Free Whispers from the Past by Elizabeth Langston Page A

and breakfast and headed for Marissa’s apartment.
    From the street, I could see no lights on. I climbed the stairs, tapped on the door, and then slipped inside. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dimness.
    Susanna sat on the carpet on the far side of the great room, her back pressed to the wall, biting her lip and not meeting my gaze. The lamplight from the parking lot cut a wide swath across the carpet.
    I crossed to her side and knelt down. “Why are you sitting here like that?”
    When she looked up at me, her eyes were wet.
    “Tell me, babe. What’s wrong?”
    “I am relieved.” Her voice was husky. “You were later than I expected. I wasn’t certain that you would come.”
    “Why wouldn’t I?”
    “Perhaps our disagreement had put it from your head—”
    I pulled her into my arms, my mouth closing over hers, drinking her in. She tasted like honey and mint. I had to wrench my lips from hers or we’d never get away. “I didn’t forget.”
    “Yes, I can see that.” Her voice sounded more confident.
    “You want to go to the ocean, so I’m taking you to my favorite beach. Okay?”
    She smiled with pure happiness. “I am looking forward to it. So much.”

    We drove east toward the Bogue Banks of North Carolina, staring directly into the sunrise. Susanna watched the scenery flash by, mesmerized at the pinks and blues of the clouds and the relative flatness of the land. There was mile after mile of fields lying fallow.
    She grew quiet. Moments later, her eyelids drifted shut. I knew the moment she fell asleep.
    I was really sorry I hadn’t made this trip before. On the way back, I would have to ask her more about what she wanted. We’d spent so much time getting her legal—getting her the credentials she needed to be a person who could get a job or go to school—that I’d forgotten to help her relax and enjoy.
    I wouldn’t be making that mistake again.

C HAPTER E LEVEN
    D ETERMINATION AND S TRENGTH
    Mark pulled into an empty lot and parked between faded white lines. He shut off the truck. “Here we are at Emerald Isle. One of the most beautiful beaches on the North Carolina coast.” He pointed ahead of us. “We’ll walk just past those dunes.”
    Tall grasses, topped with feathery blooms, swayed in the breeze. A wide, diffuse roar surrounded me, broken on occasion by the squawk of a bird.
    A feeling like dread gripped me. How big was this ocean? How strong were its waves? Would I love the sea or fear it?
    A shudder racked my body. Perhaps I should have withheld my interest in coming.
    “Come on, babe,” he said, holding my door open. “You’d better bring your coat. There’s a storm rolling in, and it could get cold and wet really fast.”
    I slipped it on and then slid from his truck, hiding my shaking hands in the wide pockets of my coat.
    “Hey.” He drew me into his arms, his gaze gentle and patient. “I know this might be scary for you, but it’ll be fine. I’m beside you all the way. You don’t have to take a single step until you’re ready.”
    I drew my hands from my pockets and slipped my arms around his waist, under his unzipped jacket. Beneath my cheek, I felt the beat of his heart, sure and strong. He pressed a kiss to my temple and then nuzzled my hair.
    I leaned back enough to study his face. His beautiful amber eyes watched me. They gave me courage. “Let us go.”
    He caught my hand in his and turned toward the wooden bridge that waited to take us over the dune and out to the sea.
    We walked with steady purpose, fingers firmly clasped. I kept my chin high, aching for my first glimpse.
    Yet, as our feet thumped hollowly on the wooden steps of the bridge, my courage faltered. I dropped my gaze to watch our shoes, which moved in unison. He had slowed his stride to match mine.
    It was a most unusual bridge. Up several steps. A flat stretch. More steps, both up and then down, interspersed with flat stretches. Finally, we reached the beach. Below us was sand as