasn’t home much, but when he was, he seemed to prefer the solitude behind the closed door of his study. She often wondered if she had been a burden to her father. Her stepmother seemed to think so, but maybe her father had avoided her for other reasons. Jesse knew from photographs that she resembled her mother. Had she reminded her father of a lost love? She wanted to believe her father stayed away because of who she reminded him of, not because of who she was. Maybe her mother and father were together again, smiling and happy, in some idyllic afterlife. She liked to think so.
At her father’s funeral, Jesse had searched the eyes of those offering condolences in hopes of seeing sincere grief in the face of a best friend, a close confidante, even an illicit lover. She wanted to know that her father had connected with someone, but she had been disappointed. Like her, she suspected that no one in the room had really known her father. No one seemed overly affected by his death, certainly not his wife. Her stepmother might have been at any social event.
Jesse may not have known if her father loved her, but she was positive that her stepmother never did. At the age of thirteen, the truth had been made painfully clear. Jolted awake by a loud crash, Jesse had run down the hall thinking Claire might have fallen. From the doorway of the den, she had watched the small lamp sail across the room to join its demolished mate. Seeing her stepmother angry was no surprise, but the cloud of fury on her face that morning had been frightening. The rage shaking Claire’s body had vibrated in her voice. “Your father popped in long enough to ruin my life. We’re moving to Washington D.C.” Seeing Jesse’s expression, her laugh had cut the air like a shard of glass. “Are you surprised, Jesse? Did you expect your father to give you the news himself? You’re nothing to him, dry cleaning dropped off for someone else to deal with.” Snatching a crystal vase from a nearby table, Claire’s hands twisted the delicate neck. “I’ve put up with you all these years and this is how he repays me.” Jesse’s suspicions had been confirmed that day. Her stepmother hated her.
While her father jetted across the world and her stepmother shopped for the next big event, Jesse had quietly waited for spring. That had been her life, waiting, putting one foot in front of the other to slog through the cold, quiet drudgery of winter. Each carefully drawn X on the calendar had marked a day closer to summer, a day closer to her grandmother. Winters, she had been an unwanted guest in her father’s house but each summer she had gone home to her grandmother.
The ringing telephone jarred Jesse back to the present. Two rings, her grandmother had taken the call downstairs. She looked for the hawk above the mountains but it was nowhere in sight. Had the predator found prey? With a slight shudder, she imagined steel talons snapping around an unwary victim. Her grandmother was right; the world was becoming more dangerous. Long Beach was becoming dangerous.
Would Amber agree to move? Leaving the window seat, she paced the floor debating the possibility. They had lived in Long Beach since their junior year of college but Amber had no real ties to the city. With her computer and equipment, Amber could work anywhere.
Jesse smiled, remembering the day she and Amber met. At the beginning of her junior year, Jesse had been reading in her dorm room when startled by a loud banging noise. Hurrying to open the door being kicked from the outside, she had stared wide-eyed at the large box on legs staggering through the door.
A freckled face with glasses askew had jutted out from the side of the box to ask, “Where’s the computer desk?” As Amber passed by, Jesse had noticed the tuft of red hair standing straight out from the slight woman’s pixie haircut. With each step, the red plume waved gaily in friendly introduction. Pushing aside the dashed hope of not getting a roommate, Jesse had welcomed the transfer student from Nevada.
Dismissed by some as a computer geek, Jesse saw Amber differently. She was witty, intelligent and fiercely independent. She and Amber were poles apart in some respects, but they also had much in common. Like her, Amber shied away from the frenzied dorm life. They were both private people, but at the same time, idealists. They shared a fundamental belief in the goodness of humanity and each wanted to make the world a better place. While Jesse focused on helping individuals, Amber’s appreciation for technology, systems and organization had led her into computer science. As a computer security specialist, Amber battled corruption in cyberspace.
Her eyes moved to the phone on the desk. She might as well make the call now.
Amber answered on the second ring. “Hey, girl, what’s going on? How’s your grandmother?”
After assuring Amber that her grandmother was well, Jesse took a deep breath before plunging into the question she promised to ask. “You know, Amber, I’ve been thinking… Just a few weeks ago, we were talking about Long Beach and how it’s changed—burglaries, muggings, sirens keeping us up all night. We never go out anymore, and I was thinking—actually, my grandmother suggested…”
When Jesse hesitated, Amber urged her to finish. “Your grandmother suggested…what?”
The words came out in a rush. “Grammy wants us to move here—for a while. You’d have your own room. I said I would ask but I didn’t commit to anything.”
Amber’s laugh was unexpected. “Jesse, you don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. My mom has been bugging me nonstop to move home. I didn’t want to say anything, you know, with Tom and the breakup.”
“You didn’t want to upset me.”
“Well, yeah, that, and I didn’t know if you’d move to Nevada. Mom has your room ready to go and she’s been driving me crazy. Every other sentence is come home…ask Jesse…come home. And since rumors about another virus has started up again, geez, she’s really popped her cork.”
“Amber, I’m so sorry. I wish you had told me. Of course, you should move home with your family. That’s what we’ll both do, move home and wait for things to get better.”
Eager to make a list for any occasion, Amber began devising plans that included several tasks being assigned to her unwitting older brother, Matt. Brushing Jesse’s protests aside, Amber insisted on taking care of the move so Jesse could stay with her grandmother. “I’m already here and almost everything can be taken care of by phone. Trust me, Matt will be happy to help. And you can use vacation time for a notice. Sure, it’s not a great situation but it beats the expense of flying back to California for a few weeks.”
Jesse knew Amber was writing when she said, “Contact movers—ship personal items—storage.”
Jesse had to ask. “Flow chart or list?”
Amber laughed. “You know me too well.”
“Yes, I do, and I’m going to miss you terribly. Are you sure you’ll be okay in Nevada?”
“Of course. I can pack my job up in a few bags and take it with me. Oh, and by the way, I’ve been working on some new ideas.” Jesse could hear the excitement in Amber’s voice as she talked about marketing strategies and plans to put her computer skills to use in different environments.
Suddenly the phone went silent.
“Amber, are you there?”
“I’m here. I just thought of something. You and your grandmother will be alone in the mountains. Is that safe?” The question caught Jesse off guard. When she didn’t answer right away, Amber said, “I know I’ve never been there, but your description makes me think the place is way out in bigfoot boonies—you know, secluded.”
Jesse knew she had to tell Amber about Gabriel, but she hesitated. She was certain Amber would remember the name because she had shared every detail of her teenage heartbreak with her best friend. Amber’s response wasn’t surprising. She gasped and then questioned, “The Gabriel James? That Gabriel James?”
Jesse closed her eyes with an inward groan. “Yes, that Gabriel James.”
The word, “Wow,” was drawn out. “I’d almost take your grandmother up on her offer to see how that plays out.”
Admitting her own surprise at the strange turn of events, Jesse explained that Gabriel was staying at her grandmother’s request. “They’re working on a project, probably something to do with church, and it’s more convenient for him to stay here.”
Ending the call, Jesse fell across the bed to prop her chin in her hands. Amber asked if Gabriel’s presence had influenced her decision to stay. Although she said that it hadn’t, somewhere down deep, she wondered. Was she being honest with Amber, with herself? Gabriel did seem to affect her, but not necessarily in a positive way. Around him, she could be overly sensitive. Her angry response to an imagined slight that morning had been completely out of character. She still couldn’t explain why she had made such a fuss over something so minor. Shrugging off further analysis, she resigned herself to one certainty. Life is unpredictable. She would be living in the same house with Gabriel James—yes, that Gabriel James. She, too, wondered how that might play out.