Green Valley by Louis Greenberg

Author:Louis Greenberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan Books

16 ‘You made it,’ Fabian said, coming from the kitchen and wiping his hands on a dishtowel as I walked into the apartment.

For a second I thought he was being sarcastic, still bitter from our argument the night before, so I answered defensively. ‘I had to wait out the rain; it was—’

But he approached me and kissed me warmly on the cheek, moving his hand to my back and pulling me in for a moment. ‘I’m glad to see you,’ he said. ‘Come get some wine when you’re ready. I’m making pasta.’

I was grateful to him for breaking the ice between us; I didn’t want to fight tonight. I wanted, somehow, to dial down my mind, which had been whirring at a burnout pitch ever since David had called. I showered and dressed in better clothes, then joined Fabian at the kitchen counter. I downed the glass of wine he’d poured then refilled it. I poked at the fresh herbs decorating the pasta with my fork. I couldn’t eat. How could I? How could I even sit in this luxurious, glossy room while Kira was lost and afraid, waiting for help, Jordan’s team coming too late? Or worse… Something like a sob lurched out of my chest and I pushed my plate away, hiding my face from Fabian.

‘You’re not okay,’ he said.

‘No,’ I said. ‘I’m sorry, Fabe.’

‘Please,’ he said, ‘don’t say sorry.’ He looked at me in silence, clearing all the space in the room for me to talk, and for him to listen.

‘I really thought Kira was all right in there. Odille loved David, and trusted him. They wanted the best for their child. Of course they did.’ I glanced at his face and he looked back, all patience and receptiveness.

‘I didn’t want to bring her in here. I didn’t want to bring my ancient, grubby history into your home. But now…’

‘What’s happened?’

‘She’s missing. David can’t find her; he says someone’s taken her. And I shouldn’t be speaking about it, but…’

‘Go on.’

‘Green Valley children have been turning up in Stanton, dead. Three so far, and I’m so scared that Kira’s next. David can’t find her,’ I repeated, willing the statement to prove itself false. ‘The police are looking out here, but there’s nothing. I feel so fucking helpless.’

‘Is there anything more you can do? I mean at… your work. Do you need to go somewhere and do it? Can I help you?’

Even now, even while Fabian was being the perfect, gentle partner, I couldn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. I didn’t trust him to love me more than his principles. So I said, ‘There’s nothing for me to do but wait. Jordan’s got good officers out looking for her. They have a lead, but I sit here, just waiting for him to call, to tell me that they’ve found her, and every minute that goes by I think I should be doing something more, but there’s nothing more I can do. I’m useless to my only remaining family, Fabian.

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