Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(42)

That made him laugh. “Not a time bomb, they just know they crossed a line by keeping secrets from me. If there is one thing you do not mess with in Chara it’s a persons soul mate. They are still hiding something and they know I won’t take it well.”

“Whatever it is…we’ll get through it.”

“I promise you that.” He said reaching to trace my bottom lip.

For an instant we’d forgotten we were standing in the den, with my parents a few feet away.

It seemed my father had taken on the cooking duties for the morning. He was fixing his famous omelets. The enticing aroma saturated the air. I heard my stomach growl as I took in the heavenly scent.

“I hope you guys are hungry. There’s more than enough,” my father said as we sat at the table.

My mother was sketching the mountain view that served as the background to the cabin that we’d called home for the past few days. Everyone seemed at peace, even Libby.

“Are you going with me and Landen today, Dad?”

He was surprised and flattered by my question. “I think I’m going to stay here with your mom and Libby,” he said, sitting down.

I was sure he had his reasons. Secretly, though, I really just wanted to see the way his hazel eyes would look in the string, I imagined they’d be green the way they were when he was happy.

“So I heard you had a good day traveling yesterday, that it came quickly to you,” he said.

I glanced at Landen, and he grinned back at me. I wasn’t sure I liked being the topic of conversation.

“I promise I didn’t tell them everything. They don’t even know where we went,” Landen thought. He was learning to read me as easily as I read him.

“So where did you two go anyway?” my father asked.

Landen raised his brow and tilted his head as he took a big bite of his omelet. I was reading him now, and he was saying loud and clear, ‘I told you so.’

“Well, a lot of places. We started at Victoria Falls,” I answered.

We had my mother’s attention now. She’d put her sketch down and was looking at me, a surge of energy coming from her. “Zimbabwe?” she asked.

There was no holding back the laughter from my father, Landen, and me. My mother sat back in her chair and tried to imagine how. I knew how hard it must be for her. The shock that I felt was still clear in my memory. After I told my mother of the rest of our travels, she was excited for me. I wished I could show her. Maybe one day either my father or I could take her.

Landen and I took the rental car and drove to the closest town. It was a tourist town, and we hoped it would be easy to find someone who was unhappy when they were vacationing.

“Landen, do you think I could really help people close to me, like Livingston does?” I thought as we strolled across the sidewalk that lined the town.

“I think there’s a reason for your gift. I don’t want you to rush it. It’ll happen when it’s supposed to.”

I wasn’t sure if he didn’t want me to rush it because he was afraid of how I’d use it, or if he thought it would go away the same way they said Libby’s would if we provoked it.

“Do you really think I can, though?”

“I know you’re special,” he said, giving me my favorite playful grin. “Did you like your tree last night?”

It had been dancing through my thoughts all morning. I wanted to ask him if everything was really that perfect in our home.

I grinned slyly as I thought of his every touch the night before.

“Is it really there?” I thought. His eyes told me it was. “Where did you get it from?”

“Your grandmother, Rose, gave it to me almost two years ago. She told me when she saw it, all she could think about was me. I thought it was strange then. Looking back, I think she was trying to give me an advantage.”

I could not wait to meet Rose. I already felt connected to her. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone. It was Monica’s mother, Sharon, and she was hysterical. I felt a panic rush through me. Something was wrong. Why would she be in Montana? Then I felt a pull come across me, and a sinking feeling fell through my stomach as my eyes raced over her. I knew without a doubt Sharon was an image.

“What’s wrong, Willow? Willow?” Landen said, trying to follow my gaze.

“Sharon is an image,” I thought with a shaking voice.

“Who is Sharon?” he asked, growing more concerned about me.

“Sharon lives in Franklin. I’m friends with her daughter, Monica. Remember I told you about her yesterday? She’s the outspoken friend of mine.”

“Are you sure she’s an image? What does she look like?” He’d followed my stare and was searching for her.

“She has on a black dress. Long blonde hair. She’s crying, screaming.” I knew he couldn’t see her. There was no way not to feel sympathy for her.

“I have to help her, Landen.”

Landen’s gift of intent was working. He knew that’s what I was planning to do, and he was ready to argue his point of view. “It could be a trap. She’s in Franklin. If Drake is anywhere near her, he’ll see you.”

“Landen, I have to help her! Something has to be really wrong—what if he’s hurting them?” I felt a sick feeling rise and settle in my throat.