Free Indwell (Chasing Natalie's Ghosts) by Nicole Smith Page A

the blankets around me and then lied down beside me. He began to rub my back. There was no need for words tonight. I closed my eyes and immediately fell asleep.

7. GIFT
    I knew this day was coming. My father was home a lot more now too which always caused concern. Recently, he had been busy making his own `moonshine’. There was a continual stink in the house because of it. He also had a new group of friends that liked to show up at odd times, like three in the morning or on Sunday afternoons. They never stayed long though. It was always a relief when they left. I knew well enough why they were there and it wasn’t to buy my father’s alcohol. He was selling drugs again. He had been doing it intermittently for years. It explained the company he kept, the moving, the highs and lows of his income. He was also a user, which explained his emotional highs and lows.
    The Christmas tree didn’t seem as appealing to me as it did last year with just the popcorn strings. This tree was all done up with lights and glittery decorations. I found it quite hideous for some reason.
    “I have a surprise for you. Get your boots and coat on,” Adam told me early, Christmas morning. I smiled and quickly obeyed him. Once outside he led me down towards the river. There, near the bank of the river was a small evergreen tree, he had decorated it with pinecones, red berries, dog wood and popcorn strings. I started to cry. It was the most beautiful tree I had ever seen.
    “I love it Adam, thank you so much,” I ran to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. I looked up to kiss him. He held my face gently, stared at me for a moment and then kissed me. He turned away, as if he was trying to hide his face from me.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “I know what’s coming and I’m not sure if I can handle it,” he said.
    “I don’t understand. What’s coming?” I asked.
    “You’re moving again,” he said flatly. I gasped.
    “Where did you here that?” I asked, starting to shake.
    “I overheard your parents talking. They plan on telling you at dinner tonight. They don’t even plan to have you finish the school year here. Your father has already found a house hours away,” he explained. I just kept shaking my head.
    “They can’t keep doing this to me,” I cried. I wanted to hit something so badly. I wasn’t about to take this out on Adam. I turned back to my tree, it was so perfect. I fell into the snow, punching the ground, crying. He let me continue for a few minutes, when I was starting to slowdown, he carefully picked me up and carried me to the back porch and put me down.
    “I don’t want to go back in there. Where did you live? Before I arrived here where did you live? I want to go there,” I begged. He grabbed my hand and swung me around in his arms, he lifted me off the ground. Within seconds I felt a strange detachment from this world, as though I was in some strange cloud, everything was a blur. I couldn’t make out anything around me, it was all too bright. When the light began to dim I noticed he had stopped at an old abandoned house. The windows had been boarded up. It was built deep into the woods, a long laneway led to the house. It truly was in the back country, completely secluded. He opened the front door and I walked in slowly. He quickly began pulling the sheets off the couches and chairs, than he went to work starting a fire. He disappeared upstairs and came back with two big duvets and a pillow.
    “Sorry if they’re a little dusty,” he apologized.
    “Why have you never brought me here before?” I asked. I was astonished he had a home.
    “This is my hideout. If I ever felt that maybe you shouldn’t be with me, then this is where I would hide. I know it’s foolish, but I thought if I could hide from you, then it would be easier to leave you,” he explained.
    “Why would you want to leave me?” I asked, looking at him, shocked.
    “Natalie, I don’t want to leave you, but sometimes things like