Lined With Silver (29 page)

“Hush. Hush.” Zack wrapped his arms around
her. “It’s okay. Everything is fine.”

Sondra focused on his face, tears streaming
down her own. “I’m sorry. I had a bad dream.”

“You’re okay. I’m here. Everything is fine.”
He reassured her again.

She buried her face in her hands and broke
out in fresh sobs. “I’m such a horrible person. I just can’t do
this.”

Confused, he asked, “Is it the Stalker?”

She shook her head, unable to speak, wracked
by sobs. She curled over her huge belly. “I…I wish it was the
Stalker. Then I wouldn’t feel so awful.”

“I can’t imagine you doing anything wrong.
You’re the least self-centered person I’ve ever met.”

“Oh, Zack. I feel like such a traitor.”

He shook his head, trying to clear it. “What
are you talking about?”

“I keep having the same dream over and over
again, and it’s eating me alive.” She reached for a tissue from the
box next to her bed. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “The hard part
is I don’t know what’s a dream and what’s reality.”

“I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you’re
talking about.”

She broke out in fresh sobs. “I’m a horrible
person.”

“You keep saying that, and I don’t see any
evidence that’s true.”

“If you knew what I was thinking, dreaming
about, maybe you’d agree.”

“Give me a chance. I’d like to hear what’s on
your mind.”

She peeked at him between the fingers
covering her face, her lashes wet with tears. “You’re going to hate
me.”

He snorted. “I guarantee that’s not going to
happen.”

“But you don’t know what I’m thinking.”

His eyes closed a moment, and his lips moved
as if he was silently praying. “I’m here to help. Just tell me
what’s wrong.”

She drew in a trembling breath. “I keep
dreaming I won’t hand the babies over to Nikki.” She shook her
head. “No. It’s bigger than that. I
can’t
hand the babies
over to Nikki.” She cried into her hands again and then whispered,
“I love them too much, Zack. I can’t do it.” She met his eyes to
see how he reacted to the news.

He was silent, obviously trying to think
through his response. This was too much like her asking if a dress
made her look fat. No matter what he answered, he was dead, and
they both knew it. Instead, he wordlessly wrapped his arms around
her and let her cry herself back to sleep.

He spent a sleepless night. All he could do
was pace the floor.

* * *

When she made it to the kitchen the next
morning, he asked, “How did you sleep?”

Neither of them mentioned that she had woken
him up in the middle of the night. “Fine, thanks.” She ate the
scrambled eggs he’d prepared and wondered what he thought of her.
Did he hate her for her feelings? She felt like a fraud. All her
talk of sacrifice meant nothing if she tripped on the finish line,
but her feelings were out in the open and she couldn’t take them
back.

“Brad and Nikki are planning on Thanksgiving
Dinner around 1:00. They want us to bring rolls and a salad.”

He glanced at the clock. “We have just enough
time to stop at the store. The local stores that are open are
closing by noon.”

“And then they’ll open again around six for
the early shoppers.” Her voice was dry.

“Different stores, though. Were you planning
on shopping?’

She indicated her enormous belly. “I can’t
walk very far these days.”

His lips twitched. “I didn’t think of that.”
He reached for her plate, rinsed it, and put it in the dishwasher.
“By the way, when are your parents coming home?”

“They’re being released a little early. I
think they said they’d be back next week.”

“Are they excited about the babies?”

Pink stole up her face. “I haven’t told them
yet.”

His brows rose in surprise. “That’s a pretty
big secret to keep. Haven’t you been having skype visits?”

She nodded. “I’ve just been careful to keep
the camera on my face. If Mom has noticed any extra weight there,
she’s been kind enough not to say.”

“What are you going to say when they get off
the plane?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I was going to fake an illness
or something until the babies are born.”

“You’d miss seeing your parents? Don’t you
think you’re taking this too far?”

She glared at him. “What do you suggest?”

“I think you should tell your parents before
they get home. They need some time to adjust to the situation, and
it’s not fair that you’ve left them in the dark.”

She looked mulish. “After miscarrying the
first set of twins, I just didn’t want to put Mom through that
heartache while she was serving the Lord.”

