Mourning Song (9 page)

Cassie curled up on the floor with a blanket and fell asleep. Neither Dani nor Austin said a word for several miles. Dani folded her hands in her lap to conceal their trembling. She felt drained and shaky. Staring straight ahead, she mumbled, “When I heard your engine start, I didn’t know what to do.”

“It was the only thing I could think to do.” Austin sounded subdued. “I didn’t want to make him suspicious. I kept praying that you’d stay in
side the bathroom. That you’d trust me enough to wait for me.”

Dani looked at him. “At first, I thought you’d left us.”

He glanced at her sharply, a look of hurt on his face. “Don’t you know, Dani? I’m in this all the way with you. I won’t leave you. Not even when it’s all over.”

She kept silent. When it was over, she might need him more than ever.

D
ANI SAT QUIETLY
as miles and miles of highway slid past the window of the van. Dawn began to break in cool gray strips, and stars blinked out, as if some hand were turning them off, one by one. Her eyes felt gritty, and there was a stale, unpleasant taste in her mouth, left over from doughnuts and colas at three
A.M
.

Austin had taken a chance on a more direct route. He’d picked up the Florida Turnpike, then a state road going east. Every muscle in Dani’s body ached, and all she wanted to do was stretch out in a soft, clean bed and sleep. She thought of home and her bedroom. She’d
been gone two nights, but it seemed so much longer.

“Once we get through town, we’ll pick up the beachfront highway and go to the hotel,” Austin said, breaking the monotonous droning sound of the engine and tires that filled the van.

“We can’t check in till noon,” Dani replied with a tired sigh.

“Then we’ll just wait on the beach. I’m guessing that people will start showing up early, so we won’t be noticed among the crowds.” He glanced back at Cassie. “She sleeps a lot.”

“It’s part of her symptoms. But it’s better that she does. It’s making the trip shorter for her.”

The day continued to brighten, and Cassie stirred. She sat up and gazed out the window. “Are we at the beach yet?”

“Almost,” Austin answered cheerfully. “Do you want to stop for a minute?”

“No. Please, let’s go to the water.” There was a sense of urgency in her voice.

Austin continued to drive until he found a deserted parking lot designated for public beach access. He rolled to a stop. The moment the doors opened, Dani caught the sharp, tangy scent of the sea air and heard the muffled rhythmic beat of water hitting the shore. A morning breeze blew soft and balmy, stirring her hair and reviving her spirits.

They walked along a short wooden boardwalk, over a crest of sand, and saw the sea stretching calmly before them. “May I present the Atlantic Ocean,” Austin said with a flourish.

Dani watched Cassie. She wondered if her sister felt the way she did—overwhelmed, almost giddy. No movie, no TV image, no photograph had been equal to what lay in front of them. The shoreline stretched endlessly in either direction, and in the distance, the sky appeared to meet the water at the horizon. The sight left her speechless.

Cassie’s eyes were bright and she was smiling. She slipped off her shoes and touched her toes to the sand. “I want to feel the water.” She started to walk across the thick, heavy sand with her lurching gait.

Dani followed, then Austin. At the edge of the water, Cassie stopped, took a deep, long breath, flung her arms wide open, and raised her face to the brightening sky. “I made it! My wish has been granted.” She reached over to hug Dani and then Austin. “This is a view I could never have from my hospital bed!” And she laughed.

They walked along the shore and saw the sunrise. Rays glistened on the water like jewels. Dani’s eyes darted everywhere. As she stood still, the water sucked the sand away from her feet, leaving indentations that slowly vanished as every passing wave swept over it.

When Cassie grew tired of walking, they sat in the sand and gazed out at a sea that had changed from gray to green with the rising of the sun. The sky turned blue, and small, puffy white clouds appeared. Dani sifted white sand through her fingers.

“It’s more beautiful than I ever imagined,” Cassie said. “Coming here was worth it all. I hope Mom understands.”

The sun was growing warmer, and Dani felt its heat on her head and back.

“I think we should go have a healthy breakfast and then check in to our rooms,” Austin said.

Dani’s stomach growled at the suggestion, causing the three of them to laugh.

“We can come back to the beach, can’t we?” Cassie asked, her expression eager.

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” Austin helped her to her feet, and they all walked back to the van.

At the restaurant, Dani and Austin ordered big meals. Cassie said she wasn’t very hungry.

Dani ate ravenously when the food arrived. Austin bought a newspaper and flipped through it, handing it over to Dani, and pointing discreetly to a small story on an inside page. The headline read:
“Teens Flee Hospital.”
She stopped eating and read the story. According to the account, a teenage boy and girl from Ohio had
taken the girl’s sister, who was a cancer patient, from a Cincinnati hospital. No trace of them had been found thus far, but police were searching. A reward was offered. Dani was grateful that their names weren’t printed.

Dani continued to skim the paper. “Cassie,” she said, “this article says that a bunch of loggerhead turtles will be released from one of the beaches around here. Didn’t we just see a TV show about that?”

Cassie brightened. “Yes. I remember. I’d really like to see that.”

“A turtle release?” Austin commented, as if both of them had lost their wits. “Sounds like a yawn to me.”

Cassie became more animated as she explained, “Austin, this is an endangered species. The mother turtles crawl up on the beach and lay their eggs and cover them, then about two months later, the baby turtles hatch and head toward the sea. But between the development of the beachfront and natural enemies, not many of the little turtles make it. Sometimes, rangers dig up the eggs, and as the eggs start to hatch, they bring them back to the beach and release them. That way, the turtles have a better chance of surviving.”

