Chapter 43

Laurie blinked open scratchy eyes, squinting at the yellow light spilling in her window. She rolled onto her back and stretched, the muscles in her limbs stiff, as if she’d spent the entire night in one position rather than the hours of tossing and turning. She reached for the bedside clock and squinted at the numbers. At least she’d gotten an hour of sleep.

Climbing out of bed, Laurie pulled on fresh clothes, frowned at her reflection, and stole through the silent house. The sour smell lingered in the morning air, but the floor had been scrubbed clean, the furniture arranged as if nothing unusual had taken place.

After checking each room, Laurie peeked out the window, scanning the yard for signs of life. Daniel’s Buick sat in the place of the Ford. She draped a sweater over her shoulders and hurried outside.

Daniel slept slumped over in the back seat, wrapped in the red-and-white-checkered picnic blanket. A lock of dark hair draped across his forehead, one arm pillowing his head.

After his long night, the man deserved a decent breakfast. Laurie tiptoed through the damp grass until she reached the back steps. What would the neighbors think of Laurie having a man over for breakfast? She tossed her head. Why should she care?

When the telephone jangled, Laurie scooped it up, pressing the receiver to her ear with a shaking hand.

“Miss Burke—your father is awake.”

Laurie pressed her fingers against her lips, forcing herself to stay silent while Dr. Pierce finished his examination. Her father’s yellowed eyes focused somewhere over the doctor’s left shoulder, his face the color of cold fireplace ashes.

Doctor Pierce loomed over the bed like a vulture. “Mr. Burke, I believe I was right to revoke your prescription.”

He turned and directed his words at Laurie. “Your father’s situation is precarious.” He glanced down at the clipboard in his hand. “It’s going to be a difficult few days as the poison works its way out of his system. If his liver and kidneys hold up, he just might get through.” He lowered his glasses peering over their top edge. “This time. But there’s going to be lasting damage. Another episode would be fatal.”

Laurie pressed a knuckle against her lip, hoping her father understood the doctor’s message.

Doctor Pierce turned back to her father, gesturing with his pen. “You need to give up the bottle, Mr. Burke. Your liver won’t stand any more. And there’s absolutely no question about the moonshine.”

Laurie cleared her throat. “Thank you, Dr. Pierce. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“You’re a lucky man to have a daughter who loves you. Listen to her.”

Dad turned his face to the wall.

Daniel dragged himself up the steep stairs leading to his second-story apartment over the drugstore, the long day and night finally behind him. The morning rays drifted through the tall windows, gleaming across the polished hardwood floors.

The clammy night air clung to Daniel’s skin even as he fell into bed, drawing the covers up to his chin. The muscles of his back ached from the hour-long catnap curled up in the backseat of the automobile. The petty complaints paled in comparison to the nightmarish images haunting his dream, images that refused to be forgotten.

Daniel rolled to his side, balling the pillow under his ear and clamping his eyes shut, hoping to chase away the flashes of dreams. The taste of gin lingered in his mouth, as real as if he had actually tipped a bottle, the booze burning down the back of his throat and pooling in his gut.

He rolled out of the bed and fell to the floor, sweat glazing his skin. Pulling up to his knees, Daniel laid his hands and face against the mattress.

I can’t take the chance of doing that to her, God. I can’t.