Enemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm

Author:Shanessa Gluhm [Gluhm, Shanessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TouchPoint Press
Published: 2020-03-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Longview, Texas, 1991

Garrison dipped his feet into the pool. The water was only beginning to cool from a day spent under the merciless Texas sun. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get used to this muggy heat. The wind rustled the blooming rose bushes, carrying their scent to the pool where it mingled with the stronger stench of chlorine.

It was 9:30, and he still hadn’t talked to Molly alone. Between showing the nurse around and swimsuit shopping, he’d barely seen her. Then Ray stayed up an hour later than usual. Thankfully, Lew was spending the night at his girlfriend’s, or this might have turned into a midnight swim.

Molly didn’t leave him waiting long. She wore a cover- up, but thanks to the sheer material, Garrison saw the swimsuit underneath. It was a modest, black one-piece but hugged her in all the right places. Garrison turned away as she shed the cover-up. It was ridiculous how uncomfortable he felt. He was supposed to be a professional.

“You ready?”

Molly’s whole body shook. “I’m not sure about this.”

“It’s okay. Just come sit; put your feet in.”

“You aren’t going to pull me in or anything?”

“No tricks. If this is as far as we get tonight, so be it.”

She didn’t look confident but lowered her feet into the water.

“Not so awful, right?”

Molly gripped the edge of the pool.

“Is this where the accident happened?” Garrison asked.

“Yeah, summer we moved here. I was playing outside, and then I was waking up in a hospital.”

“So, you jumped in?”

“They thought so. Mom found me face down. But I had never learned to swim and was always a cautious kid, so it was surprising. Dad insisted on running tests, and turns out, a heart murmur caused me to faint at the worst possible time in the worst possible place.”

“A heart murmur?” Garrison gripped the edge too. “Did it go away?”

“Nope, still there.” Molly swirled the water with her foot. “I know you’re thinking I should be scared of my heart and not the water.”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you were scared of both.”

“I’m not dying or anything. I take medication, get a yearly checkup, try not to over exert myself. Not a big deal.”

A dark figure brushed across the water then disappeared. “What kind of bird was that?” Garrison asked.

“The bat kind.”

“A bat?” Garrison searched the skies. “Are those um...common here?”

“Don’t tell me you’re scared of bats?”

“Not scared really.”

Molly elbowed his side. “Come on, I told you mine.”

“Okay, a little scared. When I was ten, we vacationed in New Mexico. Went to Carlsbad Caverns and watched the evening exodus of the bats. Thousands of them, chattering, ready to prey. I cried, cowered behind Dad, and have tried to avoid them ever since. The whole scene was pretty disturbing.”

“I see.” Molly bit down on a smile.

“I know what you’re thinking. Close encounter with bats, dead parents, but no, I’m not Batman.”

Molly’s laugh caused her to relax her grip on the pool’s edge. Not wanting to do too much too soon, Garrison filled her in on his conversation with Katie.

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