Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(84)

“I want to stay here to see what’s in storage,” I said to Landen and my father.

“Dad, just go with Jason. I’ll stay here with them,” Brady said to Ashten.

Mr. Campbell waved then turned to go back to the house. Josh looked at Landen one more time then followed his dad.

“Maybe your herb didn’t work that well on him,” I thought, Landen shrugged his shoulders, not really caring what Josh thought of him.

“We’ll be back in a little bit,” my father said over his shoulder.

Brady and Chrispin walked toward the house, and Mr. Campbell gave them hard hats before he allowed them in. Landen, Marc, and I walked around the house. Looking up at the damage, I felt an overwhelming grief. I wondered how many people I would bring destruction to before this conflict with Drake was over. I tried to hide my emotion from Landen, but he felt it.

“I’m sorry, Willow,” he thought, filling with remorse.

Though we never lost touch, I could feel his mind drifting somewhere else. If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have allowed him to look at those birth charts. They’d changed him.

We walked around the house along the fence. Volunteers had laid out paintings that could be saved. Most of them were mine, a few were my mother’s. I walked by them slowly. Remembering the images, I wondered if I’d really helped them, or if I’d only sustained them for the moment.

“Are all of these yours?” Marc asked.

“The ones of the people are,” I answered.

My mother was more of a still art painter. Marc leaned closer to get a better look. “I think I know this girl,” he said, looking at one of the paintings. It was one I had done of a young girl almost a year ago. I remembered how lonely she felt.

“Landen, this looks like that girl we helped bring home a while back—for umm… what was his name? Austin, wasn’t it?” Marc said, not feeling sure of himself.

Landen looked closer at the painting. “It does look like her,” he said. “Was she lonely?” he asked me.

I nodded, astonished that it could be the same girl. “You know her?”

“Maybe. We’ve carried so many home, it’s hard to say for sure. I only remember her because she had no family or belongings. Austin found her living in a shelter; a storm had taken everything from her. It was like she breathed for the first time when she stepped through the gates of Chara.

I smiled, hoping it was the same girl. I wanted all the people that I’d helped to be happy.

In the center of the backyard, there were two large containers. Inside them were more paintings, books, and small knick-knacks. I walked in and started going through the things, making a pile for us to carry home to my mother. I knew it would make her feel better.

The sun was setting, and the volunteers were leaving one by one. Brady and Chrispin came over to us. We all leaned against the fence, waiting for my father. Mr. Campbell waved at us as he climbed in the passenger seat of another truck. I was sure he was going to Gina’s Diner to retrieve his truck. Josh and Chase came around the house with handfuls of bottled water, then they walked over and passed them out to us.

“Thank you,” Landen said, taking two bottles, one for me and one for him.

Josh had yet to lose his confused expression. He must have said something to Chase because now they both looked confused. “It’s Livingston, right?” Josh said to Landen. Marc and Chrispin were in mid-drink when they heard Josh. They both stopped and stared at him while Landen tilted his head and pulled his brows together, questioning Josh.

“Landen,” Landen said finally. I could feel the tension building.

“Sorry. My fault,” Josh said, glancing from Landen to Chase.

“Do you know a Livingston?” Chase asked Landen.

Landen’s lips turned into a sinful smile. “I think I may have met one before. Why do you ask?”

Chase and Josh shook their heads and laughed at themselves. “It’s nothing,” Chase said.

“Chase,” I said sternly, knowing that he knew something. Landen put his hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down before I lost my temper.

“All right,” Chase said, raising his hands, knowing that I’d rip him apart if he didn’t come clean. “Remember your friend, Drake?” I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, anyway, he asked Josh and me if we’d ever seen a guy named Livingston with you or your dad. He said he was tall, dark, wavy hair and unmistakable dimples. We thought he was talking about an older man, but I don’t know,” Chase said, looking at Landen. “You kind of fit the profile. We just thought it was weird that you showed up after he said that.”

Landen turned his head slightly to look at Marc and get his take on what Chase had said. Josh followed Landen’s eyes to Marc. “Hey, do you know Drake?” he asked. Every one of us stared at Josh in disbelief.

“Should I?” Marc asked, trying not to look baffled.

“I don’t know. You just look like him,” Josh said defensively.

Everyone turned and stared at Marc. It was clear the comparison made him uncomfortable. Josh had a point, though. Both Drake and Marc were built the same way, with a dominant profile I hadn’t noticed before. I think it was the eyes that threw me off. Marc’s are light brown with a sparkle in them, but Drake’s are as dark as the night, with a degree of magnetism that pulls you in.