The Healer by Donna Freitas

Author:Donna Freitas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2018-08-05T16:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-TWO

The envelope of money cracks and crinkles in my pocket as I hop into the passenger seat of Finn’s truck, like it keeps wanting to remind me that it’s there. The driver’s side door slams shut and Finn looks at me. He’s in jeans again, and a black T-shirt, sleeves long enough that no ink from his tattoo peeks out from under them. “So, Marlena, I had some thoughts about our outing today.”

The sound of his voice is like an on button, erasing everything else in my mind. I’m with Finn. He said outing, but we both know what this really is. We’re going on a sort of date. “I’m up for anything.”

“I thought we’d start simple, from your list.”

“Oh?”

We are both acting casual. I don’t know about Finn, but I don’t feel casual right now. I feel like there’s a million things I want to ask him. That I want to know.

Finn puts the truck into gear and soon we are on our way out of the parking lot and driving down the road by the sea. “An afternoon movie, and then maybe something to eat?”

“A movie in a movie theater?”

Finn laughs. “Yes, since you said you’ve never been to one.”

“I haven’t. We don’t even have television in my house. Or a computer. Well, my mother has a tablet, but I’m not allowed to use it.” But my life is changing. Maybe soon I’ll have this, too, and more. Oh yeah, and Finn, you have a photographic memory, huh?

He shifts gears and the truck goes a little faster. I roll down my window. The breeze is cool and soft.

“So you decided to take a break from healing,” he says.

I watch him as he drives, so relaxed at the wheel, and wonder if I’ll ever drive like this one day, if it will feel second nature. “I told my mother that I’m on vacation. And, surprisingly, you were right. I told her I wanted a break and now I’m on one. It’s weird, how it was so easy.” The movie theater comes into view ahead. It’s a huge gray cube of cement designed to keep out the light. The very opposite of Angie’s glass-windowed center. The sign next to it boasts sixteen options for what we might see.

Finn turns into the parking lot. “I’m hurt you’re surprised I was right. You do know I’m pretty much a genius.” He smirks a little. “Seeing that I’ve got a photographic memory and all.”

“Yeah, I did hear that.” I try not to smile. “But we’ll have to see. I have a lot of questions and I’m just not sure if I believe in your genius or not. Yet.”

He laughs as he drives down an aisle looking for a spot, then pulls into one not far from the entrance. “Touché, Marlena.”

By the time the theater goes dark, I am holding a bucket of buttery popcorn, my second candy bar of the day, and a large sugary soda. So much to take in, to eat, and so very gluttonous of me.

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