Captured Again Read Online Free PDF Page A

mess.
    Olivia folded the dish towel, hanging it over the cabinet door to dry. “I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to. Looks like you could use a little help catching up around here. Let me warm up our tea.”
    She poked at the on button on the microwave, leaning against the counter to wait while Gabby looked around the clean kitchen, then quickly grabbed a handful of paper towels and Windex and took a swipe at the water splatters on the window in front of the sink.
    Olivia had splashed the window while washing the dishes. Gabby rubbed hard at the splatters, embarrassed that Olivia had cleaned up her messy kitchen and trying to find anything left undone. Gabby knew she hadn’t thanked her yet, but the words stuck to her tongue and refused to come out. Suck it up, Gabby. You’d do the same if you found Olivia in a mess at her place. Put your pride aside, she thought to herself. She tossed the wad of paper towels in the trash and turned around, leaning against the counter facing Olivia.
    “So Emma’s drinking again?” Gabby asked, trying to divert the subject to their little sister. She’s in a bigger mess than I am.
    “Yeah. Sounds like it... but I’ll deal with her in the morning. They said there’s nothing we can do until then anyway. You can have a pass on this one if you’ll talk to me tonight.” Olivia negotiated.
    The microwave dinged and Olivia opened it, handing Gabby one cup and carefully taking the other to the living room, where Gabby followed her. Gabby saw her glance at the couch, covered in a nest of throws and pillows haphazardly thrown all over, with her stack of books teetering beside it on the floor. She stepped past the mess and took the only other chair in the living room.
    Gabby set her tea on the table between her and Olivia and plopped down on top of the throws, pulling one over her legs before picking her tea back up and blowing away the tendrils of steam. She peeked at Olivia over the top of her cup, studying her. Maybe I can get away with just taking a shower and sharing tea if I can keep her talking about Emma. Then I can climb back into bed, Gabby thought.
    Olivia cleared her throat and shook her head. “Gabby, I know that look, and I know what you’re thinking... but there’s no getting around it this time, sister. Spit it out. What’s holding you back?”
    Gabby rolled her eyes and took another sip of her tea, then stared straight ahead trying to sort out her thoughts. Why is this so hard to say? That night should be easy to describe, Gabby thought. It isn’t like I don’t replay it in my mind at least a dozen times a day. She swallowed and cleared her throat and then tried to begin. The words stuck again. She took in a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling, and slowly let it out.
    She made eye contact with Olivia again, staring without blinking. “Okay, Olivia, but this stays between us. Promise?”
    Olivia gave a nod. That was enough for them both.
    “The night of the accident...” Gabby began. “That night, I told Jake everything about René, all the missing pieces. He didn’t ask me—and he never pushed me to tell him—but until then, all I’d really told him was about how it first happened... and then about the last time it happened. So after freaking out at the restaurant, I needed him to know. I wanted him to understand how I could be so manipulated and scared that I let it go on six months and why I’m still so paranoid and afraid, even though it’s over.”
    Gabby paused. Olivia sat quietly, blowing and sipping her own tea. Gabby knew she was trying not to interrupt. She also knew Olivia wanted to know about that night, and Gabby wanted to tell it, get it off her chest. Why not to Olivia? They were close, best friends who could talk about anything—had always talked about everything—since they were old enough to talk. But so far, since the accident, she’d been unable to tell Olivia, or anyone, what really happened. Olivia deserved to know. She’d put in