33. Victoria
33
VICTORIA
I am a little sore, my head still throbbing, but the painkillers Hudson gave me last night were amazing. I fell right to sleep in Tanner’s arms and felt like I slept like the dead. Dead . Like I nearly was last night… My thoughts swirl, and I sit up and shake the morbid feeling away. I don’t need drama, negativity, or anything like that. But I can’t help the panic that flew through my body for those seconds when the car wouldn’t slow down and I hit the corner.
I close my eyes and shake my head again as I stretch a little, looking at the empty mattress beside me. Tanner was here when I fell asleep, but the spot is vacant now. Glancing at my legs, my skin is still sore and red, but also soft from where he bathed me last night.
I smile, thinking of the gruff burly man and how gentle he was. Tentatively, I slide out of bed, going slowly. I wait for any dizziness, but it doesn’t come, and I sigh in relief. I feel stronger and not as fragile as last night. Seems that not only the bath and painkillers worked well, but as I look at the clock, I see it is just before midday. I must have slept like twelve hours. I obviously needed it.
I gingerly make my way to the bathroom. The house is quiet, so maybe Tanner left already. I am sure he has lots of work to do since he is back from the city early. I know he will have a lot more questions, but aside from the grazes on my leg and the lump on my head, I actually don’t remember anything else of importance. Looking at myself in the bathroom mirror, I gasp at my reflection. My cheek is red, my hair is everywhere, and my body has a large bruise down my stomach. Sighing, I decide to get in the shower and clean up before calling my mother.
The hot water stings initially, but it feels good on my aching muscles. My stomach growls, so I am quick in the shower, before slipping on my jeans and a light sweater, hiding the grazes and bruising. I pin up my hair and apply a little makeup, diminishing the redness in my cheek, and I already feel a hundred times better than I did when I first woke up.
I think I hear voices downstairs and my nerves spike before understanding washes over me that it must be Tanner. Walking down, I hear multiple people, and I pause at the bottom, looking into my kitchen, which is now sparkling clean. And that’s when I spot Lacy, Jasmine, and “Mom!” I shout, and all three women look at me as I stand in shock, seeing my mom for the first time in months.
“Oh, sweetie, how are you feeling?” she says with relief, walking toward me with her arms wide. I don’t know if it is the shock of seeing her, my emotions just getting the best of me, or the fact that I haven’t fully dealt with what happened last night, or maybe even all three. But I break down, tears fall, and a howl leaves my throat as I basically collapse into her open embrace.
“It’s okay, sweetie,” she coos, her arms wrapping around me and rubbing my back. I cling to her, not believing that she is here, when the back door slams open, and I jump.
“What happened?” Tanner stands tall in the doorway, looking at the girls in the kitchen before he spots me and immediately walks over.
“You’re awake,” he says softly, his frown deep as his eyes search over me. “How do you feel?” he asks as I step back from mom and wipe my eyes.
“My mom is here!”
“I know. I flew her in early this morning.” He nods simply, and my heart skips a beat.
“You did?” I ask with disbelief.
“You said last night you wanted to see her, so I flew her in,” he says, like flying a person halfway around the country is a simple task, such as picking up some milk or bread from the store.
“It was a very nice jet too,” my mom whispers to me, and I look between them both, wide-eyed.
“Rochelle dropped off some lunch and also some pastries,” Lacy says from the kitchen, and I see the sheriff standing just behind her.
“How are you? You slept well?” Jasmine asks, coming over and standing next to my mom.
My mind is a whirl of information as my eyes remain wide, looking at everyone .
“Breathe, baby. Just breathe.” Tanner steps toward me, his hand circling my waist and pulling me to him. I do as he says and take a big breath and look at my mom, who winks at me as she looks from me to Tanner and back again.
“I need a tea,” I murmur as he lets go of me and smiles.
“That’s my girl,” he says, and I grip on to him so I don’t swoon at his feet. My girl. No one has ever called me that before, but I like the idea of being his.
“Come, we have a pot on,” Mom says. “This place looks amazing, darling. You have done so well and so much already.”
Tanner walks me to the dining table, helping me sit as Lacy brings over some tea.
