43
Finn fought to get out of Serena’s grasp. He lashed out like an animal possessed and screamed, one endless, long sound that reached into the depths of Annie’s heart and ripped it to shreds.
“Get your hands off my son!” she yelled. Anger swept through her body, propelling her off the ground. Within seconds, she was on top of Serena. Serena swung out an arm, connecting with Annie’s cheek with a loud thwack. Annie reeled back, clutching her face.
“Don’t be afraid, Finn, I’m here. It’s me, your mommy.” Serena was trying to console Finn, but he was fighting with all his might.
Sam finally reached the door to help Annie, yelling to Cam, “Stay back.”
But Serena was like a woman possessed. She backhanded Sam across the face, sending her stumbling to the ground next to their father. Annie sprang forward to rip Serena’s hands off Finn as Marley clamped his teeth around one of the woman’s ankles. Serena never flinched.
“Stop screaming. It’s me, Mommy.” Serena shook Finn with each word.
Annie grabbed at Serena, pulling her hair, her arms, punching whatever she could reach and kicking whatever she could get. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sam coming at them. Marley, teeth still clamped on Serena’s ankle, shook his head as if killing his prey.
Sam grabbed Finn and pulled, while Annie dug a finger into one of Serena’s eyes from behind. Serena screamed and let go of Finn. Sam clasped him to her, and the momentum threw them backward in a heap to the ground.
“Get her out. Get her out!” Finn screamed. He was freaking out, big-time. “Get her away!” Sam gathered him in her arms, rocking him.
“Don’t let her get him,” Annie shouted to Sam, as Serena lunged for Finn.
Annie grabbed Serena’s hair and pulled. Serena’s head snapped back, and Annie felt a moment of satisfaction. She wanted to inflict pain on the woman who had stalked them through the years, who had made Annie feel like she was losing her mind and doing things she didn’t remember. Who was now trying to steal her son. Baring her teeth, she lashed out.
To her surprise, Serena fought back, even with Marley still attached to her ankle. Blood poured down her leg. Blood. Annie stumbled at the sight and slipped on the wet ground before gaining traction again.
But Serena had already kicked out at Marley with her other foot, catching him in the side. He yelped and let go, whimpering. Fury exploded in Annie and she charged Serena, shoving her with all her might. The other woman went flying through the air, landing with a sickening crunch just inside the back door, where the rain continued to pelt in. Serena curled into a ball and Annie hovered over her.
“You will never get your hands on my son. He is my son.” Annie thumped a palm on her chest, gazing ferociously at the woman at her feet.
Serena looked up at her. “No, he’s mine—” She broke off, sobbing.
“Shut up,” Annie screamed. “He’s mine. He will never be yours.”
For a moment, Serena seemed to wilt in front of her eyes. But then she gave an anguished cry and shot to her feet. Before Annie could guess what she’d do next, Serena yanked Finn right out of Sam’s arms. She ran for the door, stumbling down the last few steps. With a speed that seemed impossible given the way the water lapped at her legs, she sloshed across the backyard to the driveway, quickly disappearing from view.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” Sam cried.
“Take care of Marley and Baba,” Annie shouted at her.
She ran after Serena but slipped on the bottom step, landing hard. It took a moment to get her bearings. She could hear Finn’s wailing, competing with the sound of the wind. Her body protesting in pain, Annie heaved herself up and fought to gain traction in the flooded yard. How was it that she, the ex-dancer, had landed like a wounded buffalo, while Serena, the self-proclaimed non-exerciser, had recovered from her fall like a ballerina? Cursing again, Annie tried to run, slogging her way to the driveway after Serena and Finn, who were already out of sight.
She struggled after them, but when she got to the end of the driveway, there was no one there. She looked down the street but didn’t see them. Serena wouldn’t have gone toward the river to her left, would she? Did she even know about the tunnel through the bamboo that led down to the private dock?
She had to check. Annie hurried toward the bamboo tunnel, not caring if it was dangerous to go down to the river. That woman had her son, and she would do whatever she had to, to get him back. Serena’s words from earlier mocked her as she ducked under the first branches. If Finn were in danger, would you think twice before trying to save him? At your own risk?
Taking a breath, she ran into the small tunnel. Once inside, the roar of the storm muffled. It was as if she were in a tiny insular bubble, safe away from the storm raging outside. Only the water rising to her ankles gave any indication that Mother Nature was not happy.
Within seconds, she was out of the tunnel and standing at the grassy area above the dock, where they stored the kayaks and paddleboards. There was about a foot’s drop down to the dock, which jutted out into the river. They usually jumped to the lower level, or used the gentle incline to the left almost like a ramp.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dark. The moon shining off the water as it slipped in and out of the clouds gave a faint glow, and her breath caught when she finally realized what she was looking at. The dock was underwater. She couldn’t even see it.
“Oh my god,” she muttered under her breath, looking at the scene before her. From her vantage point, slightly higher, Annie could make out debris and driftwood floating by in the river. But what made her gasp was the sight of Serena standing where the dock started with Finn in her arms. She was shin deep in the water, her back to Annie. Annie’s heart stopped as she remembered something Serena had told her earlier: she couldn’t swim.
44
“Mommy.”
Finn’s small voice drifted to her even above the roar of the storm. Annie’s breath hitched. What was she going to do? If she made any sudden moves and scared them, they might fall into the water. Finn could swim, but barely, having only just learned recently. He’d be no match for the river. And Serena couldn’t swim, which meant it would be up to Annie to save both of them if they went in.
“I’m here, darling. I’m here.” Serena’s voice floated back to Annie, and she watched as the other woman smoothed a hand down Finn’s back. Annie couldn’t understand how she could possibly hear either of them speaking. The rain splashed down hard and the wind whipped at her hair, making it nearly impossible to hear anything. Yet she could hear them, clear as a bell.
“Serena, come back. Please. Get away from the edge.” Annie’s words were carried away in the loud rush of pelting rain and the swirl of water. She wasn’t sure if Serena had heard her. Annie took a breath and jumped down onto the lower level, where Serena and Finn were. She landed with a soft splash, and Serena turned toward her. “Please. Come back with me.” Annie took a few steps forward, until she was right in front of them. “I’ll help you.”
She was afraid a surge could happen at any time, and then the mad, swirling river would wash everything in its path toward the ocean just beyond the bridge to their left.