Chapter 22
The anticipation of speaking with Mrs. Steele had diminished the second Vanessa heard about Walter’s accident.
But after Dax’s chilly behavior, it had completely vanished.
A part of her wished she had stayed in the waiting room with Lily, showing Dax she’d stand beside him even when he pushed her away.
Another part of her didn’t want to be in the way. Hell, maybe even believed she’d been wrong to dive in headfirst with Dax. Maybe she didn’t know him as well as she thought.
Either way, she had to get out of her head and focus on what lay in front of her. She stared out the window as Ben drove her up the mountain road. Her time in Cloud Valley had been so consumed with drama, she hadn’t ventured outside of town or off her property.
The wilderness around her was mesmerizing. The narrow road hugged the rockface with a smattering of trees climbing heavenward. Pops of green broke through the grayness of the day as spring continued to lay claim to all it touched.
It was what loomed below that tightened her stomach muscles.
A large guardrail wrapped around the side of the narrow road, separating Ben’s truck from the sharp drop-off on the other side.
Growing up in the Midwest hadn’t provided a lot of opportunities for time spent in the mountains.
She couldn’t wait to explore this part of her new world but wasn’t sure if she’d ever get used to the staggering heights—or potential drops.
“Don’t let him bother you.”
Ben’s gruff voice snapped her back to the moment. “Excuse me?”
“Dax. He was upset and stupid. He’s not usually like that. He was shaken up.”
Sighing, she fidgeted with her purse strap sitting on her lap. “I get that, but his shift in personality shocked me.”
Ben snorted. “People don’t always respond the best when they get bad news. I don’t know Dax that well, but he’s a good dude. Usually.”
As much as she appreciated Ben’s attempt to smooth over what had happened with Dax, she wasn’t really in the mood to discuss it.
“How long have you lived in Cloud Valley?” she asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from Dax and the conflicting emotions battling in her gut.
“Not long.”
She waited for more, but when nothing came, she pressed on. “Do you like it?”
He shrugged.
“Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”
Chuckling, he glanced her way for a beat with a smirk then returned his focus out the windshield. “Nope.”
He took the next turn off the main road and wound even higher up the mountain. “Where the hell are we going?”
“To visit a woman who I hope has some answers. I was told she lived off the beaten path, but I never expected this.”
“You might want to get those answers before it starts raining again. It’d be a bitch to make this drive in a storm.”
A log cabin tucked in a cluster of trees came into view, and she swallowed any promise of hurrying. She didn’t want to put them in a bad situation on the way home, but she also didn’t want to rush an old woman willing to speak with her.
He parked as close as he could to the small stoop. “I’ll be right here.”
“Thank you,” she said then hopped out of the truck and zipped her jacket.
The air was chillier this high in the mountains and smelled like wet earth.
Birds chirped overhead and a duo of squirrels fought over an acorn.
As much as she enjoyed the scenery, she couldn’t stop the bite of disappointment at taking this next step alone.
Dax had been beside her for every leg of this journey.
Not having him with her now was a tough pill to swallow. But she didn’t have a choice.
Summoning her courage, she strolled up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the bell.
The door swung open to a petite woman with long gray hair that hung in loose waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were the color of the fresh grass outside and filled with kindness. She wore tan baggy overalls with a white long-sleeved shirt underneath. Her wrinkled face was free of makeup.
“Mrs. Steele?”
A warm smile lifted her lips. “That’s me. Please, come inside. Don’t mind the mess.”
Vanessa stepped inside and if it was possible for a room to hug her, this one would. Warm colors splashed across the walls and furniture. Framed photos and knickknacks crowded wooden stands. Stacks of books lined the floor and shelves.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Vanessa said. “I’m sure my message came as a surprise.”
Mrs. Steele settled into an armchair and flicked her wrist toward the brown-suede sofa beside her.
“Have a seat. And yes, I have to admit, I was shocked. But when I heard Mindy Kemp’s daughter was in town and wanted to talk to me, I had to find out why.
