It took several minutes for me to calm down after Levi left. Lizzie and Noah tried to reassure me that Levi and I would find our way and work things out. In the end, I understood why Levi left, but it didn’t make me feel any better. I was having a hard time breathing as I struggled to control my emotions.
“Levi said the storm is finally moving out,” Noah said once I’d settled down some. “He’s going to clear off the road all the way to Kingdom. We could take you back to town tonight, but I suggest we wait until tomorrow. Others will be working on the roads as well, and it should be much safer when they’re through.”
“I think that’s wise,” Lizzie agreed. “That gives you another day to get yourself together, Callie.”
“I feel better,” I said, “but I have a lot of thinking to do.” I put my hand up to my chest. The steady ache I’d felt all day was sharper now. Getting upset wasn’t helping me emotionally or physically.
“I truly believe everything will work out,” Lizzie said gently. She sat on the end of the couch by Noah’s feet. I was in the overstuffed chair next to the fire. The flames were warm, but my heart felt like a block of ice.
“I don’t want to force anything. Levi deserves to marry the kind of woman who will make him happy. Help him to be the best pastor he can be.”
Lizzie started to say something else, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to debate the situation anymore. My head was full of confusing thoughts that needed to be sorted out before I could find the path I should take.
“Mama?”
We looked up to see Charity standing on the stairs in her pajamas. She’d slept late. Not surprising after all the late-night commotion.
“Good morning,” Lizzie said with a smile. “Why don’t you get dressed and then come back downstairs? I’ll make you some breakfast.”
She nodded slowly. “Is Daddy all right?”
“I’m just fine, honey,” Noah said.
“Okay.” Charity didn’t seem convinced. She loved Noah. Finally having a father meant everything to her. “Nobody move. I’ll be right back.” She turned on the stairs and padded back up to the top.
“Nobody move?” Noah said, chuckling. “No problem. I’m so comfortable, I could stay here all day.”
Lizzie pulled the quilt up and covered him. “I know you feel better, but you might as well get a little more rest. You’ve been through a lot. Levi and some men from town will tow the truck back here after they clear the roads. There’s nothing you need to do right now.”
That seemed to mollify him, and within a few minutes, he was snoring away. Lizzie got up and motioned for me to follow her into the kitchen.
“More coffee?” she asked once I was settled into the breakfast nook.
“I’m too nervous already. I think I’ve had at least six cups.”
“How about some decaffeinated tea? With a little honey?”
I smiled at her. “That sounds perfect.”
She busied herself, putting water on to boil and getting cups out of the cabinet.
Though it was still morning, I suddenly felt exhausted—and old. “Levi said the oddest thing, Lizzie.”
She sat down across from me while we waited for the water to boil. “What’s that?”
I sighed and ran my finger along a ring on the hand-stitched tablecloth. “He said whatever he knew about the person who killed that woman on the road to Kingdom had more to do with me than the murder itself.”
Lizzie’s forehead wrinkled and she tilted her head to the side. “What does that mean? What could you possibly have to do with the murder?”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’m really a serial killer and don’t realize it.”
Lizzie snorted loudly. “Oh, for crying out loud, Callie. That’s ridiculous.”
“I guess so. It’s very disconcerting to realize you’re a stranger to yourself.”
She smiled at me. “You’re not a stranger. And you’re certainly not a serial killer. I think you know yourself more than you realize. You just need to face some things you haven’t before. I’ll help you. We’ll do this together.”
“Thanks.”
“What else did you two talk about?” she asked.
I went over everything I could remember. As I repeated the things Levi and I said, once again fear began to build up inside me, and with the fear, my pain increased. I tried to change my position to see if I could get some relief. It didn’t work. After telling Lizzie, she made me go in the bedroom and show her my chest.
“Oh, my goodness,” she said, lowering my sweater. “It’s a wonder you’re still on your feet. Here I’ve been focused on taking care of Noah and practically ignoring you. I’m so sorry, Callie. Why don’t you take one of Noah’s pain pills and lie down for a while?”
“I don’t like pills,” I said. “They make me feel out of control.”
Lizzie chuckled. “And we can’t have that.”
I tried to take a deep breath but couldn’t. I grimaced with pain. “Maybe I should take you up on your offer after all. I’m really starting to hurt.”
“You don’t look so good,” Lizzie said. Her voice sounded like it was coming from a barrel.
“What did you . . .” I suddenly found myself gasping for breath. “I . . . I can’t . . .”
She reached for me, but before she could catch me, I collapsed to the floor. I could hear Lizzie’s voice, but I couldn’t understand what she was saying. Everything was blurry, and I could have sworn someone was crying. It sounded like Charity. I wanted to tell her I was okay, reassure her that there wasn’t anything seriously wrong, but I couldn’t get any words out.
I was gasping for air, trying to cry out, but it was useless. Images started floating around like specters without bodies. I could hear people speaking, but I couldn’t understand them. I kept passing out and coming to. At one point I could have sworn I was moving. Eventually something loud, like a siren, surrounded me. Hands touched me, picked me up, and then finally, everything became silent, and I drifted away.