Chapter 27
Dax handed Vanessa a fresh cup of coffee then sat beside her on the sofa.
Frankie lay on her lap, half of his fat little body covered by the orange throw blanket she’d draped over her shoulders. The dog refused to leave her side since Dax had pulled her from the river.
After changing into dry clothes and speaking with Deputy Sanders, the chill had yet to leave Dax’s bones. He wasn’t sure if it was due to his plunge in the icy river or listening to the details of everything Vanessa went through.
He’d held her close as she’d spoken, wishing he could absorb the pain that had made her voice shake. Wishing he could go back and change the way he’d handled his father’s fall so he could have been with her.
But he couldn’t do either. All he could do was support her as she waded through the aftermath of her trauma.
Vanessa scratched Frankie behind the ears. “Who knew he had so many skills? I just hope he can stick with finding animals and not me from now on.”
“I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight.” Dax kissed her then set his coffee aside. “How are you feeling?”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Physically, okay. Tired. A few aches and pains, but nothing too serious. Emotionally…well, that’s a different story.”
“Do you want to talk about it? I understand if you don’t. It’s been a long day. But I’m here if you do.”
She let out a long sigh. “I can’t believe after all these years, I know who my father is. And even though I have so many answers, there are still some unknowns. I don’t think there’s a way to get more clarity on exactly what happened between my mother and Garrison.”
“Does it matter? Knowing the details won’t change who you are. Won’t change the way you feel about your mother or the relationship you had.”
She shrugged. “I guess not, but I hate to think of her being hurt. I hate to think she experienced something so horrible just to be run out of town and forced to live away from her family for the rest of her life. She gave up so much to have me. All because she needed to keep this secret. I mean…did she look at me and remember all the bad things from her past?”
The question twisted his insides. He wished he had the words to wash away all the turmoil chugging inside her, but this was something she’d have to work through.
No matter how painful. “I never got a chance to meet your mom, but I have no doubt she loved you so much. Enough to walk away from everything to give you the life you deserved. No matter what happened between her and Garrison, she raised you in joy. In happiness and love. Nothing you learn will ever change that.”
Shifting to stare up at him, she smiled. “Thank you for that.”
He kissed her, and Frankie barked in protest before jumping onto the floor.
Chuckling, she took a sip of her coffee then set it down beside his. “Sorry, boy.” Leaning back against him, she rested her hand on Dax’s knee. “I just wish my brain would shut off. I can’t stop thinking about my aunt and uncle. What will happen to him now?”
“I don’t know,” Dax said. “That’s for the law to figure out. Regardless of whether what happened was an accident or not, a life was taken. Lies were told to cover up the truth. Justice needs to be served.”
“I really wanted to build a relationship with him—with my aunt and Autumn. Now that will never happen. Not if I’m the reason Chip ends up in jail.”
He hated that even after everything she’d survived, she was still stuck in a place of uncertainty.
She deserved more. Deserved to finally unpack all these damn boxes and make her new house her home.
To figure out her future without the past dragging her down—heaping guilt on her shoulders for events she’d played no hand in creating.
“If your uncle goes to jail, it’s not your fault. I hope that Diane and Autumn would see that, too, but if not, screw ’em.”
“Screw them, huh? Just accept that the only family I have left in this world might never want anything to do with me?” A sadness that broke his heart coated her voice.
“Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people you surround yourself with. The people you choose to let into your life. I’m not saying you shouldn’t feel loss, and even grieve that loss, but this town is full of people who’ll have your back. I’ll have your back.”
“You’ve proven that,” she said. “And I know you’re right. I guess I’ll just have to see how everything shakes out.”
“True, except for one person.”
She frowned. “Who?”
“Mrs. Steele. You didn’t get a chance to tell me about your visit.”
The side of her mouth ticked up. “I’ve been a little preoccupied.”
“Tell me now.”
“I liked her. A lot. She was warm and sweet. She had nice things to say about my mother. The stories she told were very different than the picture Ethan and Chip painted, and those are the stories I want to be true. But even if they aren’t, Mrs. Steele is my grandmother. I really want to get to know her.”
“Do you think she’d want that, too?”
A beam lit up her entire face. “She said she did. We had this connection that I really hope doesn’t go away once she learns the truth of what really happened. I really believed she could be my grandma. And now that I know she is, I’m so excited to see what kind of a relationship we can build.”
“I’m sure it will be amazing, but for the rest of the night, I want to build on our relationship.”
“Oh really?” Vanessa shifted to throw one leg over his lap and straddle him. Her damp hair fell around her shoulders, and she rested her palms on either side of his neck. “And how exactly should we do that?”
He stared up at her beautiful face and his breath all but left his body.
He wasn’t sure what he’d done right for her to walk into his world, but he’d be grateful every single day.
“By telling you how damn lucky I am. When I didn’t know where you were or who had you, my whole world crashed at my feet.
If I’d lost you—” Emotion clogged his throat, stripping away the rest of his thought.
“You don’t have to worry about losing me. I’m here with you, beside you, for as long as you want me.”
“Then you better get comfortable, honey, because I never want you to leave.” He captured her mouth with his and let his hands roam up the curve of her back. With Vanessa in his arms, his world was right how it was supposed to be, and he’d do everything in his power to keep it that way.
* * *
Three days later, Vanessa ran her fingers through her hair and combed through the tangles. She sat on the porch beside Walter and kept her gaze on the driveway. “Thank you for letting me meet Mrs. Steele here. She was uncertain about going back to the place where her son died.”