And, my goodness, do you look like your mother.
She was such a pretty girl, and always so sweet. ”
“Did you know her well?”
“Well enough. My boy, Garrison…he was always with her brother—your uncle. Your mama would follow along. Is that why you wanted to see me? For stories about your mother? I wish I had more, but she spent time with my boy more at her own place or in town. Football games and dances. I’d see her on the periphery, hear a few tidbits of information here and there as she was growing up, but I didn’t know her that well.
It wasn’t until closer to Garrison’s accident that she started coming around a little more. ”
“As in coming to your home?” She followed the thread of the conversation, searching for anything that could lead to something new.
“Yes. We lived in town back then. She’d come over after school. Just her and Garrison. She was very polite. A nice girl.”
“Were they dating?”
A whisper of a smile lifted the side of her mouth.
“I think something might have been burning between the two of them. He never mentioned it, but a mother knows these things. They’d whisper or sit close with their heads ducked together.
I often wondered if that spark could have grown into something more if things had been different. ”
The emotion in Mrs. Steele’s voice squeezed Vanessa’s heart. She hated pressing on but decided to just rip off the Band-Aid. “I heard my mom and uncle got into a fight at Garrison’s wake. Do you know what happened?”
“That was a rough day. My body was numb even as my heart shattered over and over again. I remember the argument, but I’m sorry, I can’t put my finger on what caused it.
I think everyone was just worked up.” She jumped to her feet.
“Where are my manners? Would you like something to drink? Take your jacket off and make yourself comfortable while I get us some tea.”
She didn’t have the heart to decline so she shrugged out of her jacket then crossed the room to glance out the window. Ben sat in his truck, looking at his phone. Rain hadn’t started falling yet. She could spare a few more minutes before making her excuses to leave.
While she waited for Mrs. Steele to return, she circled the living room.
Photos of who she assumed was Garrison as a young kid were hung besides family pictures showing off a happy unit through the years.
Sadness pressed on her lungs. Mrs. Steele seemed like such a nice person, and she’d experienced so much loss.
Maybe that was why she’d felt such a kinship with the older woman. She understood losing her family, being alone in the world. Mrs. Steele might not have information for her, but at least she’d met a new friend.
“Here we are, dear.” Mrs. Steele carried a teacup placed on a dainty saucer. Two feet away, she stilled, her shaky hand causing drips of tea to spill over the side of the cup.
“Oh goodness, are you all right?” Vanessa took the saucer and set it down on the end table by the sofa. “Do you need to sit?”
Mrs. Steele rested her fingertips just above her collarbone. “You have a birthmark.”
“I do, yes.”
“It’s just… Garrison had the same one. In the same spot. It took me by surprise.” Mrs. Steele took another step closer.
The statement stole Vanessa’s breath. She touched the mark on her neck.
Having the same birthmark as Garrison wasn’t a definitive answer.
Maybe it meant nothing at all. But something in the way this woman stared at her, the connection she felt, had her believing she’d found something she’d been searching for.
Clearing her throat, Vanessa decided to lay all her cards on the table.
“My mother never told me who my father is. All I know is that she left town when she was around three or four months pregnant. Since I’ve been in Cloud Valley, the only person I’ve heard she had feelings for was your son.
She had a crush on him, but no one mentioned him returning those feelings.
Or the two of them spending time together. Until now.”
Mrs. Steele pressed her shaking hand to her mouth. “Oh my. I… I don’t know what to say. Do you really think it’s possible?”
She didn’t know if the hope beating inside her was a deep desire to want to find the missing piece from her past or something more. “I do,” she said.
“My dear girl.” Mrs. Steele flattened her palm along Vanessa’s jawline. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “Nothing would make me happier. How do we find out?”
Water filled her own eyes. “I guess we could do a DNA test. If you’d be willing?”
“I’ll do whatever I can, but it’ll have to wait a few days. I’m leaving soon to visit my sister.”
