Underneath The Surface
Chapter 23 ~ The Secrets We Keep
"Secrets have a way of getting out"
Susan Ivanova
Patty blew the candle out and burrowed under the covers once more. She scooted up against Charlie and sighed contentedly. She was tired, sated even, but her mind would not rest. She was keenly aware of her feelings for the other woman, and equally aware of how she had kept her at arm's length. Year after year.
"I'm so sorry I've hurt you." Patty whispered. "I took advantage of our friendship, and your loyalty to me. I just assumed you'd be there for me all this time and I wouldn't have to choose a direction. But now ... I've made my choice. I choose you. I love you, Charlie. I always have. I guess I just let my fear get in my way."
"Fear should never be allowed to make our decisions for us, Patty. Love is a much bigger emotion, but sometimes fear is powerful. Love can only be more powerful when we acknowledge our fear and choose love in spite of it. It's our responsibility to keep growing, keep loving, no matter how much it terrifies us."
"I thought you were asleep. I'm sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't."
Patty was silent for a while, absorbing Charlie's words. "That was pretty deep."
"I've had a lot of time to reflect and meditate. My life is pretty much complete, except for one thing. I've been waiting for you."
"You have me now. I won't let go of you again. To hell with what anyone thinks."
Charlie sighed and settled more closely around Patty's body. "Even Callie?"
"Callie won't see us as a problem. I think somehow that she had us figured out before I did."
"She's pretty smart." Charlie acknowledged. "Sleep now. I'll be here in the morning."
Emma studied the track and the ground around it for a couple of minutes more. She called Callie over and when she drew close, Emma pointed out the track. "I don't know if your friend is in any danger, so don't jump to conclusions. Is that her jacket over there?" Emma pointed.
Callie walked over and picked up the item in question. "Yeah, it is."
"Bring it with us then. Hopefully we'll catch up to her soon."
They had walked for another two hours following a combination of running shoe tracks and broken branches. Every so often, they would see the impression of a hunting boot as well. Repeated calls of her name brought them no closer to Genesis, and eventually they began to feel a chill in the air.
"You know night isn't far off. You still okay with sleeping out here?" Emma asked.
"I pretty much have to be, don't I?"
Emma glanced at Callie, but didn't answer.
They kept walking.
When they emerged into a clearing carpeted with moss, Emma suggested they stop. "This might be the best place to set-up for the night. If we keep going, night might not so much sneak up on us but body-slam into us. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get caught unaware out here."
Callie nodded and slid the pack to the ground. She rolled her shoulders a few times to loosen them up and quietly helped Emma set up camp. The tent was soon set up, a small fire started and a pot of water was just starting to boil. Callie dug two tea bags out of the food pack and held one up. Emma nodded and Callie made tea in two metal mugs.
"I don't suppose we have any honey in there?" Emma asked hopefully.
"It pays to have friends in the food service business." Callie drew two small restaurant style packets of honey from the pack and passed one to Emma. They drank in silence for a while watching the sky grow darker.
"So what do you think of Sheriff Stirling?" Emma finally asked.
"He's ok, I guess. He's definitely got secrets though."
"What makes you think that?"
"I watch people so I can draw who they really are. He tries to be a good guy, but he's hiding something."
"You sure it's just not part of his job?"
"You're a Sheriff. You don't act like that."
"That's different."
"Not really." Callie looked into the flames and an odd look settled on her face. "Everyone has secrets, it's part of dealing with people. Gen and I had a secret place to hang out, my Mom has secrets, and I think Sheriff Stirling has secrets too. But I think his are part of Gen's life somehow. Otherwise he wouldn't be at her house so often."
"You have a pretty sharp insight into people." Emma observed.
"For someone my age?" Callie retorted.
"For someone of any age." Emma replied gently. "I know people twice your age that don't see the people around them as clearly as you do."
"Sorry. I'm used to being treated like a kid by most people."
"It's okay. I don't see you as a kid. You're a young adult with a good head on your shoulders. I grew up fast, never really had a typical childhood. I don't have a lot of patience for immaturity and mind-games. I don't see that in you."
Callie had turned her head to study Emma while she was speaking. She gave her a small smile and said, "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Callie watched Emma take a drink of tea. "So are you really as good out in the woods as Regina says?"
"This is a hell of a time to ask that now, isn't it?" Emma gave the teenager a wry smile.
Callie shrugged. "Do you think Gen is okay?"
"Yeah, her tracks don't give any sign that she's hurt or running from someone. Where would she go from the ruins?"
"I don't know. I haven't been in the bush since my dad died, and even though we never talked about it, Gen could have been coming out here after."
"You talked about secrets ... do you think Genesis had any secrets she didn't tell you?"
"Nope." Callie answered quickly. "We know each other's secrets as well as we know our own. I don't know why Gen would have left the ruins though. Or why she's still walking."
"I'm worried that man's boot track might have something to do with it, honestly."
"Me too." Callie said quietly. She rose and retrieved her headlamp. "I'm going to go water the shrubbery. Be right back"
Emma wanted to tell the girl not to wander far, but she bit her tongue and nodded, knowing that particular piece of advice was un-needed. Callie wasn't gone long.
"I think I'm going to turn in. I'm not used to walking that far."
Emma gave a small smile. "I'm going to be up for a little bit yet."
Callie nodded and went to the tent, but stopped before unzipping the flap. "Emma?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for not treating me like a kid."
As Emma pondered how to answer, Callie unzipped the tent and crawled in, zipping the door closed behind her.
Emma sat and studied the fire, deep in thought.