Where to Belong

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Faran

  It might have been ten minutes. It might have been thirty. Either way, Madison lost herself in her own self-pity for a time. There wasn't anything she could do for Bradley. There was even less she could to for Skyler. One didn't know she wanted to comfort him. The other didn't seem to care. So she stared at the glossy marble floor and did her best not to guess what would happen next.

  She had noticed Skyler gently hang up the phone and sit beside her. He said nothing. He did nothing. He simply filled the space next to her. She didn't ask how things were faring, and neither did he volunteer an update.

  After the lengthy continuum of blank existence, Skyler leaned over and fussed with something at his ankle. When he sat up, he had something in his hand. "You should hold onto this." He half turned to Madison and held it out to her. "It was yours to keep track of."

  She took it from him wordlessly. It was a long, leather band with some sort of charm, Victor's collar. She ran the strap through her fingers until the charm caught. It was a simple thing, a plain item, the diamond with a shiny metallic coil encasing it. For such a priceless piece she only wanted to drop it in the nearest trashcan. It was a stupid rock, a pointless trinket. It wasn't worth this mess.

  Skyler made a quick gesture beside her and caught her eye. He had flicked his credit card onto the floor at a kid's feet. "Hey," he called to the kid and waited for him to pull out his earphones. "You dropped your card."

  The fuzzy faced boy looked at him with a sneer. "What'd you say?"

  He pointed at the platinum card, "You dropped your card."

  Following his given direction, the kid knelt down and picked it up. He gazed at it for a moment, then nodded, "Yeah." He didn't stick around, but quickly stuffed it in his pocket and disappeared in the churning crowd.

  "We should go," Skyler said. He stood slowly, as if he was afraid he'd bump his head on a low ceiling that wasn't there. Madison took the sack and tried to stand with the bag, but it didn't lift as easily as she had expected. Skyler reached for it, and she readily surrendered it to him.

  He led the way again. Going to a set of the double doors at the front of the station, he pushed one open and held it for Madison. She ducked under his arm and squinted as they ventured out into the bright sunlight.

  A strong, cold breeze struck her as she moved aside and waited for him to go ahead of her. Sheets of paper and leaves blew wildly across her path and danced skyward in the valley between the towering buildings. The sound of traffic waiting in the street and the smell of their exhaust filled the air.

  He ushered her behind a group of people who were gathered along the curb. The clusters waved and whistled at the taxis that came up the street. She and Skyler stood a short distance behind the small crowd. He kept his eyes low, and she wondered how far he had planned in advance.

  It wasn't long before he nudged her and started up the sidewalk again. Madison trailed behind him then paused when a black SUV pulled up beside him. It looked too much like the ones Morgan had sent after them. She shrunk back. Had he already found them?

  After opening the side door and tossing the bag inside on the floor, Skyler looked back at her with a frown. "What are you doing?"

  She eyed the vehicle and edged toward it. There were differences that didn't do well to settle her. It was a newer model and in much better shape, but she still felt uneasy about it.

  Coming next to Skyler, she peered into the dark SUV. The smiling face behind the wheel demolished her fears. "Chase!"

  "Get in. We need to go," Skyler said in a cold tone.

  "You have no idea how good it is to see you!" She ignored the dreary figure beside her and climbed into the Denali.

  Chase turned around and beamed. "You too! Are you all right?"

  "Get to the back," Skyler growled before she could answer. She was about to sit in the seat behind the driver. "Get in the back and stay down."

  She did as he said and made her way to the far back seat. "Dude," Chase's voice came with concern, "What happened to your ..."

  The door slammed and cut him off. Madison watched between the seats as Skyler got into the floor behind the front passenger seat.

  Chase twisted around to look at him. "What happened? Are you all right?"

  He tugged his hat even lower. "I'll be better once we're out of here."

  "Got it." Chase turned to the wheel and put the truck in drive. "I can do that."

  "Are you sure you weren't followed?" Skyler peeked over the seats and gazed out the back window.

  Chase nodded and pulled out into traffic. "As far as I can tell, we're free and clear." There was a cheer in his voice that Madison appreciated. Who could grump around Chase?

