He smiled.
“Yes, actually. I’ve taken quite a few specialty classes and I’ve even been to culinary school.”
“What happened?” I asked. “How come you’re not a chef at some five-star restaurant? You’re really good.”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve always just considered it more like a hobby. I don’t know if I would want to work in those professional kitchens. They seem pretty brutal.”
I laughed.
“Yeah, you mean like on those reality shows?”
I used to watch
Top Chef
once in a while.
“Yeah,” he said. “Like that one with that Gordon character always screaming at the top of his lungs. I think it’s like that too. But I guess my love for cooking really started to take off when I was in college studying to be a scientist. The dorm food pushed me over and I started learning how to make some decent dinners for myself.”
“Do you like being a scientist?” I asked.
He stopped chopping and looked at me.
“Well, yes, I do. But to be honest, I like cooking more. And here I get a chance to do a lot of it. And in such a beautiful location.”
He went back to the onion.
“Okay, your turn now.”
I started cutting, but I was slow and clumsy. But he patiently watched and didn’t correct me.
“Can you show me how you do it?” I asked. “I’d like to go faster, like you were doing.”
“Of course.”
He gave me some pointers. After a few slices, I got the hang of it and was done in no time.
“Do you mind if I play a little music?” he asked as I wiped the tears out of my eyes and backed away from the counter. “I usually play something while cooking.”
“Sure,” I said. “Do you want me to put it in?”
“That would be great,” he said. “Everything is over on the counter. How about some Tony Bennett?”
I smiled. It reminded me of something Kate would listen to. But it was cool. I liked it.
“I’ll put on the duet with Lady Gaga for you,” I said, smiling.
“One of my favorites,” he said, chuckling.
We chopped parsley and I grated a chunk of parmesan cheese as Tony sang about how the lady was a tramp and later about how his ship had come in. Simon took a bottle out of the wine rack and opened it. He brought over two glasses.
“You too, Abby,” he said, pouring just a little for me. “It’s an important ritual of fine cooking.”
I shrugged and took the glass from him.
“Chianti Classico,” he said. “One of the best wines, in my opinion.”
I smiled awkwardly and tried a little.
“Someday you’ll like it,” he said, studying my expression.
“I have chicken broth warming up over here. It’s important to always use hot liquid when making risotto or it won’t turn out like it should. I used a homemade chicken stock that I had in the freezer, but if you don’t have any, you can use an organic stock from the store I suppose.”
He then went to the pantry and pulled out a large container of rice.
“Always use Arborio rice, from Italy. It’s a must when making risotto.”
He handed me a wooden spoon.
“You know how to sauté, right?” he said.
He brought over the chopped onions and slid them in with some butter. Then, after a few minutes, he dumped the rice in.
The smell of the onion and butter and rice cooking together was amazing.
“We are going to cook the rice in the stock, adding just a little bit at a time and stirring constantly. Each time the liquid evaporates, add some more.”
He poured some of the broth into the pan and it sizzled as it hit the rice. I kept stirring as it cooked and evaporated and after a few minutes added another ladleful of the broth. This went on for about 20 minutes. Simon poured in a little white wine toward the end.
The risotto was steaming and creamy and I didn’t think I had ever smelled anything so good. When the rice was almost done, Simon added chopped pears and gorgonzola cheese and the parmesan.
Afterwards, we sat on barstools and tasted the risotto. It was even better than it smelled.
“And now you know how to make one of the best dishes in the world,” he said.
I smiled.
“Thanks, Simon. This was fun.”
As I sat there I knew it didn’t make any sense. Here I was, back in my prison, making risotto. But it had gotten my mind off things and I felt better. And there was something else more important.
Maybe, just maybe, I had made a friend.
God knew I needed one.
CHAPTER 21
I had the rest of my dinner upstairs, later. Phil had brought up a tray and when I saw it was him, I went into the bathroom and waited until I heard him leave. I hoped he hadn’t spit into the food.