He stared at her a moment and then said, “I
think you’ve carried enough of this burden all by yourself. At this
point, the babies would be safe if they come too early. There are a
lot of preemies surviving just fine. You’re past the risky part.
Maybe you should tell your parents.”

Tears welled up, and she whispered, “What if
I can’t give them up?”

He took a deep breath. “All I can say is that
your parents are going to love you no matter what your choice is.
And you aren’t the only one able to sacrifice. Nikki has a heart,
too, you know.”

“I know.” Tears spilled over. “I just wanted
to do this for Nikki and Brad. Here I am after all these months,
and I feel so tied to the babies, I’m not sure I can really do
it.”

Zack reached out to pull her close. “All I
know is that when the time comes, I believe you’ll make the right
decision.”

“But what’s that? What’s the right
decision?”

He pulled her closer and didn’t offer any
more advice. This wasn’t his decision to make.

Sondra drove her car behind Zack’s Hummer as
they drove back to Salt Lake. She wanted her own car at Nikki’s
place, and Zack wanted the Hummer close just in case his four-wheel
drive was needed to get her to the hospital. They tried to be
cheerful at dinner, but there was a strain that couldn’t be
ignored.

After dinner was finished and put away, Nikki
announced, “I’m going to talk to Mom and Dad. Did you want to join
me?” She had been trying to get Sondra to tell their parents the
good news for months. After Zack’s discussion that morning, Sondra
decided it was time to let them know. She wasn’t quite sure how she
was going to break the news.

The conversation started out normally with
everyone in the room talking as if they weren’t halfway around the
world.

“We’ll be arriving next Friday.” Maggie’s
excited voice filled the room.

“A big storm is supposed to be hitting this
week.” Brad said. “I hope it won’t delay your flight.”

“It should be fine.” Ben said. “They usually
keep the runways clear.”

Sondra reached for Zack and pulled him to her
as she stood in front of the camera. “Hey, Mom. I have an
announcement.”

Maggie blinked. “Um. Well. Why didn’t you
tell me you’re expecting?”

“We wanted to surprise you when you got home,
but Zack convinced me to let the idea sink in.”

“Who is Zack?” Ben demanded.

“He’s my husband, Dad. We were going to
surprise you with the news of the wedding, too, but Zack thought
you’d be happier if you knew ahead of time.”

“When did you get married?” Maggie’s voice
shook with betrayal.

Sondra dropped her eyes and mumbled,
“December.”

“I don’t know what to say.” She paused, and
the glisten of tears in her eyes was visible on the screen.
“Congratulations. I’m happy for you. What are you having?”

“Twins.”

Brad and Nikki were staring at Sondra.
Nikki’s mouth had dropped open. She shut it and then said, “Their
names are Gwennyth and Jennifer.”

“Pretty names. I like that.” Maggie
approved.

Ben asked, “Where do you live?”

“I’ve been living with Nikki and Brad while
Zack was working in Germany.” She glanced at Zack and wondered if
he was mad at her for her continued deception. “We haven’t bought a
home yet, but Zack owns a condo in Park City.”

“Well, that’s convenient. At least I’ll get
to enjoy the grandbabies when I get home.” Maggie’s feelings of
betrayal were quickly replaced by the joyful prospect of
grandbabies. Twins.

* * *

“I’m going to look over the townhouse and see
what needs to be done to take care of your things.” Zack informed
Sondra. He’d just arrived at Nikki and Brad’s house, something he’d
done on a daily basis since he’d come home from Germany.

Despite her announcement to her parents, as
far as Sondra knew, their marriage was still a temporary
arrangement. She had been living with them since shortly after the
implantation and didn’t think she should push for anything more
than he’d promised until after the babies were born.

“I really appreciate it.” She shuddered. “I
can’t bring myself to walk in there again.”

“Do you want your furniture and other
items?”

She nodded. “I have some nice pieces I don’t
want to get rid of. I just can’t bring myself to go there.”

“I don’t blame you.” He looked out the window
at the falling snow. “Your parents’ flight is coming in today. I
hope the bulk of the storm waits until they land.”

“Me too. Thanks for talking me into telling
them. I really want to see them as they get off the plane.”