“Not a problem,” Walter said, petting Frankie, who slept on his lap. “I’ve known Mildred for years. She’s a nice woman. I hope to get a chance to catch up with her a little bit before the two of you have your time.”
“I’m sure she’d love that.”
The front door swung open and a middle-aged woman dressed in purple scrubs stepped outside with a platter topped with refreshments.
Vanessa jumped to her feet. “Tia, you didn’t have to do that.”
Tia clicked her tongue. “Nonsense. I don’t mind at all. The weather’s finally turned and that sunshine is good for all of us. Especially Walter. He’s been cooped up in that hospital and needs some good old-fashioned vitamin D.”
“What I don’t need is a babysitter,” Walter said, crossing his arms over his chest like a petulant toddler.
Vanessa struggled not to laugh. Instead, she poured him a glass of lemonade before reclaiming her wooden rocking chair.
Tia chuckled and shook her head, causing the dangling hoops in her ears to shiver in the sunlight.
“Not a babysitter, a new buddy who gets to make sure you’re doing okay.
But since you’re out here with this pretty little thing, I’ll pop inside and get some stuff done.
” She shot Vanessa a wink then disappeared back in the house.
Walter grumbled under his breath and took a sip of his drink. “At least she makes some damn good lemonade.”
Vanessa kept her thoughts to herself. While Walter had healed in the hospital, Dax and Madden had spoken with him about their living situations. She hadn’t been in the room while they’d talked, but she’d heard all about Walter’s reaction to hiring a home health aide to stop by the house every day.
Luckily, Tia seemed more than capable of handling Walter’s surly disposition while he adjusted to his new normal.
Dax emerged from the barn and wiped his hands on the thighs of his jeans.
His black cowboy hat shielded his face from the sun, and his blue T-shirt molded against every muscle in his chest. He grinned at her, the look in his eye telling her exactly where his thoughts were as he made his way up the porch steps. “Who made lemonade?”
“Tia,” Vanessa said. “She seems really nice.”
Walter snorted. “Sure. She’s a real pleasure when chatting my ear off and making me do those stupid physical therapy exercises.”
“God forbid she makes sure you’re healthy and happy,” Dax said. He placed a kiss on Vanessa’s cheek then took the seat beside her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
An SUV pulled into the driveway and straightened Vanessa’s spine. She gripped the arms of the wooden chair. “She’s here.”
Walter set his glass down and rose. “That’s my cue to step inside.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Vanessa said. “You wanted to catch up with Mrs. Steele. Stay and chat a while.”
He passed behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll find some time to say hello before she leaves. This time is for you. You’ll be fine. I promise.”
His reassurance lifted her lips and helped calm her jangled nerves. “Thank you.”
Dax jumped to his feet. “I’ll help you inside, Pops.”
Walter swatted away the offer. “I’m fine. I’ll just head inside and find my new friend. You stay here with Vanessa.” He disappeared into the house, Frankie following on his heels.
“Only if that’s what she wants,” Dax said, raising his brows in her direction.
“Always.”
Mrs. Steele parked her SUV and climbed out. Her hair hung loose like the day they’d met, and she wore an oversized dress splashed with colorful flowers. She waved and walked toward the porch.
Vanessa stood and met her with a hug. “Thank you so much for coming. Did you have a nice visit with your sister?”
“I did,” Mrs. Steele said, drawing in a deep breath. “But I must admit, my mind was a bit preoccupied.”
“Do you want to sit?” Dax asked.
“Of course.”
Dax ushered her into one of the vacant rocking chairs then waited for Vanessa to settle in the seat beside her before taking the chair on her other side.
Nerves danced in Vanessa’s stomach, but she decided to dive right in. “I’m not sure what all you’ve heard about what happened a few days ago. We don’t have to go into all of that, but I did get confirmation that Garrison is my father.”
Mrs. Steele squeezed her eyes shut for a beat, and when she opened them again, tears slid down her wrinkled cheeks.
She held out a hand, waiting for Vanessa to take hold of it.
“What an unexpected gift, and I want to get into all of it. No matter how hard it is to hear. Maybe just not right now. Right now I just want to be happy that you found me.”
The words released a torrent of emotions and washed away any lingering nerves. “Really?”
“Child, I have lived a lot of years on this earth wrapped in my grief. Longing for the life I wish I could have had with my dear boy. I’d give anything to have him back.
To watch him grow. Nothing will change what happened, but now I have a piece of him.
If you’ll let me, I can watch you continue to grow into an amazing woman. Watch what you make of your life.”
“I don’t want you to just watch,” Vanessa said. “I want you to be a part of it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” Vanessa said, her chest tightening.
“I’ve spent years writing letters with my grandpa, but I never had the kind of relationship with him I wanted.
I missed out on so much. I’m learning why my mother made the decisions she did, and I can’t be angry at her for it.
But I want more than letters and stories. I want to know my grandmother.”
Mrs. Steele lifted a hand to heart. “I never thought I’d be so lucky to be a grandmother.
I tell you, fate has a sneaky way of bringing people together.
Of righting the wrongs and putting us where we should be.
I’ll always mourn the time we’ve missed, but that will make me more grateful for what time we have left. ”
The sentiment lifted Vanessa’s lips. A sense of peace settled in her soul.
She might never have every answer she wanted in regard to what her mother had gone through, but that was all right.
She had a new relationship with her grandma to build, the man she loved beside her, and a future full of possibilities in front of her.