Smith - Final Mend

To MammawI wouldnt be who I am today without you. Your unwavering love and guidance has helped me keep my head above water more times than I can count. Your strength has kept me strong, and I will always treasure your teachings. I love you more than words can say.

A special thank you to Katie McGinley!

June 2013

Jake Inmans head was about to explode. His lungs ached. His limbs burned. The pressure of his body filled his ears with a dark, cavernous force, demanding attention, leaving him fearful this could be it. His last breath.

He sailed out of the water, captured a lungful of air, and dove under again. The tangle of water and elbows created a blender-like experience. Churning, gurgling, disturbing his equilibrium. Not long ago, this situation would have panicked him, but swimming with a group of triathletes fighting for the position he wanted forced him to move forward, stroke by stroke.

He no longer panicked, even when he couldnt breathe. He knew it was only temporary, and hed been through a hell of a lot worse. Hed learned to control his fear, letting the water soothe him as it slid across his skin.

A sliver of light penetrated the depth as he surfaced for another quick breath before diving underwater. He fought for control as he maintained a continuous flow of air supply, his arms gliding in swift forward motions as he focused on the swimmers around him.

He thought of yesterday, of Brandon and his concerns for Amy, but the image of the two people he loved most in the world held a dangerous distraction. Swimming took enough energy. During the most stressful events of his life, water relieved him of his pain. Not drugs, not alcohol, not women. Not anymore.

He could thank his cousin Brandon for that.

Which was why he was having such a hard time focusing today. Brandon was in trouble and when Brandon was in trouble, Jake was troubled. But Brandon had insisted Jake continue with his triathlons while he took care of everything.

Jake hoped everything would work out for the cousin who had helped him through the darkest part of his life. He knew Brandon was a good man, a good father, and the courts would have to see what a lousy mother Lillian was. She claimed Brandon was never home, didnt have enough time to give his daughter a home she needed, and he was trying to prove the courts wrong. The courts had granted temporary custody to Lillian until the divorce, with Brandon having visitation every other weekend. This arrangement wouldnt have been so bad if Lillian werent bat-shit crazy. But Lillian had never cared about her daughter until now, now when it might hurt Brandon or now when Lillian might get something out of it.

If Amy were old enough, it wouldnt be a problem. Shed choose to live with Brandon and all would be fine. Jake knew Amy would be better off in foster care than with her own mother. But Amy was too young to know, too young to let her know, so Brandon continued to play nice while the court decided his seven-year-old daughters fate.

As he reached the end of his swim, Jake pulled himself out of the water and refocused. Time to change as quickly as possible, refuel, and head for his next meet with the bike. He loved the bike, the burning in his calves, the way the wind tore at him as he pedaled. But swimming was his favorite, and his most feared. When he jumped into the water, he faced his fears all over again.

And conquered them every time.

He rushed to his bike and noticed Shawn hovering nearby, waiting.

Worry kinked his muscles. He controlled it with slow breaths.

Jake. Shawn laid a hand on his shoulder. Jake tied his shoes and ignored Shawn. Jake.

He straightened, a shiver running through him at Shawns deadpan voice. Ive got to go. What is it? Shawn had worked with Brandons management team for years, but Brandon was usually the one to accompany Jake on his meets. Shawns presence usually meant something wasnt right. His job was mostly public relations, and he only attended meets when he had to make sure their athletes were making a good impression. As far as Jake knew, he hadnt pissed anybody off.

Jake reached for his bike, but at this point he wasnt sure hed finish the race. He might just pedal to his truck, to Brandon and Amy.

Amy is missing, Shawn said.

Jake dropped his hand. Let his bike fall. Blood pounded to his head as he tried to absorb this news. He faced Shawn. No way could he have heard him right. What?

Shes missing. Someone broke into their house

Someone broke in? Fear kept him grounded, preventing any action. He needed to reach Brandon as soon as possible. Send out search parties for Amy. No, they needed to go after Lillian. There was no break-in. Lillian had taken her own daughter. She had custody and still had taken her. Anything to hurt Brandon. Anything to make him look bad.

Jake? Frown lines cut into Shawns forehead.

No way would Jake calm down. Brandon needed him. Amy needed him. Shawn needed to get out of the way so he could go to them.

Shawn planted a palm on Jakes chest when he tried to sidestep him. Brandon is dead.

* * *

Winona Wall smiled and nodded as she prepped a margarita and listened to the older couple across from her rave about their adventure today. The two had gone hiking and were now curled together at the bar, holding hands like teenagers. She learned they had been teenagers when they fell in love and were still together after forty-five years.

She slid the margaritas to them and blushed when they wrapped their arms through each others and drank from their own glasses. It was sweet listening to their story, and not many people occupied the bar right now so she had the time to listen. Not that she minded. Learning peoples life stories was one of her joys of tending bar. She just couldnt brush off the warning whispers in her mind at the phone call shed just received.

Wanted to give you a heads-up that someones looking for you. Hes not from around here.

She chuckled to herself. Maybe it was a long-lost brother. After all, shed found Chayton, her long-lost brother, in this very bar several months ago.

She had thanked Danny, who had given her the warning, and also thanked him for not mentioning it to Chayton. Her little brother had become quite the over-protector. Danny worked in Chaytons ski shop across town and had once tried to date Chaytons now-girlfriend, so hed probably wanted to avoid Chayton just as much as she did.

She had almost asked Danny to stop by later for a drink to thank him, but didnt want to give him the wrong idea. He wasnt her type and even if he was, she wasnt ready for a relationship like that. Yet once the sun started to set behind the mountains, a sense of loneliness would wash over her. Even if she wasnt alone, the strange call of those mountains, sitting boldly and strongly in the background, made her realize she was far from everything familiar.

She didnt want the familiar. She didnt. But the rosy glow of the mountains at sunset made her wish for something more.