Free Hawthorn by Jamie Cassidy Page B

fading. I roll onto my side, taking Danny with me and wince. My arm hurts. I raise it to the light and stare at the dark bruises that dapple it.
     

24
    GEMMA
    “Happy birthday, Danny!” I tickle him to wake him up. He rolls over and smiles. I notice dark circles under his eyes and my heart contracts with worry. I make a note to speak to mum and Jules about the nightmares, about my fears. My bruises are covered with a long-sleeved top. I know they’re there, defying explanation, and I’ll use them to make my point, but not now. I don’t want to spoil the twin’s birthday. Besides, Liam will be here soon and maybe he can help me figure out what’s going on.
    Danny sits up and rubs his eyes. “I’m five.”
    “Yep, officially and completely.” I hand him a card and the box containing his present. He drops the card and opens the present, holding it up to examine it.
    He tears the blue foil paper, a huge grin on his face, retrieving the gift inside.
    “It’s a friendship bracelet.” I gently take it from him and slip it over his hand, onto his wrist. “There you go. Now I’ll be with you always.”
    I earn myself a big hug for that.
     
    Heather is already downstairs, dressed in her new jeans and Frozen top, chosen especially for their birthday trip. I drop a kiss on her head and give her the box containing her bracelet. She smiles up at me and I notice the shadows under her eyes too, but am distracted by her squeal of excitement when she sees the bracelet.
    I help her put in on and she holds out her wrist to admire it.
    Mum and Jules are propped up against the counter holding matching mugs of coffee.
    “Wow! That is so pretty!” Mum says.
    “Very nice,” Jules says.
    “I got one too.” Danny shows of his bracelet and Mum and Jules make the appropriate noises.
    Breakfast is a whirlwind and then mum and Jules are bundling the twins into the car, strapping them into their booster seats. Before I can say boo, they are driving away and I am alone in the house for the first time.
    I stand in the foyer and listen to the silence. I should be breathing a sigh of relief, kicking back my heels and chilling out, but instead I grab my keys, slip on my boots and pull on my coat. I don’t want to be alone in the house.
    I call Liam to find out where he is, but it goes straight to voicemail. It’s only nine a.m. There is no way he’ll get here until midday at the earliest, so I set out for a walk. I contemplate heading to the village, yet my feet have other ideas, and before I know it I’m in the woods heading for the tree.
    I don’t know why but I’m not surprised to see Sam there. It’s as if he’s waiting for me or something.
    “Beach?” he asks.
    “Okay,” I say.
    As we walk down the trail that leads to the beach, our arms brush, our hands graze and I pull away.
    He glances sharply at me and I catch a flash of something in his eyes that both intrigues and repels me. I contemplate making an excuse and heading back, but the thought of an empty house make me squash the conflicting emotions. I simply enjoy the walk. The wind picks up my hair and pulls it off my face, chilling my cheeks and ears. I stuff my hands into my jacket pocket as he takes the lead.
    The sea is angry today, more grey than blue. A gust of wind pins me to the rock face as I make my way down the steps. It’s wild and exhilarating and I feel a giggle climb my throat. I press my lips together to hold it back and then we are on the beach.
    My eyes tear up as the wind slaps me in the face, and I duck my head.
    “Storm’s coming!” Sam yells.
    He said that the other day, but I don’t remember a storm. “Maybe we should go back!”
    “In a minute. Look!” He points out to sea. I shield my face and look.
    I’m not sure what I’m seeing, but there is something out there, black against the churning grey, but too far out for me to see it clearly.
    “What is it?”
    “You see?”
    I frown. “Yeah, I see it. What is it?”
    He shakes his