Hell's Hollow (25 page)

“Yeah, Mom, you should do it,” Luke said.

“Otherwise you’ll turn right into Grammy,” Gran said. “All work and no play make Clara a dull child.”

“What about the bakery?” Mom asked. “I can’t just ...”

“I wouldn’t mind taking over for a while,” MK said. “It’s all new and exciting to me. You must be bored by now. Michael can help me with the finances part of it.”

Mom looked around the room at all our encouraging faces. “Well, it’s just… I mean I can’t exactly drop everything… Seraphina, I couldn’t just walk out on you.”

“You wouldn’t be walking out on me,” I said. “I’d be happy for you. Not like forever or anything. But I’d understand if you wanted to explore, try something different for a change, recharge your batteries or whatever. We’ve got plenty of people in this room to look out for me.”

Mom laughed. “You’re just trying to get rid of me so you and Zach have fewer restrictions,” she said.

I hated that my cheeks insisted on announcing my emotions. “No,” I promised. “I just think you could use the break. Mom … you’re
free
.”

“Free?” Mom repeated
. “I’m not sure I really even… There
are
so many places I always longed to see — like San Francisco, and Seattle, and Alaska, and Hawaii.” Her face lit up with a spark I’d never seen. “Maybe a short trip wouldn’t hurt.”

The boys egged her on, recommending places they hoped to go someday: Greece and Australia and Thailand and Mexico.

It was getting late. I realized Zach would have to be driven home soon. But I wasn’t ready. So I signaled to him and the two of us slipped out for a quick visit to the hollow. Gabe hooted at us like a sixth grader as we stepped outside.

Zach and I held hands on the way down the trail, the electricity between us alive, yet mellow and sweet. The deadened area of the wood had begun to return to life and the almost unnatural green of The Hollow had begun to fade to normal. The police tape had been removed late in the day. The dirt had yet to be returned to the open trench. But the hollow seemed calm, as if it were returning itself to the earth, becoming a natural part of the landscape.

Zach and I sat by the sequoia. “I like your family,” he said. “There’s so much noise and commotion.”

“Yeah, well, consider yourself an honorary member,” I replied. I took his hand again, stroked his palm, as the electrical charge zipped between us. “
It’s so strange — this energy between us. It feels like the connection I used to have with The Hollow, only… different.” I couldn’t explain how it excited me in a way the energy of The Hollow never had.

“Whatever it is, I like it,” Zach said.

“Yeah, me, too.”

“There’s something else I like,” he whispered.

“Yeah?”

He kissed me, his lips lighting mine up like a comet streaking across the sky. The charge raced through my body. I ran my hand through his thick, black hair, across his smooth face, down to his chest, where I could feel his heart pounding wildly.

A chipmunk staggered toward us, its little tug weak. I picked it up, cradled it in my hands.

“Here,” Zach said, “let me try.” He held my hand and stuck out his finger. He touched the little creature, and I felt a shock. The chipmunk chirped and scurried off into the woods. I gasped, giggled, and pulled Zach toward me.

His face hovered just centimeters from mine. Our breath mingled. Our lips met. Our connection flared. And the forest exploded in light.

###

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