Suddenly Psychic (Glimmer Lake #1)(5)

“The windshield scraper,” Robin yelled. “Monica, get the scraper in the glove compartment. It has a pointy thing that will break the glass.”

Monica moaned, “I can’t feel my arm.”

Val stopped kicking the windshield and reached for the glove compartment as Robin unclipped her safety belt. She needed to be able to move. As Val opened the glove box, more water poured in, making all the napkins, papers, and various receipts Robin had stuffed in there float by them and into the back seat.

The water was up to her waist.

“There’s no scraper,” Val said.

“It’s in there.”

“There’s no scraper, Robin!”

“It has to be in there!”

“Maybe Mark took it out!”

“Why would he do that? It’s my scraper!”

“Fuck if I know, but it’s not there! Stop yelling at me!”

Monica started pounding on the car window, screaming and crying. Her hand was bloody, but none of the glass was cracked. It was all perfectly, securely sealed.

That was her Subaru. Not one single leak in the snow or rain. Ever.

Focus, Robin!

Focus.

“Okay.” Robin fought back the nausea that threatened her. “Okay. We can do this. When the water fills the car, the pressure will be equalized and we’ll be able to open the doors. We can swim out. We’re all good swimmers.”

Val started to breathe faster. “We’re going deeper.”

“How deep is the lake?” Monica asked, wiping her eyes. “How deep does it go?”

“I don’t know,” Robin said. “I can’t remember. But we’re all good swimmers.”

She should know this. Her family had lived in Grimmer before the dam was built. She should know these things. The water pouring in was cold. So very cold. Robin knew she had to keep calm, but it might have been the hardest thing she’d ever done.

I need to live.

I need to be there for Emma and Austin.

I need to live.

Something hit the bottom of the car, making water pour in faster.

“We’re stopped!” Val said. “I think we’re stopped.”

“It’s getting higher,” Monica said. “Oh my God, we’re going to die.”

“We’re not going to die!” Robin said. “We’re going to stay calm, take deep breaths while the air is in here.” She started pulling at her clothes. “Take your clothes off. It’ll be colder, but we don’t want them to weigh us down. Monica, take off that dress.”

Val didn’t return to the back seat, but they all managed to remove most of their clothing. It was freezing cold, and they were sitting in their bras and panties while the car slowly filled up with water.

At least we’re not moving anymore.

Robin’s teeth started to chatter as the water reached her neck.

“I wanted to kill myself.” Monica’s voice was shaking. “I thought about taking sleeping pills after Gil died because I couldn’t imagine my life without him. I thought about the future, and there was just… nothing. There was nothing without him.” Her voice caught. “But I don’t want to die. My kids need me.”

“We need you,” Robin said. “And we’re not going to die.” She grabbed shaky breaths and coughed out some water. “Monica, try your door.”

Monica tried, but she couldn’t budge it. “Nothing yet.”

A feeling of dread began to overtake Robin. It was cold. Really cold. Her knee began to ache. She could talk a big game, but none of them swam regularly anymore. Monica did Zumba at the community center twice a week, and Val was a biking nut. Robin couldn’t even run anymore. How were they supposed to swim to the top of the lake and all the way to shore?

She looked into the black water that surrounded them and imagined them driving into the ghost town that lay at the bed of the lake. Her old Subaru drifting to the bottom and rolling silently down Main Street while the fish picked at their bones.

“I love you guys so much,” Val blurted. She started to sniff. “Don’t tell my kids, but I think I love you two more than anyone. I really hate most people. I kind of wish Monica and I were lesbians so we could marry each other, but I really don’t know if I’d like lesbian sex, and also I think I’m still kind of in love with my ex, even though I hate him. But the sex was really good and I miss that. And I think I’m turning into my mother because I am so judgmental now, and I really hate that.”

“You’re not your mom, Val.”

Monica laughed, sniffling at the same time. “I’d marry you if I was a lesbian.” She wiped her eyes. “Actually, I wouldn’t because I cannot handle how much you let laundry pile up on your sofa. That would drive me crazy.”

“Oh shit.” Val’s shoulders convulsed. “My boys.”

“Stop crying.” Robin blinked back tears. “We need to be calm.” The water was at her chin. “We need to be calm and focus on breathing. As soon as the water gets high enough, we’re getting out of here.”

“We are not going to die,” Val said. “Fuck this lake. We are not going to die.”

“We’re not going to die.” Monica tilted her chin up. “We’re not going to die.”