Rise: Populations Crumble, Book 2 by Gandy, A. (read book .txt) 📕

Teddy quickly wraps an arm around her waist, and we all walk over to the seating area in the middle of the deck.

“Faith, I’m so sorry, what can I do?” I sink down next to her and hold her hand between both of mine.

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Do you really think we’re in danger?” Her free hand presses protectively against her lower belly.

I press my lips into a tight line and look to Patrick for that answer.

“I hope not, but I wanted you to know and be informed of the potential risk. While I hope nothing comes of it, I can’t guarantee that.” He looks grim.

“I think they’re right, Teddy, we need to try to go back to Georada.” Faith is solemn, but less pale at least.

Teddy nods, a tight expression on his face. “What about you, Sadie? I’m supposed to leave you here with a man who lied to you, who put you into danger, and run off home with my tail between my legs?” His face shows his internal struggle, the torture plain as day.

“Teddy, you may have come here for me, but you have so much more than me to concern yourself with now. Patrick and I are okay. I want Faith and the baby to be safe more than I want to keep you here with me.” I try to load my voice with reassurance, but he’s far from convinced.

“I’ll make a few calls as soon as we get back to the resort.” He acquiesces, but I can read the indecision and fury in the stiffness of his shoulders, and the white-knuckled grip he has on the back of the seat Faith’s sitting in.

The sailing trip now lacks the sparkling appeal it started with, and Patrick finds a staff member and asks that they take us back early. The shuttle ride home is equally somber, the only chipper one Todd. Although, if the rest of us were drinking sodas the size of a small bucket, we’d probably be a little more cheerful, too.

As soon as Todd lets us off and starts to pull away, Teddy is all business. “I’m going to make some calls and get us transferred home one way or another. But Patrick, if anything happens to my baby sister because of you, I don’t care who you are, you will regret the day you lied to the Taylors and brought harm to this family. You understand?”

I have never seen my lighthearted, jovial brother so cold and threatening. The change in him is jarring, and tears start to gather along my bottom eyelid. This is my fault; I should have told him the first day. Then at least he would have known before the stupid news got wind of it.

Patrick’s voice is deadly calm in return. “Teddy, I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to keep her safe, just like I have from the day I met her. My name may have changed, but I have not. I hope you’ll see that in time.”

They lock eyes, and the tension builds for a long moment as they stare each other down. Teddy gives a terse nod, before coming over to hug me tightly to his chest. I hug him back so hard it might bust a few ribs on a lesser man.

“I don’t feel right leaving you here, Sadie. We’re going to figure something out so you can come home, too.” He tugs once on my ponytail, the same maneuver he’s done since I was a little girl chasing after him through the pasture back home, and a single tear makes its escape and trails down my cheek.

I hastily swipe it away. “I’m so sorry, Teddy. I should have told you the first day, and I  know it’s no excuse, but I didn’t want to ruin things for you and Faith. You seemed so happy, and I knew you’d go into overprotective brother mode. I needed  time to process it for myself.” I scuff the dirt with the toe of my boot, and can’t bring myself to meet his eyes.

He puts a finger under my chin and pulls my chin up. “Sadie Alice Taylor, this is not on you, and I don’t want to hear another word on it.”

I nod, and he releases me. Without another word, he leads Faith by the hand towards their cottage. She tosses a small wave at me over her shoulder before they disappear past the guest house.

Intensive

It takes five days, but Teddy somehow manages to get a transfer put in place for him and Faith back to Georada, to the local pregnancy center. They do extensive testing for most of that time before agreeing to release her, so we don’t see much of them. Patrick and I mostly stay in our cottage, watching old movies on the built-in TV, and baking too much. I’m practically itching to get out and ride a horse, but there are no horses on the property, unfortunately.

This morning, we’re supposed to meet them for early breakfast before Todd takes them back to the airport for their flight home. I’ve put it off as long as I can, but I finally shut the closet door and walk to the living room where Patrick is once again waiting with a cup of coffee. This morning, however, I’m too torn up for it to feel domestic.

Patrick assesses my mood and gives me my space as we walk to the guest house. We follow the stepping-stone path to the front of the guest house, and round the corner to see Faith and Teddy already there, bundled in coats and surrounded by their bags. My stomach clenches tight as a fist at the sight.

I feel wooden, the cold wind biting my cheeks forgotten as I walk over and hug them both tightly, one last time as the shuttle pulls in. Todd hops out of the