After I finished, I put in another movie, but figured someone would be up to get me soon. I hadn’t gotten a message from Nathaniel so I figured that the meeting in the library was back on schedule. I hadn’t seen him all day. I suspected he was still mad about the escape attempt. Nothing about him suggested he was the easygoing type. But regardless, I was pretty sure he still wanted to talk to me. I had that over him. I might be able to talk to Kate after all.
Sure enough, Phil showed up to take me down to the library right before eight.
“Good evening, Abby,” Nathaniel said as I walked in. He poured the usual drinks and put my glass on the table by the chair where I usually sat. I walked over.
“Sit,” he said. “Please.”
He sat down, crossing his legs. I stared at his energy. It was still. He didn’t seem angry anymore.
“Did you have a good day?” he asked, his voice even.
It seemed pretty ridiculous that we talked about our days like this. I was sure he knew I was in my room all day except for the time I spent with Simon.
“It was all right,” I said.
“Good,” he said. “I take it you’ve recovered from your adventure?”
I didn’t answer.
“You know, Abby, after I had a little time to think about it, I realized that you going out there into the Sound like that was completely my own fault.”
I looked back over at him.
“And I’m not talking about how you found that kayak. That was the staff’s fault and they’ve been dealt with. I do want you to know that the island has been carefully scoured today and something like that will never happen again.”
I figured as much. That had probably been part of the reason why I couldn’t go outside. I pictured Jack and Phil out there all day, checking for anything else they missed the first time. I wondered if there was some doghouse I hadn’t seen where they would be sleeping. I smiled at the thought.
“But just the same, tomorrow I will need you to stay in the house once more. There’s plenty to keep you entertained down in the basement. Just one more day, until we finish up out there.”
I nodded slowly.
“My mistake was not realizing how cooped up you would feel, trapped once again by water. I now have a better understanding of you, Abby. And I appreciate this. I see that you need to get off the island occasionally. So, after the second round of tests, I have planned a trip for us. Just us. I think you will enjoy it.”
The risotto threatened to come up.
“When are the tests?” I asked.
With everything that had happened lately, I hadn’t even thought about it.
“Originally we had them scheduled for tomorrow. But everything has been pushed back a day.”
“So can I still call Kate tomorrow?”
“Well, let’s see how our talk goes tonight.”
“All right,” I said. “So what more do you want to know?”
“Did you think any more about what we discussed?”
“Yes,” I said. “I really tried, but I don’t have any more memories of being in the lake other than it was dark and black and terrible. Really, that’s it.”
“There wasn’t a tunnel? Or any deceased loved ones waiting for you? You had none of that?”
I paused, thinking. I couldn’t remember anything like that, except of course seeing Jesse. But there was no way I was going to tell him about that.
“I wish,” I said. “But no. There was nothing like that. It was more just like a nightmare. And then I woke up in the hospital.”
Nathaniel stared at me intensely.
“It was a dark, lonely place. Endless nothingness. There was no light or tunnel. It was…” my voice got shaky and I took a long drink of the soda.
He didn’t say anything and waited for me to finish, his eyes glowing.
“It was Hell, is what I think,” I said, taking a deep breath. “And I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Not even you.”
He sat back in his chair, quiet.
“Okay,” he finally said. “But I’m wondering now about a few other things. I’m thinking if during all those minutes in which you were clinically dead, if something else developed. If you now have some psychic gifts that you didn’t possess before you died. This seems to be fairly common with people who have had near-death experiences.”
I shook my head, hoping he couldn’t read my lie.
“Come now, Abby. At least give it a little thought. You certainly had some of these abilities when we met. Remember? You were right next to me as I conducted my research in your hometown.”
My skin crawled and I tried not to shiver. He was talking about the visions I had of him killing people.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said. “It was the strangest thing. You were there, with me every time. You looked different, more like an apparition. Translucent. But I saw you nonetheless, hiding behind trees and such. It was very odd. Unexpected, but interesting and I’ve wanted to follow up on this for quite a while.”
