13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Maci
A side from the afternoon I spent at the police department, I’ve been laying low at Strickland Ranch. Spending time on the ranch is beautiful. It’s peaceful, and everyone has been welcoming. Loving, even. But even though it has plenty of fresh air, I’m starting to feel shut in.
Despite the numerous check-ins from most of the women in my life, there’s still so much I haven’t told them all, and doing so is the perfect excuse to get off the ranch for a bit.
I don’t exactly have a desire to discuss my personal business in public, especially in this little town. However, Nana’s isn’t an option since I still can’t bring myself to go over there, and I’m not ready to have everyone out to the ranch. So, I come up with Plan B.
Once everyone responds to my mass text, I set up pedicures for all of us in town on Saturday.
Since Sutton is working, I let Andi know I’ll be back later. I’ve decided to try step one of my exposure therapy, so I’m leaving a bit early. Not that anyone needs to know.
So far, the thought of revisiting Nana’s and what happened there causes anxiety to barrel through me. My stomach turns, my muscles tighten, and breathing becomes difficult. It’s not that I’m afraid that anything is going to happen again. But I’ve made a point not to revisit the images, and coming face to face with the house will put me front and center of that show.
Maybe if I can just sit outside. On the street even.
But I can’t.
I make it as far as the turn off from the county road before the pressure on my chest is too painful, and I pull off the road onto the shoulder. Phantom sirens wail loudly in my head.
Sutton may not have realized how alert I was that night. I’m not going to share the gory details with him, but I remember every second of lying in Nana’s yard with Colt’s knife protruding from my body—willing myself into a fixed state so I wouldn’t completely freak out, even though that’s what I wanted to do.
Inside I was screaming, thrashing, kicking. I wanted that fucker’s last action done, and nothing left of him attached to me.
The residual feelings of fear are just as prevalent. That I wouldn’t make it. That I’d have permanent damage, even if I did. The siren wails should’ve been a welcome sound, but they caused my heart rate to skyrocket. Not having answers is sometimes easier, because you don’t know the worst of things. Sirens meant medical personnel, and a chance that someone was going to give me bad news.
After taking a few minutes on the shoulder, I right my breathing and settle my nervous system. I stare up the road to where I know the house is. I can’t go there today, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to.
This is harder than I anticipated.
I swing the Jeep around and head to the nail salon.
The place isn’t very big, and it sounds like we’ll be mostly alone with the five of us in there at once. I’m a little surprised they had enough openings last minute. The few times Leah, Izzy, and I have gotten pedicures together, we’ve gone into the city where the salons are bigger and there are more options.
Liv and Randi stand waiting out front by the time I arrive.
“How are you, sweet girl?” Randi asks, smiling, as I climb out of the Jeep.
It doesn’t matter that I’m in my mid-twenties; Randi is still just as doting as ever.
“I’m doing better.” It’s the most truthful I can be.
Just as I’m about to continue, Izzy and Leah pull in. After greetings and hugs, we make our way inside and get seated. The smell of acrylic and nail polish invades my nose, but it’s quieter than most salons.
“I’m sure you have a lot to tell us.” Liv doesn’t waste any time coaxing me into talking.
“I do.” Somehow, I’ve been seated between my two friends on one side and my family on the other. “A lot has happened, and I’m sure you’ll have a ton of questions, so…”
“You just say whatever you need to, honey.” Randi pats my hand from the seat next to me.
I take a deep breath. The warm water on my feet is soothing, and the ladies in front of us are talking amongst themselves, mostly ignoring us as I begin. I turn to Izzy and Leah. “I’m still planning to move here for good.”
Leah does a happy dance in her seat.
“My goal of opening a B & B at Nana’s and turning the garage into a dedicated photography studio is still on track. I want to set up some areas around the grounds for photos, but it will give me the option of an indoor space, as well.”
Izzy’s mouth purses. “Are you going to be living there?”
Leah grins beside her.
I settle deeper into my chair, enjoying the feel of the massage chair balls roaming up and down my back. “Sutton and I had a long talk, and I’m going to be staying with him permanently.” I blush as my friends squeal and squeak. “It’s just so weird to think that six weeks ago we didn’t even know each other, and now he’s talking about building a house with me. We haven’t made anything official, so if I need the space at Nana’s, it’s there. But it doesn’t seem like I will.”
“You move at whatever pace you want.” Liv’s calm voice carries over the bubbling water of the foot spa. “Don’t worry about what other people think. People get married after short courtships all the time. Nana and Pop did. And they were really happy.”
Randi smiles softly in agreement.
I chew my lip, considering if it’s the opinions of others that make me question making things official with Sutton. “Sutton’s been great. His whole family has. I haven’t met his sister yet, but I know we’ll be headed up to Dallas soon to see them.” I take another deep breath. “You may be right, though. No one seems put off by me being there.”
