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Dex had stayed true to his word and re the whole spiel Even noasn’t saying anything He just pursed his lips until he rese into his breakfast I tried not to watch hih I could see froht, trying to make sense of what I told hier he ithout saying anything, the more torn up I felt inside Did he believe me? Did he think I was mental? Because if there was anyone at this table as mental, I kneasn’tto hand ht
"You actually believe all that?" he said
"What do you mean?" I asked slowly "Of course It happened I don’t kno else to explain it but that’s what happened"
I looked at hi this whole thing?
"You think I’ all of this up? This was your idea"
He laughed "Co the first ti to make a mountain out of a hts, let alone speak at his assu it?"
"I think you see what you want to see," he said, and shoveled an entire pancake into his ross that was
I couldn’t help but reach across the table and grab his forearm I squeezed it Hard He looked up at me, pancake frozen inside his wide yap
"Dex," I said, with as much intensity and seriousness that I couldI don’t care about any of this You foundyou the truth You think that lighthouse is haunted, you’re looking for all the proof, but I’ you now that I know it is It is"
He searched one I didn’t knohat he thought, but there was nothing more I could do at this point
"Look," I finally said "I’ll prove it Let’s go there right now Hell, let’s go tonight We can drive back to Portland after I need to show you I need you to believe ot to get back tonight"
"Why? What do you have to do? Is your girlfriend so paranoid that she won’t let you out of her sight for the weekend?"
He was taken aback at that and ive two shits if I’m there or not"
That was news to me I tried to not let that show
"No," he continued, "I’et any deeper into this whole thing I’ve got enough footage and, with your permission, I could combine it hat you shot last week"
"What if I say no?" I countered, ar awfully stubborn and acting like a typical young girl who isn’t getting her way," he shot back "And then I’d shrug, wipe o hoirlfriend who doesn’t even care if you’re there or not?"
He thren his napkin "Why do you care?"
"I don’t care I just think you’re chickenshit"
"Excusebehind those eyes, but I didn’t care I was past caring and beyond angry ht," I reinforced "I think you are chickenshit You’re happy to call this whole thing off just because you are too scared to go back there because you actually think I a the truth And the truth scares you"
He leaned in closer across the table and this tirowled and gave rip He met my eyes and then very slowly, hesitantly, releasedto be a really aard car ride back home, isn’t it?" I asked, a trace of amusement in my voice The whole situation was ridiculous
He sighed and leaned back, pushing his plate away fro you as crazy as you’ve been driving ot out of the booth "I’o pay," heIt didn’t h too--of the food, of everything At least breakfast was free
I watched hiet a breath of fresh air before the hellish ride back
I walked out of the diner and took in a deep breath I closedthe rain fall onaway the dust that was accuh my lips, slowly and fully I opened my eyes before I started to feel a bit off balance
There was a worinning a bright s teeth My breath caught on the way out
I had seen her before, in the lobby ofwe stood there staring at each other I felt paralyzed, unable to breathe, move or talk She didn’t rin
She slowly reached over with a bony hand and placed it on my shoulder Her hands were covered with s; the white taffeta coat she earing had clownish puff balls on it They were all different colors Bright yellow, orange, red, blue and green She really did look like so mother
She started to speak Rather, her sticky red lipsout She spoke like this for a few seconds before she finally said, "Declan"
What about hi with curiosity
"He’s got some stories to tell," she whispered, her voice low, alh a phone There was a familiar accent on certain syllables "He’ll tell you, one day About what happened to him You just need to watch him Watch out for him Closely You’re cut from the same cloth"