Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(75)

“No,” Grandma said. “I sent him to the house.”

Dad suddenly sucked in air, gasping for breath.

Trevor hadn’t passed Grandpa on his way to the cottage. He didn’t bother arguing with Grandma. He jumped to his feet and took off running. He went around the side of the cottage that was still standing. The dock was on fire, so he ran down the dirt slope and stopped at the edge of the lake.

His worst fear came to life when he saw the canopy at the front end of the pontoon lit up in flames. Through a haze of smoke, he saw Grandpa at the back of the boat, standing on the outer edge. A gust of wind could easily push him into the water. He wasn’t wearing a life vest. He would drown.

Water lapped over Trevor’s feet where dirt and rocks met the lake’s edge. Trevor peered down into the dark and ominous water. He swore it was calling for him, hoping to finish him off once and for all. He blinked, and suddenly the lake became exactly what it was. A body of water. How many summers had he spent swimming in it, laughing and playing? Focused on what he needed to do, Trevor hurried into the lake, the cold water splashing around him until he was waist-deep.

And then he began to swim. One stroke and then another, his arms like windmills pushing him through the water. Swimming was like riding a bike. He could do this! By the time he reached the pontoon, he was out of breath and thankful to find Grandpa still there. The boat was old, not much more than a canopy and a flat piece of wood with a built-in seat that Grandpa and Dad had built years ago. He grabbed onto the edge of the wood surface and pulled himself up.

The fiery canopy came crashing to the wood floor of the boat. Trevor ran that way. He needed to grab the life jackets from inside the built-in seat. He stomped at the flames, and when he lifted the wooden top of the seat, he saw there was only one life jacket left. He looked back toward the edge of the lake and knew Grandpa could never make it that far without help. He ran back to Grandpa, slid his arms into the jacket’s armholes, then snapped the straps into place. He then ran to the side of the boat and detached the red-and-white emergency life preserver that hung on the side.

Back at Grandpa’s side, he said, “The boat is on fire, and we’re going to jump. Do you understand?”

Grandpa’s eyes had that dull, lifeless look that was slowly becoming familiar to Trevor.

“Are you ready?” Trevor asked, tugging at his arm.

Despite showing no emotion, Grandpa wouldn’t budge.

“If we don’t jump now, you’ll be late for work.”

“Okay,” Grandpa said. “I’m ready.”

Together, they jumped off the side of the fiery pontoon. Even with the life jacket on, Grandpa’s head dunked under the water, but he bobbed right back up. They both hung on to the red-and-white floatie. “Kick your feet,” Trevor said.

Grandpa began to kick, making Trevor feel proud. They could do this.

Trevor’s body jerked suddenly.

Had his foot gotten caught up on something floating in the water?

He looked over his shoulder and saw that it was a hand. Blonde hair floated at the top of the water, spread out like an octopus’s tentacles.

It was Jane. Her chin came up; her mouth opened as she sucked air into her lungs.

Trevor let go of the life preserver. If he hung on, he’d only hold Grandpa back. “Go, Grandpa! You’re doing great!” He tried to jerk his leg free from her grip, but it was no use. He used his other leg to kick at her head and shoulders, anything to get her away from him.

She held tight. She was strong. Trevor went under, pulled into the murky, watery darkness. He felt his body sink deeper and deeper. His lungs burned. It was no use. He needed air.

He thought of all the things the therapist had told him about fear; how to stay calm and breathe through the panic, how to face his fears by imagining the worst. Well, he thought, suddenly calm, Jane Bell was his number one worst fear.

He could not let her win.

With renewed determination, not willing to give up, he imagined he was strong as he used his arms to push harder and faster, using the windmill stroke to keep his arms cutting through the water. His head popped to the surface. He couldn’t believe it! He sucked in air, gasping for breath.

Jane’s head popped up, too.

“Come on, Lucas!” Grandpa called, his voice loud and clear.

Trevor met Jane’s gaze. He wasn’t sure if she was looking at him or through him. Her eyes were wide and round, like glossy marbles. Her skin was milky white.

She drew in air. “Lucas,” she said, her voice a garbled whisper. “Go! Save yourself.”

She let go of his ankle.

Trevor began to swim. When he was far enough away, he looked back in time to see her arms floating above her head, unmoving before she sank deeper and disappeared into the dark mouth of the lake.

His arms and legs were moving as he tread water. He glanced toward the pontoon, but it was engulfed in flames. He thought about going after Jane, trying to save her, but he knew full well he wouldn’t be able to pull her dead weight above water, let alone all the way to shore.

Trevor turned back toward Grandpa and began to swim in earnest then, his feet fluttering, his arms arcing up and through the water, pulling him along until he felt as if he were gliding.





CHAPTER FORTY

As an EMT wrapped Nora’s ankle, she made eye contact with David, who lay on a cot in the back of the ambulance, where he was being given oxygen. She wanted nothing more than to pull him close and give him a crushing embrace, but that would have to wait. Instead, Nora used her hands to make the shape of a heart, prompting David to manage a small smile. “I’ll be back,” she said before leaving him so she could check on everyone.