“I just thought it would be better to give
them some idea of what’s waiting over here.” He sent her a sideways
look. “I wasn’t too sure on how you delivered the news, but it
certainly gives you the ability to make a decision.”

She bit her lip. “Please, I don’t want to go
there.”

“Nuff said.” He saluted her and then bent
down to kiss her before he headed to his Hummer. The brake line had
been replaced after the failure, but Sondra hadn’t driven it
since.

Sondra’s townhouse was a few minutes from
Nikki’s. As he stepped out of his Hummer, he noticed Scott, who had
stopped as he was stepping into his truck to glare at him. Zack
waved and then headed into the townhouse, looking over the items
Sondra had left there to gather dust. He had spent nearly an hour
going through cupboards and closets, trying to decide what needed
to be stored and what could fit into his condo when the phone
rang.

“Hello.”

“Is this Zack?”

“It is.”

“This is Brad. Maggie and Ben have landed.
I’m not sure our car can handle the volume of snow that’s coming
down. Can we borrow your Hummer to pick them up?”

“Sure. I’m at Sondra’s place. We can just
trade cars.”

“Thanks. We’ll be right there.”

A few minutes later, Brad knocked on the door
and exchanged keys. Zack shut the door and went back to his
inventory assessment.

A blast shook the house, and he ran out the
door, horrified to see the fractured mess that remained of his
Hummer. Brad was dead. There was nothing he could do for him, but
Nikki was moaning in the passenger seat and Zack pulled her out
into the falling snow.

He dialed 911 while he started CPR and yelled
into the speaker between breaths. “There’s been an explosion.”
Breathe. Compress. “I’m doing CPR.” Breathe. Compress. “Send an
ambulance.” He gave them the address. He kept working on Nikki
until she gasped and opened her eyes.

She looked beyond him. “Brad, is that you?
Are you alright?” Zack almost looked up, but he’d seen Brad. He
would never walk again. She continued, “They’re all there? Eight?
Who would’ve ever guessed? Oh, Brad, I love… you…” Her voice faded.
Zack leaned forward in grief, took a deep breath and then gently
closed her lids. There was nothing more he could do.

* * *

Sondra stopped. The weather bulletin on the
radio was interrupted by the announcement of an explosion in
Draper. Her heart constricted. Something was wrong. She could feel
it.

She moved as quickly as her swollen belly
would let her and climbed into her car. The sirens were getting
louder as she approached the townhome. She started to shake. “Oh,
Zack, please be safe. Please be safe.” She prayed fervently and
turned the corner to her street.

The road was blocked off by cruisers, and she
could just see the forest green Hummer covered by a black tarp.
“No. No. No.” She jumped out of the car and waddled toward the
vehicle.

A police officer stepped in her way. “You
can’t go over there.”

“That’s my home.”

“I’m sorry. You can’t go.”

She saw Zack talking to another officer and
pushed by the one who was trying to stop her. “Zack. You’re
alright.” Her voice rang with joy, but she stopped when she saw his
expression. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He strode over and held her in his arms. “I’m
so sorry.”

She looked at him and recognition dawned.
“It’s Nikki, isn’t it?”

He nodded somberly. “And Brad. There was an
explosion.”

She stared at the Hummer with unseeing eyes.
Her sister, gone. How could this be? She stepped toward the Hummer.
Her foot crunched on a metal shard. She picked it up. “What’s
this?”

Zack took it gingerly and turned it around in
his hands. It was a broken piece of metal. “I think this might be
part of a pipe bomb.”

She stared at it a moment and then raised
grief-stricken eyes to his. “What do you mean?”

“Vehicles don’t just explode.”

She reached for the metal and turned it over
in her hand. A scraggly “s” and part of an “h” was etched on the
side. Her heart froze and she held it out to Zack. She whispered,
“It’s the stalker. It’s the same “s” that was on Dewk’s house. It’s
the same one that was on the brake line.” She shivered. “My parents
have landed. We need to go pick them up.”

“I’m giving this to the investigating officer
and then we’ll get your parents.”

“What about Brad and Nikki?”

“An ambulance picked them up a few minutes
ago.”

“I came as soon as I heard about an
explosion. I had a feeling it was something to do with you.”