I Hope You Find Me by Trish Marie Dawson Read Free Book Online Page A

white
cotton shirt and sweats.
    “Thanks.” I smiled in his direction and
topped my glass off with wine before crossing the room to sit down
on the couch opposite from Zoey. I didn’t want to disturb her,
since she seemed to be getting the best nap she’d had in weeks.
    Connor did the same with his glass and
surprised me by sitting down next to me. He sat at an angle, with
one of his legs on the coffee table, and the other bent at the
knee, resting on the cushion not far from my feet. I wasn’t sure if
I should move away from him, or stay still. Don’t you dare
move! A small voice inside me screamed.
    “So,” he began after clearing his throat,
“You want to leave the City and go where exactly?” He was staring
at me, sipping his wine. His hair was dry now, his waves tousled
and a bit wild looking. The darkness of his hair contrasted with
his fair skin and clear blue eyes. He blinked and I jerked my gaze
away.
    “Yes. Well, that’s the million dollar
question isn’t it?” I thought to myself for a moment and then
added, “I called my friends and family, and some of them live out
of State. I think this, whatever it is, spread out all across North
America.” I risked looking in his direction.
    He was nodding, and said quietly, “It’s not
just North America. It’s overseas too.” He shifted a bit, settling
further into the cushions and took a long drink from his glass
before continuing.
    “The last time I spoke to my family was
almost two weeks ago. My parents, who are in Dublin, were on their
way to the Hospital. Everyone I spoke to in London was sick.” He
paused there, as if considering what he said. “There were others I
couldn’t get a hold of. I don’t know what happened to them.” His
words came out heavy and soon he seemed lost in his thoughts.
    We sat there, unconsciously listening to the
dog snoring. After a bit I broke the silence, “So are you from
Ireland, or London? I can’t quite place your accent.” I took a sip
of wine.
    “Me, I’m from Dublin,” he said.
    “I thought so, but your accent’s very faint.”
I waited for him to explain further, and when he didn’t I continued
on. “I’m Irish too. Not directly, but a lot of my ancestors were
Irish.” I smiled at him. I didn’t know what else to say.
    “Is that so?” He asked, and smiled back at
me, looking first at my blue eyes, and then to my blonde hair – as
if sizing me up.
    “Have you ever been?”
    “To Ireland?” I snickered softly, “No, I
haven’t been out of the Country. I planned to go there, but I think
deep down I knew if I did, I would never come back here.”
    Connor laughed long and hard, and tossed back
the rest of his wine. “Maybe one day.” The words hung in the air as
he stood up, and with his hands on his hips he stretched his back.
We said good night to each other and retreated to our separate
bedrooms, with the exception of Zoey, who was still asleep on the
sofa.
     
    ***
     
    I left my door cracked open for the dog. I
knew eventually she would wake and go looking for me. So in the
early hours of morning when I felt the gentle pressure of the
bedspread move next to me and a body snuggle up against mine I
wasn’t alarmed…not until an arm slid over my side and a hand rested
on my stomach. Startled, I yelped and pushed myself up in bed and
banged into the wooden headboard loud enough to make Zoey bark at
the echo from the other room. She came running into the bedroom
growling, and Connor came rushing in behind her a moment later,
looking a bit dazed.
    “What…?” Connor mumbled, rubbing at his face
with one hand, the other holding onto the wine bottle we had
emptied earlier in the night.
    “ Someone’s in here. ” I whispered. I
kept my eyes on the bed as I fumbled with the bedside lamp until I
found the switch. Light flooded the room but it still felt
dark.
    Zoey stood at attention near the door, and
only when the light came on did she stop growling. She jumped onto
the bed and turned