  "It's still too early to say that." Skyler could grump around him.

  There wasn't a reply from the smiling driver. He reached over and turned up the radio instead of entertaining his passenger any longer. Madison hadn't even noticed it was on in the first place, but it now filled the uncomfortable lag within the Denali.

  They traveled a few blocks before she caught Skyler's eye. He let off staring out the rear window and sank back into the floor. "Thanks for picking us up," he muttered as he hung his head.

  Chase shrugged. "No problem."

  Lying on her back, Madison watched out the side window above her head. She was content gazing at the glistening buildings as they zipped by. This might be the last time she got to see her beautiful city, and she didn't want to miss a moment of it. The blue sky at the tops of the towers reflected on their vast windows and told her that the world still turned despite the upsets in her own small piece of it.

  When they reached the freeway, the buildings were replaced with street lamps. They weren't at all captivating. It was quite warm in the truck, so she sat up, shrugged out of her coat, and looked around.

  Skyler had his head in the seat in front of him with his arms hiding his face. She eased down to the floor between the middle row. With a careful movement, she pinched the bill of his hat and took it off. He didn't stir. His black hair was ruffled and messy. She thought to straighten it, but decided against it.

  "I think he's asleep," Chase said quietly.

  Madison looked up at him and smile. "I hope so." She set the hat in the other seat and studied her unmoving friend. It was a comfort to see him relax enough to sleep. She wished for it to be restful.

  "We're almost there," Chase said without glancing back at her.

  She nodded. "Where are we going?"

  "The marina. The yacht should be ready by now."

  She frowned, "Oh." Many of her nightmares took place on boats. So, sure, why wouldn't she end the terrifying ordeal with a boat ride? Seemed fitting.

  Shaking her head, she put all the unnerving images out of her mind and looked to Skyler. He was peeking at her from the shelter of his stacked arms. Madison offered a smile. He turned his face to the door and hid it once again.

  A short time later, they came to an area where the Denali slowed to a near crawl as Chase passed through a manned gate and then over a series of speed humps. After several twists and turns, he pulled the SUV into a space and put it in park.

  "I'll be right back," he announced and hopped out before either could protest.

  Taking their accomplished destination as an excuse, Madison scooted closer to Skyler and tugged his sleeve. "Are you hanging in there?" she whispered.

  He drew a deep breath and held it for a count. "I know you hate boats, I'm sorry," he said with a moan. "I tried to find another way, but this was all I could get on short notice."

  "I'll be fine." She stroked his hair. "Everything is going to be just fine."

  Skyler came out of his personal fort and grimaced as he sat up. "I don't know," he shook his head.

  She took his lax hand and held to it as he continued with his self-doubt. "You'll see," she leaned in with a warm smile. He only let out a sigh and put
his head against the back of the seat with his eyes closed.

  It was a few minutes before Chase reappeared. He reached in the front and shut off the Denali then opened the back door and looked to Skyler. "The crew has everything set up. Are you sure we can do this on our own? You don't want me to keep a few of them aboard to help out?"

  Skyler shook his head slowly, "The fewer involved, the better. She isn't too big. We can handle her on our own."

  "Who isn't too big?" Madison voiced the question without thinking. She meant to keep it to herself. Both of the guys turned to her at the mumbled asking.

  Chase smirked. "Fallon Faran. She's a big gal, but your friend here thinks he can manage her all by his lonesome."

  "I could if it came down to it, but I thought you said you knew how to run a yacht."

  "I do. I've never taken her out by myself, though. How bad can it be?" Chase gave Skyler a lazy shrug and hefted the bag out of the Denali. "And you can't do it on your own. Faran needs two men at the very least to keep her in line."

  They followed him down the sidewalk and on to a boardwalk. Chase kept to a brisk pace with a bounce in his step even with the swollen bag over his shoulder. "Tell me this, Lone Ranger," he spun around to Skyler. "Have you ever traversed the locks before?"

  "Not here, no," he said, keeping his eyes on his feet.

  "No worries, my friend. I have. We've got this." He went on his way, whistling a random tune as he marched towards the vessel.

