Heroes Are My Weakness(98)

“You’re not allowed to say ‘stupid,’?” Annie proclaimed, her voice still shaky. “It’s rude, isn’t it, Livia?”

No answer.

“I apologize,” Scamp said. “I’m only being rude because I’m scared. You understand, don’t you, Livia?”

Another muffled sniffle came from the back of the cave. Annie swung the flashlight beam to the right and traced a narrow shelf that hung just above the waterline and curved around a jutting piece of rock. Could Livia have crawled along that ledge?

“It’s very dark in here,” the puppet complained. “And that means I’m very scared, so I shall sing a song to make myself feel better. I shall call it the ‘Sitting in a Dark Cave’ song. Written by me, Scamp.”

Annie waded through the thigh-high water as Scamp began to sing.


“I was sitting in a dark cave

High on a ledge.

Hiding away

Not wanting to stay—ay—ay.”

She was so cold, she was losing feeling in her legs.


“When along came a nice spider

And sat down beside her

And said . . .

Holy cow! What’s a nice spider like me doing in a dark cave like this?”

She rounded the edge of a protruding rock and glimpsed a blessed blur of pink huddled on the ledge. She wanted to charge forward and grab her. Instead she ducked back out of sight and aimed the flashlight down into the dark water.

“Annie,” Scamp said, “I’m still scared. I need to see Livia right now. Livia will make me feel better.”

“I understand, Scamp,” Annie said, “but . . . I can’t find her anywhere.”

“You have to! I need to talk to a kid, not a grown-up! I need Livia!” Scamp grew increasingly upset. “She’s my friend, and friends help each other when they’re scared.” Scamp started to cry in pathetic little sniffles. “Why won’t she tell me where she is?”

A wave hit Annie’s thighs, and the cave ceiling dripped icy fingers down her spine.

Scamp began crying harder, her sniffles growing more pronounced. Until three soft, sweet words drifted over the water . . .

“I’m right here.”





Chapter Twenty-one


ANNIE HAD NEVER HEARD ANYTHING as beautiful as those faint, hesitant words. I’m right here. She couldn’t spoil this . . .

“Livia,” Scamp whispered. “Is that really you?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I thought I was alone, with only Annie.”

“I’m here, too.” Livia’s newfound voice had a rusty little rasp from lack of use.

“That makes me feel better.” Scamp sniffed. “Are you scared?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Me, too. I’m glad I’m not the only one.”

“You’re not.” She couldn’t fully form her r sounds, and they came out more as w’s, the sound substitution so sweet it constricted Annie’s heart.

“Do you want to stay here longer, or are you ready to leave?” Scamp asked.

A long pause. “I don’t know.”

Annie reined in her apprehension and made herself wait. Long seconds ticked by.

“Scamp?” Livia finally said. “Are you still there?”

“I’m thinking,” Scamp said. “And I think you need to talk this over with a grown-up. Is it okay if I send Annie to find you?”

Annie waited, afraid she’d pushed too far. But Livia responded with a quiet “Okay.”

“Annie!” Scamp called out. “Come over here, please. Livia needs to talk to you. Livia, I’m very cold, and I’m going to get some hot chocolate. And a dill pickle. I’ll meet you later.”

Annie waded around the rock, praying that her appearance wouldn’t make Livia mute again. Livia still had her knees pulled to her chest. Her head was down, her hair hiding her face.

Annie wasn’t sure if Jaycie could hear that Livia was safe, but she was afraid to call out for fear of sending Livia spiraling backward. “Hey, goofball,” she said.

Livia finally lifted her head.

What had driven a child who was afraid of the dark to come in here? Only something deeply traumatic. Yet when Annie had found her on the beach, Livia had been more petulant than traumatized. Something had to have happened after that, but other than Theo appearing—

Right then Annie understood.

Even though her teeth were chattering, and the ledge was too shallow for any kind of comfort, she hoisted herself up. Wedging in as best she could, she wrapped her arm around the child. Livia smelled of musty ocean, little girl sweat, and shampoo. “Did you know that Scamp is mad at me?” Annie asked.

Livia shook her head.

Annie waited, ignoring the blade of rock digging into her shoulder, holding Livia close, but not explaining.

Finally, Livia’s jaw moved against Annie’s arm. “What’d you do?”

That voice! That dear little voice. “Scamp said you came in here because you heard Theo and me arguing. That’s why she’s mad at me. Because we argued in front of you, and arguments between grown-ups scare you.”

A barely imperceptible nod against her shoulder.

“It’s because of the bad way your dad used to hurt your mommy and because of how your dad died.” Annie made the pronouncement as matter-of-factly as she could.