Someone Else’s Life(73)

She didn’t speak, just turned her face so that her cheek rested against his sternum. Home, she thought. Her arms were still wrapped around her chest, and she stayed like that in Brody’s embrace, drawing heat from his warm body.

“You’re shaking.” He finally pulled away to look at her. “I’m so sorry it took me so long to get home.”

“I . . . Brody. It was awful . . . I can’t,” Annie stuttered.

Brody rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “It’s okay. Sam called and told me what happened. I couldn’t get through to the police. The call kept dropping. Or it was busy. By the time I finally got through, you and Sam had already called 911.” He searched her face. “They’ve got part of the bridge blocked off for the search—that’s why it took me so long to get here. The Lihue fire department just got here too. They’ll find her, if she’s still . . .”

“She had our son. She grabbed him out of Sam’s arms and ran down to the dock.” Tears gathered in her eyes again as she pictured Finn in Serena’s arms, precariously balanced at the water’s edge. “I don’t know what she was going to do with him. But I talked her out of it. I told her I’d help her, we’d figure it out. I grabbed Finn and I know she was coming back with me, but then the water . . .”

Grief washed over her, even as relief that her husband was here coursed through her body. He was always so good in an emergency, probably from his training as a fireman, and she knew she could lean on him. She wrapped her arms around his middle and held him tight, all her bitterness at him these last few years washing away with the rain.

“It’s okay, Annie. Finn’s safe. You got him in time.” His body vibrated from his voice, and Annie closed her eyes for a moment, realizing she’d missed this, missed leaning on her husband when things got tough.

She picked her head up off his chest and looked up at him. “She was coming back . . .” Annie squeezed her eyes shut. “I know she was. But then the river . . . She just disappeared.”

Brody held her tight, and they stood like that for a few moments, both soaking wet. The worst of the storm seemed to have passed, but it was still raining.

Annie pulled away and stared toward the bamboo tunnel, wishing Serena would just walk through there, alive. Yes, the woman had tried to kill her with a wine bottle (and how fitting if that had happened to Annie—death by wine), and tried to steal her son. But even though she knew she should be relieved that Serena was gone, Annie just couldn’t rejoice in the possible death of another human being, even one who had caused such havoc in such a short amount of time.

She turned to Brody, really looked at her husband for the first time in years. She’d been so wrapped up in her own grief and misery and had taken his presence for granted. Yet he’d stood by her for this entire time while she wallowed in her misery, lashing out at him. Would she have done the same if the roles were reversed? She honestly didn’t know. She wasn’t as patient as Brody, and had a quicker temper. Would she have put up with all the unhappiness she’d heaped on him these last few years? It wasn’t his fault her life had fallen apart. He’d been there for her, always standing by her, even when she pushed him away.

More tears flowed down her cheeks, this time for all the damage she’d done to her marriage. It was as if she had decided she didn’t deserve happiness and had been trying her best to sabotage anything good. She stared into Brody’s hazel eyes; saw the kindness, the compassion, the patience he’d shown while she’d wallowed in her own misery and depression; and realized he was a good man. This was her husband. And she’d been such a jerk for such a long time.

She reached out a hand and laid it against his cheek, even as her bottom lip trembled. She bit it, forcing herself to stop crying. “I love you, Brody Devlin. I’m so sorry for everything I’ve done and said.”

Instead of answering, he lowered his mouth to hers. Annie surrendered herself to her husband’s kiss, emotions clogging her heart. She’d finally found her way out of her fog. She wanted to stay like this for a long time, safe in his arms and the possibility of finding Serena alive still real.

But the next moment, the womp, womp of a helicopter drawing nearer made them both look up. The helicopter from Oahu was finally here. Maybe now they’d be able to spot Serena from above, clinging to a piece of wood, waiting to be rescued. Annie wanted so badly to believe that was possible that she squeezed her eyes shut and made a wish, as if she were a little girl. When her eyes opened, she saw a car driving down the cul-de-sac toward them. It was a police car, probably coming to update them. As the officer parked and got out, Annie tensed. She steeled herself for the worst as she watched him walk toward them, his shoulders hunched forward against the rain. Brody pulled her in against his chest, anchoring her to him as only he knew she needed right now. And together, they turned to face the policeman, who halted in front of them.





46


“Annie-ah. Drink this.”

Annie looked up. She’d crawled into bed after a hot shower and after Brody had taken care of the scratches on her face, the cuts from the wine bottle on her legs, and her various bruises and scrapes from her struggle with Serena. Seeing her father at the bedroom door, she pushed herself up to a seated position. Marley was on the bed with her, clean from the bath Sam had given him. He picked up his head and looked at Annie’s father. Annie was going to take him to the vet the next morning to make sure he was okay. The dog had refused to leave her side from the moment she’d come back into the Ohana.