“I will leave you girls to it,” he says, kissing the top of my head before walking back outside with the sheriff.
“Well, I think that one is a keeper,” my mom murmurs as her lips hit her coffee cup. “These flowers you have here are beautiful, Victoria.”
I turn to look at my dining table, noticing what she’s talking about, and balk. Right in the middle is the largest bunch of pink peonies I have ever seen. My eyes widen in shock. They are beautiful.
“How…? I mean, where…” I stumble over my words.
“It seems like I wasn’t the only thing that man flew in for you. These are out of season. He must have arranged for them to be overnighted.” My mom squeezes my hand.
“Tanner will get you anything you need,” Lacy murmurs, and Jasmine sits silently, watching everyone. My heart thuds. I only mentioned my favorite flowers to him the other night. My eyes are glassy again already as I look at my mom.
“I still can’t believe you are here,” I tell her as we all sit around the table, and I take a sip of my tea, feeling it warm me from the inside out.
“I can’t believe that happened last night.” My mom shakes her head and looks at me with concern. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. I feel much better today.”
“Well, the whole town is talking about it,” Jasmine says with a small smile on her face.
“Of course they are. Probably think I was speeding or had too much to drink,” I say, rolling my eyes as I take another sip of my tea, instantly feeling better.
“I don’t think so. The sheriff found something,” Jasmine says, looking at me seriously, her eyes flicking out the back door.
“My tox screen?” I ask, confused, staring at her, and I hear the back screen door open again as both Tanner and the sheriff walk back in.
“What’s going on?” I ask, looking at everyone, knowing that I am missing something.
My mom grabs my hand, giving it a stronger squeeze.
“We had a team look at the truck this morning,” the sheriff says, and my eyes flick from his to Tanner’s and the deep scowl he now has.
“And?” I ask. I have a feeling that whatever he is going to say will be big.
“You were right. The brakes did fail,” he says, and I take in a big breath and release it. I wasn’t sure if they would believe me or not, but I am glad to now have proof. My shoulders relax immediately, feeling vindicated.
“So you believe me now?” I ask him, just to be sure.
“That’s not all, baby girl,” Tanner says cautiously, coming to stand next to me, and I look at him, confused.
“What else is there?”
“The brake cables weren’t torn from damage. They were cut. Cleanly,” he says, and my eyebrows rise.
“Cut?” I ask, wondering if I am understanding this correctly.
“Looks like someone tampered with your brakes on the truck. It was deliberate,” Tanner grits out, and I see his jaw pop, not happy. Nerves ripple through me.
“How? When? What?” I can’t find words. I am in shock.
“We don’t know yet. The sheriff is working on it. Aren’t you, Sheriff?” Tanner says bitterly.
“I have a forensic team that will come to town tomorrow to look at the truck and see what they can find out. But, Victoria, I need to ask you if there is anyone you can think of who would be doing something like this. Anyone been around or visiting this week?” the sheriff asks, and I shake my head.
“I mean, Josh calls, but he wouldn’t know his way around truck brake cables. I can't imagine him doing something like this,” I say, looking at my mom. “Mom?” I ask for her opinion. He wouldn't, would he?
“I don’t think so, but I think every avenue needs to be investigated,” she says, nodding at the sheriff, and I feel Tanner squeeze my shoulder gently.
“Anyone else?” the sheriff asks, and I shake my head, coming up blank. I have no idea why I would be a target for anyone.
“All the people who visit me are in this room. I didn't have any deliveries these past few days or anyone else here,” I tell him honestly.
“Let me walk you out, Tony,” Tanner says to the sheriff, who says his goodbyes, and I sit dumbfounded with the girls.
“What is happening?” I ask, tears stinging my eyes. “Why would someone do that?” I ask again, but the girls are quiet. No one seems to know what to say.
“I have a feeling that Tanner and the sheriff will find whoever is responsible for this. Don’t worry, sweetie, you will be fine,” my mom whispers to me, and I swallow. Her soft smile of reassurance is doing very little to make me feel better, so I cradle my cup of tea in my hands and listen to them make small talk, all the while wondering who wants to see me dead.