The Artist Cries Wolf by Heather Horrocks

Author:Heather Horrocks
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Word Garden Press
Published: 2016-10-30T05:00:00+00:00

Stunned, Amber sank back down against the couch, staring at Samuel. “What do you mean? Adam was killed by a bomb. You didn’t have anything to do with that.”

He looked stricken. “It was my fault he was there when it went off.”

“Why would you even think that?” she asked.

“They said they were going to the club, and they wanted me to go along. We’d just heard that Gregory had been killed — he was another buddy. The news hit me hard, so I told them to go without me.”

She stared at him. “That still doesn’t make it your fault.”

“If I’d gone with them, I could have done something to save them.”

“You’re amazing, and you move faster than a black belt, but you’re not Superman, Samuel. You couldn’t have done anything to save them from a bomb. All it would have meant is that you would be gone, too.” She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I would be very sad if you were gone, Samuel.”

He clutched her to him, and she hugged him, murmuring, “It’s not your fault. It’s going to be all right.”

He shuddered and they pulled apart. Gently, she admitted, “The last time Adam was home, he asked me if I thought he ought to re-enlist.” Her voice cracked a little as she said, “I told him that if he wanted to, he ought to do it. So it’s just as much my fault as it is yours that he died. We can’t control everything. I am just as guilty as you are for his death.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes.” She took his hand. “Yes, I am. Forgive yourself. Let it go. It’s not your fault. If you’re to blame, then so am I. You can’t take the blame for accidents, or for the behavior of others. What if you’d gone with them? What if you had saved them and then he’d been killed walking off the plane here in America? Would that still be your fault? What if I walked out the door right now and got hit by a car? Your fault for not stopping me? What if I waited until you were sleeping and then walked out and got hit by a car? You have to let it go. You don’t get to control the universe.”

He choked, a half-laugh, half-sob. “And here I thought I did.”

“Yeah, my brother had a Superman complex, too. I recognize it.”

The little dog jumped on Samuel’s lap and the man put a hand on his back and petted him. She got the impression that Wolf was actually helping calm the big man.

“You don’t know all the circumstances. What I am.”

“Shh.” She put a finger to his lips. “I know you are a man of honor; a man who would never leave a buddy behind. You weren’t responsible for Adam’s death. Some bomb-wielding maniac was.” She sighed. “You have to get over it, Samuel. Adam would want you to.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good.” Then, trying to distract him, she said, “Will you take me to the lake sometime? I’d like to see the Moonchuckle Bay that the town is named after.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.