Page 76 of Roar for Me
Aurora had started bawling in her sleep before the crack of dawn. He’d heard her from the living room and bolted in. She sat up with a start and a gasp, gulping down air. When she looked at him, she started crying all over again. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair as she buried her face in his chest.
“It was just a dream. It’s all over,” he murmured.
She shook her head.
There was a timid knock at the door. Maybe Katie could help. “Come in.”
“Mom? Did you have the dream again?” Katie rubbed her eyes.
“Again?”
“It doesn’t happen much anymore. But she used to dream about Dad dying a lot. And she’d wake up crying like this.”
“I didn’t want to tell him about that.” Aurora choked out, still shaking in Duncan’s embrace.
“Sorry.” Katie backed away from the door. “We still have time before we have to get up, Mom. I’m going to go back to sleep.”
“That’s fine, Katie.” Aurora wrenched herself from Duncan’s arms. “I’m okay.”
“Good night.”
“Good night,” Duncan and Aurora replied in unison.
She burned with shame. “I’m so sorry, Duncan. I haven’t had that happen in a long time. I really didn’t think it was an issue anymore.”
He climbed under the covers to hold her again and coaxed her down onto the bed with him. Somehow, she didn’t protest.
“Shh, don’t apologize. Were you in the room when he …?”
She nodded and began to shake again. He stroked her back to soothe her.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I couldn’t let him cross over alone.”
He kissed her forehead as tears streaked down her cheeks again.
“That must have been devastating. Jeff was a very lucky man.” Duncan kept stroking her hair and her back until finally, exhausted, she fell asleep once more.
Try as he might, he couldn’t join her. He lay awake for hours, listening to her breathe. Did Jeff know what a strong woman he married? Did he know what a lucky bastard he was, to have someone stick by him to the bitter end like that?
Then the guilt set in. He had no right to be jealous, especially with Jeff’s widow asleep in his arms. Yes, he’d missed his shot with Roar in high school, but they were kids. Just because things didn’t work out with Mariah didn’t mean that it would have been any different. Really, he should be grateful to Jeff for taking care of her and making her happy as long as he could. Plus, Katie was a great kid, and half Jeff’s. Gently, Duncan pressed his lips to Aurora’s forehead. She wasn’t staying. He didn’t deserve her anyway.
“Katie, are you all packed? We need to get to the airport soon,” Aurora called into the guest room.
“Yes, Mom.” Katie wheeled her suitcase out, looking dejected. “I wish we could stay longer.”
“You’ll be in California all next year, but you have to graduate first. Let’s go, kiddo.”
Duncan had insisted on taking her suitcase out to the car. He was uncharacteristically quiet this morning. She wasn’t sure if it was because of their fight or her nightmare.
That nightmare…How hadDuncan’sface ended up behind Jeff’s mask? It was like she’d watched two men she loved die… No.
No, no, no.
She didn’t love Duncan. Shecouldn’tlove Duncan. She’d promised Jeff forever. They’d had it engraved inside their wedding bands with the date. How had she forgotten? How could she betray her husband like that? Chills raced down her body and black spots swam in front of her eyes.
“Mom? Are you okay?” Katie touched her arm, grounding Aurora instantly. She shook her head to clear it.
