Someone Else’s Life(30)

“It rains a lot here, if you haven’t noticed yet.” Annie and Serena both turned to look out at the rain, which showed no signs of letting up.

“They thought maybe she slipped on a muddy patch, but later they realized it wasn’t that.” Annie blinked hard, willing the tears to stay away. “I wasn’t there. I only know what Sam and my father told me, and they didn’t really see it happen. One minute she was next to them, and the next, she was on the ground and unconscious.”

“Oh, Annie.” Serena scooted closer and put an arm around her. “I’m sorry.”

Annie’s anguished eyes sought out Serena’s sympathetic ones. “There’s no cell reception up there, no emergency service. Sam said she basically sprinted, trying to reach the end of the trail to get help. My father stayed with her, and he was able to signal to a helicopter, so they got help before Sam reached the end of the trail.” Annie shook her head. “It was a brain aneurysm that had ruptured. That trail is not equipped for emergencies. By the time they could get her out, she’d suffered a stroke too. A few hours after they got her out by helicopter and got her to the hospital, she was gone.”

Serena gasped. She grabbed Annie’s hand and squeezed, the warmth soothing Annie’s cold fingers. After a moment, Annie withdrew her hand to wipe the tears off her face. Marley looked at her without moving. Lili used to lick Annie’s tears away whenever she cried, but Marley only stared at her, his head still as he studied her with a serious expression. A fresh burst of longing for Lili and for her mother shot through Annie’s heart, and she placed a hand to her chest.

“I am so, so sorry for your loss, Annie.” Serena sniffed, wiping away her own tears.

“I don’t know why I just told you all that. I didn’t mean to make us both cry.” Annie gave a little laugh, suddenly embarrassed to have shared this with Serena. She must think it was too much info for a virtual stranger.

But Serena pulled Annie in, and suddenly, they were hugging and Annie let her guard down. She was just as comfortable with Serena as she was with Julia and Izzy, and right now, it felt good to have a friend hold her. They stayed like that for a moment, and then Annie pulled away. She needed a tissue, or she was going to snot all over Serena’s shirt.

She stood and pulled a tissue out of the box near where Finn slept. She blew her nose and then walked into the kitchen to wash her hands. Then she turned to face Serena, giving her a rueful look.

“We’re really just going for those deep conversations tonight, aren’t we?” Although it felt good to talk about it. Maybe that’s what Izzy had meant when he kept saying she should see a therapist. But for Annie, talking to someone like Serena was a much better alternative.

Serena picked up her wineglass and toasted her. “I’m glad we are. That you feel comfortable enough with me to tell me about your life, the good and the bad.”

They fell silent, each lost in her own thoughts, listening to the music, which had continued to run, cycling to a song by Imagine Dragons. Annie glanced at the muted TV screen, where the meteorologist was gesturing in front of a weather map showing the line of severe thunderstorms currently moving across all of Hawaii. She was worried about Brody, stuck at the Lihue airport, and worried for them—if the river should flood, they’d have to evacuate. But right now, this very moment, it was nice to be all warm and cozy inside, having just shared an intimate talk with someone. Not just small talk or obligatory talk with a mother of Finn’s friend. But the way she could talk to Izzy and Julia.

“This is nice.” Annie voiced her thoughts out loud.

“I know.” Serena met her gaze. “I didn’t expect this. Not at all. I didn’t think I’d like you quite so much.”

Annie paused, wondering what Serena meant. She’d thought Annie was a bitch when she first opened the door? She smirked to herself, about to comment, but then Serena held up her glass again.

“To new friendships and new adventures.”

Annie raised her own glass and echoed, “To new friendships.”





17


The relentless deluge of rain continued to rage outside, as the strong wind gusts whistled through the air. Annie peered out the window by the front door, but all she saw was darkness and the pouring rain. She turned on the outdoor light, grateful the power was still on. Was it her imagination, or did the backyard look like it was flooding? She turned back to the news, but there wasn’t any mention of flooding along the Wailua River yet, or a need to evacuate. All the same, she checked in with Sam in the main house.

A: Think we need to leave?

S: Baba doesn’t think so. He thinks we’d be fine even if it flooded, since our property is up higher than the river. And the house is built up one story too. You guys okay?

A: Yes, we’re dry and we have wine.

S:

A: Finn behaving?

S: He’s good. It’s good to see him laugh.

A: Thanks for watching him.

S: NP

Annie looked up from her phone. “I’m going to have to try to get Marley outside. He usually has to go after he eats.” She turned the music off from her phone and then put it down and clapped her hands together. “Marley, come.”

He trotted to her side, and she clipped a leash on his martingale collar. For longer walks, she used a harness, but for short distances, the collar worked. He usually went out in the backyard without a leash, but with this rain and wind, she didn’t want to chance having him blow away.