Austin still didn’t look impressed.

“If I could,” Cassie continued, “I’d be a marine biologist and help protect all the animals facing
extinction in the ocean. Wouldn’t it be a terrible world without whales, or dolphins, or turtles?”

“Yes, it would. But I think we should go check in to our rooms now, and talk about sea creatures later,” Dani said with a tired yawn.

Austin agreed. Dani picked up the check, and they went to find their hotel.

Their rooms adjoined on the ground floor and faced the ocean. Sliding glass doors opened out onto a small patio set in the sand. Austin took one room and helped the girls unload their suitcases in the other.

Dani took a long, hot shower, but Cassie couldn’t be persuaded to do anything except sit on the patio lounge chair and gaze out at the sea.

“Austin’s in his room, but he said to let him know if we want to do anything,” Cassie said when Dani emerged from the steamy bathroom.

“We should call Mom,” Dani announced. “It’s time.”

Cassie gazed at the horizon. “Not yet.”

“Why? You know she’s worried.” Now that they were actually at the beach, Dani felt really guilty about running away.

“Later.”

“But—”

“Please.” Cassie glanced skyward. “It’s getting cloudy. Maybe it’s going to rain. Let’s go shopping. I’ve been in the hospital for weeks. I’d love
to just poke around some stores. I haven’t been shopping in ages. We could buy something nice for Mom. A peace offering. We have enough money to get her something nice.”

Dani eyed her carefully. Cassie’s eyes were bright, but she looked frail. “You sure you’re strong enough?”

“If I get tired, we can come right back.” Cassie added, “You don’t think Austin will mind, do you? I guess he must be tired. You must be tired, too. Maybe he’s asleep.”

“Let me get dressed and go tell Austin,” Dani said. “We’re going to do whatever you feel like doing, Cassie. We didn’t drive a thousand miles to sleep did we?”

S
UNLIGHT GLITTERED OFF
store windows as Dani and Cassie walked through the outdoor mall decorated with exotic flowers and bubbling fountains. Austin had settled himself in the center of the mall under a striped umbrella to eat a bowl of ice cream. “I’ll catch up with you,” he said.

“Don’t you think that’s beautiful?” Cassie asked as she stopped and stared into a store window.

Dani peered through the window of a bridal salon. A wedding dress of white satin, seed pearls, and delicate lace graced the front mannequin. “It’s pretty all right, but do you suppose they
make something in white denim for the bride-to-be?”

Cassie giggled. “That’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever seen. Will you do something with me?” she asked, her eyes sparkling mischievously.

“Name it.”

“Come inside, and
don’t
laugh or giggle—just follow me.”

“What are you going to do?”

Cassie took Dani’s hand and dragged her toward the door. “Just play along.”

“Cassie! No—”

As Cassie opened the door of the shop, a chime played “Here Comes the Bride.” A saleswoman appeared and asked, “May I help you?”

Dani’s heart pounded, and her mouth went dry. She heard Cassie answer, “My sister and I were admiring the dress in the window, and I was wondering if I could try it on.”

The saleswoman eyed them for a moment, then beamed. “Oh, most certainly.”

Dani swallowed hard.

“I’m Allison,” the woman said. “Have a seat, and I’ll show you our newest collection.” She motioned them toward two lush peach-color velvet chairs. “Let me help you find the perfect dress for the biggest event of your life.”

Dani could scarcely believe it. Was the woman
blind? Couldn’t she tell that Cassie and she were kids out for a laugh?

Cassie sat, brushed her skirt, and said smoothly, “Thank you. I promised Mother I’d narrow the search, then bring her to see the dresses I like best.”

The saleslady’s back was turned, and Dani buried her face in her hands and groaned over the outrageous lie. Cassie gave her an elbow in the ribs. “A girl can’t start too soon,” Allison bubbled effusively. “When is the day, anyway?”

“The day?”

“Your wedding day.”

Dani shifted helplessly in the chair, wishing the floor would swallow her. “It’s in August,” Cassie said with a straight face.

“These are the newest dresses for summer brides,” Allison said. “White or candlelight?”

“Excuse me?”

“The color—are you thinking of pure white or off-white? Pale pink is also being shown. It’s becoming increasingly popular with today’s bride-to-be.”

“Uh … white,” Cassie said. “I’m into tradition.”

“Traditional insanity,” Dani muttered under her breath, hoping Cassie’s strength would hold.

Cassie flashed a radiant smile at Allison as the saleswoman carefully carried several gowns over
to them. “That one’s still my favorite,” she told her, pointing to a smaller size of the one in the window. “How do you know it’s my size?”

“That’s my job.” Allison smiled. “Step into the dressing room, and I’ll bet you a free satin pillow for your ring bearer that I’m right.”

Cassie followed Allison into a dressing room, while Dani gripped the arms of the chair, planning an escape route for when the saleswoman figured out they’d been playing her for a patsy. Dani heard their murmured voices along with the soft rustle of satin as she gazed about the salon. There was gilt trim on peach-color walls; soft green carpet; charming clusters of dried flowers; a wall full of satin and grosgrain ribbons; a collection of silver, gold, and porcelain photo frames; and lush bouquets of silk floral arrangements mingled with white feathers and lace. The scent of roses and orange blossoms hung in the air. When Dani heard the door of the dressing room open, she straightened. Cassie came out smiling and asked, “So, what do you think, sis?”