Randi wiggles in the seat as the nail technician scrubs her foot. “Does Stephanie know what’s happened? Where you are?”
“I only talked to her briefly. She isn’t aware of any of this, actually. But she is aware of the incident with Colt and my conversation with James.”
“James?” Randi’s brows are furrowed.
“Yes, James. My father.” Liv and Randi’s eyes pop open, creating mirror images. I turn to Leah. “Remember the President of the motorcycle club we saw at The Spur?”
Her eyes widen and she grins. “Does this mean I get a new Daddy?”
I can’t help snickering at her joke.
Izzy blushes for her. “You are so inappropriate.” But any real chastising is missing.
I continue with a sideways smile, facing Randi again. “That’s who stopped by when you were leaving the other day. Before the situation with Colt. He saw Stephanie and me at lunch and wanted to come clear the air.” I’d nearly convinced myself that my mother was having an affair she hadn’t mentioned to me, which knowing that they were together at some point doesn’t seem so far-fetched.
“Did he want anything else?” Izzy is obviously still concerned.
My head snaps back her way. “He wants to get to know me. I think he genuinely cares. In fact, once he got wind of what happened with Colt, he came by the ranch. That was awkward for a minute.” I choke on a laugh.
“What happened?” Liv prompts.
I let out a heavy breath. “James showed up with a few club members—”
Izzy’s eyes go wide. “A bunch of bikers?”
I don’t know why she says it like they’re street thugs. I guess Colt didn’t help whatever image she had in her mind about them. “He was worried about me. I hadn’t had a chance to share who he was yet, and Sutton’s dad didn’t know what to think. Michael came onto the porch with a shotgun.”
“Oh my God!” Izzy’s half-panicked. “Sutton’s dad?”
I nod through my words. “It turned out fine. But everyone was a little on edge for a moment.”
“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t why you called us all here?” Randi’s legs jerk intermittently from the attention on the soles of her feet.
“There’s something I haven’t had a chance to share.” I exhale a long breath. “When Colt came over, he didn’t just start swinging. He had some interesting things to say.”
“We’re all waiting with bated breath.” Izzy smirks.
“Colt is Alan’s son.”
Her smirk disappears.
“Alan, as in Stephanie’s husband?” Randi’s face contorts. “How can that be? Wouldn’t you have known him?”
I shake my head. “Believe it or not, he and I never met. Stephanie also shared some things with me while she was here for Nana’s funeral. If I’m being honest, it’s like putting a puzzle together without a reference picture. So, I think I’m still missing something, but I don’t know what it is. It all feels a little wild.”
“I’ll say.” Liz is staring off at the wall of nail polishes.
“Did you ask Stephanie about this? Has she met him?” Randi asks, still trying to piece it all out.
I nod. “I did. Do you remember when she and I were attacked at the grocery store?”
“Yes, that’s the whole reason you all moved to Austin.”
“Yes. That was Colt.”
A collective “What?!” passes through the other women. The technicians seated before us all stop talking momentarily to scan us.
A flush rushes from my chest into my face and I clear my throat. “He told me. Alan knew, but he never told Stephanie.”
“What do you mean he knew?” Leah scrunches her face as she studies me.
“Colt said that Alan knew he was the one to attack us. That Alan never spoke to him again.”
“So then he won’t be upset?” Liv doesn’t sound sure of her logic as she poses the question.
“Oh, I think he’ll be upset. He was like a landmine while I lived with him. I never knew what was going to set him off. He kept himself mostly controlled, but I swear that man is evil. I’m just thankful I didn’t see more of it.” I pause for a beat. “He got aggressive with me once. Grabbed me and got really demanding. I left after that.”
Izzy speaks more to herself than us. “I still can’t believe Stephanie didn’t do anything then.”
Randi looks very concerned, a mirror of what I felt talking to Stephanie about the entire situation. “None of this sounds good, Maci.”
“I know.” Her echoing my own concerns doesn’t make me feel any better. “I told Stephanie I think she needs to leave Alan.”
Leah snorts. “Is she going to?”
I shrug. “I’m not really sure. She said she would think about it. I need to call again and see what’s happened. It seemed like when I called he wasn’t even aware that…well, he hadn’t been notified about Colt.” My throat tightens and I push down all the emotion threatening to rise.
“I know my sister hasn’t been the easiest to deal with, but I wouldn’t wish harm on her.” Randi’s gaze is somewhat vacant as she muddles over what I’ve shared.
“I wouldn’t either,” I agree vehemently.
Our group falls quietly contemplative, and I shift the conversation to Liv’s classroom.
There’s only so much information I have at this point, and I’ve shared all that I can. I can’t bring myself to mention meeting with the detective, or that I happened upon Colt’s mom at the same time. My friends and family are concerned enough, and it will only add to that.