  Madison kept to the middle of the boardwalk. She could feel both Chase's and Skyler's strides vibrate through the planks. It reminded her with each step that she was over water of an untold depth. Her eyes strayed from time to time to the boats of many shapes and sizes that lined the floating path from little rowboats up to massive sailing yachts. Ducks and gulls scurried between the crafts, squawking and barking unceasingly.

  An older couple came down the boardwalk. The woman was clutching a small wicker picnic basket. Chase slipped by them like they weren't even there. Neither he nor they missed a step. Skyler paused and looked back to Madison as if he sensed her unease at the suddenly crowded pathway. She was grateful for him to hold his arm out and shield her from the edge as she came to his side. The couple moved by, still smiling at one another. They gave a simple nod in acknowledgment of the brief meeting which Skyler returned. After they passed, Skyler put his hands back in his pockets and resumed staring at his feet.

  "Welcome aboard our dear 'Lady of the Lake, Fallon Faran'." Chase made a grand gesture toward the selected vessel and saluted Skyler and Madison as they approached.

  "Wow, Chase, it's a pretty boat," Madison stuttered over the compliment.

  "Thank you, Ms. Madison. Pray you refer to me as 'Capt. Chase'. And the Faran is a yacht. She would weep to know you regarded her as a mere boat."

  Skyler went on, completely ignoring the light-hearted exchange. "Did they have time to stock her?"

  Chase's smile never faded. "Of course they did, my good sir. But I still recommend we stop off in St. Louis and customize the pantries a bit."

  The first impression Madison got of the craft was that she was of notable size. There was nothing congested or small about her. They boarded at the sun deck. There was another small deck above and a larger one below. The golden wood decks and brilliant white walls were all well polished and shimmered in the sunlight.

  "And if you would come with me," Chase bowed and motioned for her to follow, "I'll show you to your quarters."

  Skyler excused himself and climbed the steps to the upper deck. "I'll get us out of the marina."

  The lower deck opened right up into a full-sized kitchen with a dining table built into the corner. It was bright with enormous windows framed by floor-length curtains. The walls were also white with the dark blue upholstery and decor.

  Rounding the island of cabinets, Chase went on down a hall that had mooring lines and carved wooden seabirds hanging on the walls. "The bathroom is straight ahead," he waved his hand in its direction. "This will be your room," he paused just past an open doorway. "It should have everything you need. I sent all of Tabatha's stuff I could find at the house. It'll hold you over until we find a place Skyler is willing to stop at." He gave a shrug and nodded across the hall. "That's my room if you need something. There's a bunch of CDs and books if you get bored."

  "Are there any tricks to the shower I should know about?" She thought of the multi-headed one from their apartment and hoped to avoid another mishap.

  He scratched his head and scrunched his face in thought. "Nah, I don't think so. We just had the kitchen and bath updated, so they should be pretty simple."

  "Is it all right if I use it? Take a shower now? Or do I need to wait until later?"

  "Whatever floats your boat," he smiled a cheesy smile. Madison let herself lighten at his joking. "The only rules on the Faran is to relax and enjoy yourself. Now, if you no longer need my assistance," he bowed his head, "I need to go make sure our friend is aware of these rules."

  The rectangular room was more to her liking once she closed the blind over the one round window. The rhythmic swaying to and fro wouldn't let her forget she was on a boat, but blocking out the waterfront scenery helped.

  Madison found an assortment of clothes in a wooden trunk at the foot of the full-sized bed. She sorted through it and examined each piece. It didn't take long for her to settle on a simple sweater and blue jeans. She was going for comfort. It felt like a tall order at this point.

  After a refreshing shower, she ended up standing in the middle of the kitchen with nothing to do. She felt very much alone as she gazed at the empty room around her. It wasn't that it was a bland room. It actually looked like a petite gourmet kitchen out of a magazine. But it felt lifeless. There were no happy memories in this place. It was another temporary holding.

  Refusing to give into the lost feeling that was growing within her, she got right to work putting together a meal. They all needed to eat, and that meant they would all converge in that kitchen and give it life. She needed that; a moment of normality in the madness.