Chapter 17: Double Trouble

One moment I was prepared to fight Dan off, but in the blink of an eye, I was back on my cellar steps. Someone’s hand was wrapped around my wrist.

For a moment I was fearful, but then I recognized Justin, and my heart leapt. He seized my other wrist to prevent me from falling, then pulled me over the concrete lip of the cellar.

As soon as my feet touched the grass, I allowed myself to fall into his arms. My body trembled violently as I clung to him. I knew I looked foolish, but at that moment, I didn’t care how he perceived me.

Why was I having these visions? What had been that dark cloud following Dan? I wanted to open my eyes, but I was too scared to, in case it was still lingering over the house.

Justin wrapped me in his arms and began rocking me back and forth in a soothing manner. Soon enough, my rapidly beating heart began to slow and I was no longer shaking.

I melted into his chest, but before my face could form a permanent imprint on the front of his shirt, he pulled away so he could look at my face.

“Are you all right?”

I nodded in response, not trusting myself to speak as I squinted at the bright-blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud in sight—dark or white and fluffy.

“Let’s get you on the deck.”

I nodded and allowed him to shepherd me. Keeping a tight grasp on my shoulders, he escorted me onto the deck and ordered me to sit.

“Why don’t I get you some water?” he offered.

I nodded. “We…we keep the water on the third shelf in the fridge.”

He disappeared into the house, returning with a bottle in each hand. “I got one for myself. I hope you don’t mind,” he said. “Saving you was thirsty work.”

I offered him a weak smile as I accepted the drink. He reached for the chair opposite, bringing it around the table so he could position himself in front of me. “Are you all right?” he repeated, sounding genuinely concerned.

I nodded. “Thank you for getting me out of there.”

“When a cellar door rattles, you can rely on me to spring into action,” he joked lightly. “What were you doing down there, anyway?”

“I went down to the basement to flip a breaker switch because a light in one of the bedrooms has been acting up, but the door closed behind me and the knob wouldn’t turn, so I was forced to break out through the cellar…,” I rambled.

I couldn’t tell him about Dan and Karen; I would only sound crazy. But when he didn’t respond, I felt the need to fill the silence. “You think I’m dumb, don’t you?”

“No,” Justin said, smiling as he shook his head. “I don’t think I would have reacted differently if I’d found myself in the same position. Basements are creepy.”

I braced my hands on the arms of the chair and prepared to push myself to my feet. “I’ve already inconvenienced you enough for one day. I better head back inside and let you get back to work.”

I thought he looked disappointed as I stood but brushed it off as my imagination and began to retreat inside.

“Hold on a minute, Dharma,” he said as he crossed the deck and stood in front of me. “There was something I was meaning to ask you.”

“Ask me anything,” I permitted, scolding myself for sounding so eager.

“I was wondering if you would like to go out with me this Saturday,” he blurted. “If that’s not too soon…”

My heart sprang at his offer, and it was on the tip of my tongue to accept, but then I remembered that I had already committed to Toby.

My exhilaration subsided as I said, “I’m busy Saturday afternoon. I have plans with a friend.”

Undeterred, he stood back and crossed his arms. “I’m busy Saturday afternoon as well. I was thinking we could do something in the evening. That is, if your mummy will let you out of your wraps,” he joked, tugging at the bandage on my elbow.

I tucked in my lips in response, and he chuckled nervously. “That sounded funnier in my head.”

“A career in comedy wouldn’t suit you,” I confirmed.

“Did I just ruin my chances?” he asked, pretending to appear hurt.

I sighed heavily. “I allow my suitors at least one bad joke,” I told him in a haughty tone. “Just don’t let it happen again.”

“I already have your mother’s number,” he said as he fished his phone from his pocket. “Can I have yours, or do I need to speak with her first?”

I rolled my eyes and rattled off my number. As he slipped his phone back into his pocket he said, “Now that I have all the information I need, you are free to go.”

“I’ll see you Saturday,” I promised before I disappeared into the house.

I went into the kitchen to dispose of my water bottle. I must have been grinning like an idiot, because my mother was suspicious as soon as she saw me.

“What are you up to?” she began to grill me, then did a second take when she noticed how dirty I was. “What have you been doing?”

I quickly summarized what had just occurred. By the time I was done, she had closed her eyes and was pinching the bridge of her nose—something she did when she felt a headache coming on.

“I guess I will have to hire a handyman as well…”

“The basement door should be an easy fix,” I countered. “We can do it ourselves.”

My mother sounded doubtful as she asked, “You know how to fix the knob?”

“Not yet,” I teased in a sing-song voice. “But that is why we have YouTube.”

My mother cocked her head to the side. “You seem awfully chipper for a girl who was just locked in a basement.”

“That is because I was asked out on a date,” I informed her.

“Toby asked you out on a real date?” my mother asked, appearing ready to share my excitement.

“No, I have a date with another boy,” I said, taking her by the hand and leading her to the dining room window, where we could view the backyard where Justin was hard at work.

His blond hair glistened in the sun; he had rolled up his sleeves to reveal his impressive biceps that flexed as he trimmed some low-hanging branches.

“He’s certainly handsome,” my mother agreed. “When do you two plan on going out on your date?”

“Saturday night,” I replied promptly.

My mother’s brow furrowed. “Didn’t you promise Toby you would see him on Saturday?”

“During the afternoon,” I interjected. “Justin and I are going out in the evening.”

My mother gave me a disapproving look.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, doing my best to appear innocent.

“You will be seen out with two different boys on the same day,” she pointed out. “That’s a good way to gain a bad reputation.”

“I don’t plan to do anything with either one of them!” I proclaimed, not certain that I was being entirely honest.

“People here don’t know you, so for a while you are whoever they perceive you to be.”

“I’ll be careful, Mom,” I assured her. “Maybe I can ask Justin if we can see a movie in a different town.”

“That might be wise,” she said, though she didn’t sound entirely sold on the idea.

Fearing that our opposing views could spiral into an argument, I changed the subject. “Come on,” I said, urging her to follow me into the den. “Let’s fire up the television and see if we can fix that knob.”

My mother relented, but I knew she planned to revisit the conversation.