I glared at him. His dark eyes danced, but he remained quiet, waiting for an answer.
“Sure. Okay. You’re right. I had forgotten about those. I’d never had any kind of visions like that before. They started after the accident. I don’t know why I had them. But I haven’t had one since you left that night.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Thank you for your honesty.”
He stood up and walked around while I looked over at the wall of books.
“Anything else?” he asked. “Other psychic phenomenon that you wish to discuss? Remember, Abby, only honest answers in this room.”
“It’s not like I can see the future or anything, Nathaniel. I’m not really sure what you’re getting at. Except for not seeing colors, I’m pretty much back to normal these days.”
He laughed a little.
“Oh, I seriously doubt that, Abby,” he said. “I don’t believe you will ever be normal again. You’re a very special person and someday you’ll see that too.”
I walked over to the fire, warming my hands near the flames. I would never tell him about Jesse. Not even if it cost me my phone call.
My back was turned but I could feel his eyes on me.
“You do look lovely tonight, Abby. I meant to tell you that.”
I walked back over to the chair and quickly sat down.
“I’m not your enemy. In fact, I want to be your friend. More than that, if I’m being honest. But I will give you time. I promise.”
I had nothing more to say. I just wanted to go back upstairs.
“Feel free to ask me anything, anything at all, and I will answer.”
I did have a question for him.
“I don’t understand you, Nathaniel. You’ve had everything given to you. You have a brother who loves you. Still. Even after everything you’ve done. You are a doctor. Why do you do this? That’s what I want to know.”
He paced around, his hands together behind his back, taking his time before answering.
“That’s a very good question,” he said. “But I must cut our meeting short tonight. I’m needed in the lab, and must get back.”
He looked over at me.
“However, know that I am honored that you asked, and, if you permit me, I will share my story with you tomorrow evening. And I will tell you why this all began.”
CHAPTER 22
I woke up the next morning with Jesse staring at me, his face close to mine.
“Jesse!” I said, reaching up and throwing my arms around his neck. It was good to see him. More than good.
“Hey, Craigers,” he said, smiling.
I didn’t want to let him go.
“Everything’s different when you’re here,” I whispered.
I sat up and pushed my hair behind my ears, looking at the clock on the nightstand. It was just after seven. I moved my pillow up against the headboard and leaned against it. Jesse walked over to the other side of the bed and sat next to me.
I glanced outside. It looked like another beautiful day. The kind of day where I could close my eyes and almost feel what blue looked like.
“I wish we could go for a walk, but he won’t let me out of the house.”
“That’s new. How come?”
So much had happened since I had last seen him. I filled him in about finding the kayak and my escape attempt across the strait. And about some of the things Nathaniel had said.
“I wanted to ask you something. Something about what he told me.”
“Sure,” Jesse said, pulling me closer. “What did he say?”
“Is it true that his serum brought me back to life?”
Jesse smiled.
“Now why do people always think the dead know everything?”
But I held his stare and saw a flicker of something pass over his eyes. He knew something.
“Because I think you do. At least in this case. Come on, just tell me. I can take it.”
“Okay,” he said in a serious voice. “I’ll tell you what I know. It’s just something that I’ve noticed.”
“What?”
“Well, you kind of glow. You look different to me than anyone else in this world. You’re brighter. Part of it might have to do with how I feel about you. But I think that there’s more to it. That’s why I can find you sometimes.”
“Really?” I said.
“Yep. I don’t know for sure if it’s because of his serum or not. But really, Craigers, does it matter? It’s just good that you’re alive. That’s all that matters.”
It wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, but maybe it was the one I had known deep down all along.
“So he was there at the hospital that night,” I said. “Kate was sure that he was lying because she didn’t see him. She’s usually pretty good at remembering those kinds of things.”