ng like a contented cat. She'd just spent a week lounging on the sun-soaked beach
of her trip when she saw something on the
ng along the shoulder. Nicole's heart clenched. She'd always be
wn her window, and called
eyes wide with surprise and relief. "
d with a smile. "I'm
eat, she let out a deep sigh. "Thanks so
Nicole asked, pullin
ooking a bit embarrassed. "
at way too. Just got back from a vacation.
d Nicole's age, had been bouncing from town to town, tryi
la said, "but things didn't pan
of opportunities if you know where to l
there," Lila said, staring out th
but she didn't press. "Well, Everglow's got a
c. Nicole shared some funny anecdotes from her vacation, and Lila opened u
rtle," Nicole said, laughing. "It looke
always wanted to try
ok's amazing. Have
you do?" Lila said, smiling and unable to hide h
ing, and I even tried surfing. Wipe
imagine surfing. I'd be
t the instructors were great, and it was fu
re from E
d. What about you? W
been moving around so much, trying to
verglow's got a lot of oppo
everything from waitressing to graphic
ot a pretty diverse job market.
ny things that had happened in their lives. The car
cole looked up, eyes wide. A huge truck was barr
er voice. She slammed on the brakes, but not
h fear. "What's happening
!" Nicole's voice shook as she t
r veered off the road, trees rushing towards them. The Bentley
amed as they br
-
Days L
n a rough wooden bed in a dimly lit, old cabin. The smell of wood smoke and something s
r, holding a bowl of steaming soup. "Here, drink this," she
pping the warm broth. "Where am I? What happe
're safe now, dear. I found you after yo
to recall. Everything was a haze. "N
ut gathering firewood when I saw your car smashed i
done what she could to bandage Nicole's head and cheek, which had suffere
crash. And you got some burns on your cheek and arms when the car exploded. I did
y and winced at the pain. "I ca
don't remember anything at
ling up in her eyes. "No, nothin
to her cabin when she heard the crash. Rushing towards the sound, she found a car smashed against
d the driver's side window. She reached in, her
the car exploded, sending Brenda and Nicole flying back. The explosion caused burns on Nicole's
she treated their wounds as best she could. The other woman in the passenger seat didn't su
mind a blank slate. "I can't remember
in a terrible accident. It's not unusual to lose your memory a
eyes wide and confused. "What do I d
need to rest and heal. The memories might come back on their own,
p, Brenda tended to the fire, her mind heavy with the weight of the trage
being able to save the other woman, a painful rem