Vanessa smiled. “I’ve waited twenty-five years to find out who my father is. I can wait a few more days.”
Mrs. Steele drew in a shuddering breath. “Well, what a surprising turn of events. I still have some time before I have to go. Do you want to sit and chat over that tea? I’d love to get to know you.”
A lump wedged in her throat. She’d love to settle in and talk, but the rain would start again any minute. “That sounds lovely, but I should get going. My friend is waiting to drive me home, and we’d like to get back to town before the weather turns.”
“Yes, that’s probably a good idea.” Mrs. Steele grabbed her hands and squeezed. “As soon as I’m back, we’ll figure out exactly what we need to do. I promise.” She gave her a peck on the cheek then hugged her tight.
Vanessa melted into the embrace. She’d never had the opportunity to know any of her grandparents. If she had to go through hell to finally find one, all the fear and frustration would be worth it. “I look forward to it.”
She gave her one more quick hug then walked back into the gray day. Her steps were lighter. She couldn’t help but feel like something had clicked into place. She might not know how this possible life-altering news was tied to what was happening now, but she didn’t care.
Jumping into the running truck, she grinned at Ben. “Hope I wasn’t too long.”
He grunted and shifted the truck into Reverse. “Get what you need?”
“I did.” Excitement thrummed through her until she thought she might explode. She wanted to tell someone, to share this potential new discovery with someone.
To share it with Dax.
She slumped against the seat. “Any word about Walter?”
Ben shook his head.
Her heat sank.
“Where to next?” Ben asked.
Sighing, she leaned her head back and stared out the window.
They could go back to her place. Lord knew she had enough to do to keep her busy for days.
But the thought of being there without Dax was like a dagger in the gut.
“Frankie will be fine for a while longer without me. Let’s go back to the hospital. ”
He flicked her a quick glance. “You sure?”
“Yeah.” She took Ben’s lead and didn’t elaborate.
He didn’t want to hear her rambling, and she didn’t know how to put her thoughts into words.
Dax might see her as clingy for sticking around when he’d made it clear she wasn’t needed, but she wanted to show him she was there.
That she’d support him through the hard stuff, even if he didn’t make it easy.
And if he had a problem with that, maybe they’d rushed into things too quickly. The thought that Dax might not be who she thought he was made her heart ache, but she didn’t want to waste her time on someone who pushed her away when things were tough.
“I’ll give Dax a head’s-up we’re on our way,” she said, grabbing her phone from her jacket pocket.
Rain drizzled from the sky and Ben mumbled under his breath. He tightened his grip on the wheel. “Damn weather. Should be better when we get back on the highway.”
She glanced out the window and winced. The raindrops grew thicker, heavier, as they bounced off the windshield. Unease slithered down her spine as she punched in a message for Dax. She hit Send, and a sudden jolt rocked the truck. “What the hell?”
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Ben said. The truck flew forward, the tires spinning on water and loose gravel.
“What’s going on?” She peered past him out the driver’s-side window and fear stole her breath. A stream of rocks and mud slid down the side of the mountain, swallowing everything in its way. “Oh my God. It’s coming straight at us!”
Ben gritted his teeth, his focus fixed ahead as he sped forward.
Rocks and debris bounced off the glass, splintering the windshield. The tail end of the truck fishtailed off the road and the tires spun, searching for traction. Mud spit up, sprinkling the window and blocking her view.
“Are we stuck? Should we run?”
“I don’t know.” He slammed his foot against the gas pedal. “Come on,” he urged.
“Maybe we—” Another blast shook the vehicle, rolling it onto its side.
The impact knocked her forward and her phone flew out of her fingers.
A scream ripped from her mouth. The seat belt trapped her in place, and she struggled to unhook the strap as momentum plunged the truck down the mountain. “Ben, we need to get out of here.”
The only reply was the constant pinging of debris against metal as Ben hunched over the steering wheel, eyes closed and body limp.