Free A Message for Julia by Angel Smits Page B

his. Her fingers were engulfed, and before she realized what he had in mind, he’d pulled her into a strong hug. She ached to turn into his embrace as Trish had, but instead she pulled back. She focused on the coffee he’d miraculously not spilled.
    â€œTake care of her,” she told him with a voice that seemed way too small and stepped away, letting the family have their privacy.
    Over the next hour, several more people arrived and the melancholy reunion hugs were nearly incessant. Julia looked around, sipping yet another cup of coffee, a cup that became her focus, something to hold on to. People, strangers and neighbors, were everywhere. They pressed in close and the noise level rose to a dull roar.
    She needed to get out of here. With her cup in hand, she stepped outside the quickly crowded tent.
    She gulped in the cooling mountain air and felt her muscles relax a little. The scent of rain was heavy in the breeze, and as if summoned by her thoughts, drops started to fall around her. Still she didn’t go back inside. She scooted up against the tent flap, out of the rain and away from the crowd.
    Too many people made her nervous. If anyone touched her, or was too nice to her, she’d fall apart. She refused to let that happen.
    Glancing at her watch, she realized three more hours had passed. How long had Linc been down there? Nearlyfive hours now. It seemed like five days. Five years. Forever.
    Hold on. Please hold on.
    Thursday Evening, Six and a Half Hours Underground
    L INC STARED AT THE UNEVEN surface of the cavern’s ceiling. It wasn’t far away and even in the dim light, he made out the rough contour where the machine had ground the rock away from itself. The crew that would be searching for them had to go through that. Thinking about how much work needed to be done only added to his fatigue and worry.
    He was tired. They all were. They were trying to conserve energy as best they could. Besides, what else did they have to do but wait?
    Claustrophobia threatened and he bit it back. Panicking was not an option. Deep, slow breaths. He focused on listening to and slowing his own heart rate. He’d learned the techniques not long after his father’s death, when the nightmares of being trapped first appeared. He’d conquered it then, he’d do it now.
    â€œGabe?” he called out into the void.
    â€œYeah?” The older man’s voice was soft and seemed distant.
    â€œWhat’s the one thing you’re going to do when we get out of here?”
    Gabe chuckled. “Buy a burger, a big fat juicy one—to hell with my cholesterol.”
    Linc laughed.
    â€œAnd you?”
    Linc struggled to answer. “I don’t know,” he lied. He knew what he wanted to do, but making love to Julia was out of the question now. How long had it been? He had no clue and that didn’t sit well with him. Where had the urgency gone that had filled those first years? He could clearly recall those days when they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Now he might never get the chance to touch her again. And not just because he was trapped here. She was probably completely moved out of the house by now.
    Seven years of marriage gone. What was even left for him to go home to?
    He closed his eyes against the oppressive dark. Maybe if he kept remembering everything, he’d somehow be stronger, more resistant to being erased by time or events. Maybe he’d live a little longer.
    He glanced at his watch, the face glowing in the darkness with a press of a button. They’d been down here seven hours. He swallowed hard, fighting the panic that threatened to overwhelm him.
    â€œHey, Mike.” Ryan called to his brother from where he sat next to Linc, breaking the cycle of Linc’s thoughts.
    â€œYeah?” Mike didn’t sound good.
    â€œYou think Dad’s waiting up top for us?”
    â€œProbably.” Mike paused, then turned to look at his younger