I'm not sure how many more chapters it will take but the two threads of this story are starting to move toward one another and will eventually become one again. I hope you enjoy the ride!
"Hello"
"Hey, Dad."
"Mornin' Punk. I'm glad you called. How'd things go last night?"
"Things went well. I checked on Vic a couple of times throughout the night and she was sleeping peacefully. I didn't hear her get up until about 7:00 this morning."
"She didn't shoot you then?"
"No, Dad, she didn't. Surely you would have known if she had. Weren't you the LEO on-call last night?"
"It was Ferg actually. He knew I'd been staying at the hospital so he offered to take my call for me so I could get a decent night's sleep."
"Did you?"
I think carefully before answering, "Sure."
I didn't have to see her to know Cady was shaking her head at my vague answer.
"Well, I wanted you to know that I'm clocking off duty. I'm going to go home and catch a few more hours of sleep before going into the office this afternoon. Vic took another shower and ate something. She's currently curled up under a blanket reading a book. She's not dressed to go out, so it looks like she plans on staying put."
"What book is she reading?"
"Does it matter?"
Maybe, "I guess not."
"Do you need me to stay with her again tonight?"
"What's your assessment? You think she'd object to another night of company?"
"It's hard to say but she did give me a key to the house."
"That's surprising."
"She said she didn't want me waking her ass up if she was taking a nap when I came back to get my shit."
"Of course, that explains the key."
"By shit I can only assume she means the fresh fruits and vegetables that Henry brought and left last night. My impression is she's not really into healthy foods."
"Not unless they're smothered in butter and cheese. She says the purpose of exercising is so she can eat whatever the hell she wants."
"Well, I didn't expect her to act like she wants me here even if she does. She doesn't like showing any weakness I imagine. But, she was pretty quiet after we ate last night and she does seem less agitated this morning. I'd have thought your giving her a bottle of water when she wanted a beer would have just ramped her up, but instead it seemed to have the opposite effect. How did you manage that?"
"Oh, I don't think it was me. She almost fell getting up from the couch when Henry rang the doorbell last night. Maybe it scared her, helped her to realize that she wasn't as ready to be on her own as she may have thought she was. Either way, I'm not sure that saying I need you to stay is the right way to put it; To say I'd prefer you to stay may be more accurate."
"Need or prefer, makes no difference to me. If you want me here, I'm here. But, you'll have to make other arrangements for tomorrow night. I have a date."
A date? When did that happen? "Anyone I know?"
"I hope not."
"Come on, Cady"
"Well, we both know how well dating turned out for me last time. I'd rather avoid any unnecessary drama. Besides, I'm not sure what I think about him. No point in getting you riled up if we're going to be one and out. I'll see how well we get along and get back to you."
"Fair enough. I'll make other arrangements for tomorrow night. Tell Vic I've talked to Dorothy and she's whipping up something special for her for lunch. If nothing comes up at work I plan to bring it over to her around noon."
"Okay. I'll leave her house key in my car so you can pick it up on the way over. I don't want to get in trouble for allowing you to wake her ass up if she's napping when you take her lunch. Love you, Dad!"
"Love you too!"
I hang up the phone, take a sip of my coffee and lean back in my chair. I wasn't completely honest with Cady when I told her I had no part in Vic's change of heart. I mean, I don't really know if I played a part but I'm hopeful I had at least some small role.
Something passed between us yesterday when Vic lost her balance and I found her in my arms once again. I could see it in her face. I recognized fear at first, an emotion I'm ashamed to admit I know very well. But, the fear didn't remain. It changed into something different: confidence. Any initial hesitation that was there began to disappear the longer she looked at me. I can't say what might have happened if Henry hadn't arrived in the room when he did. I dare to think if he had come in a few minutes later there would have been more to interrupt than just a shared look.
After dinner the four of us moved from the table to what I have dubbed "Vic's room". I started a fire and we spent some time talking. It was a nice change of pace for all of us. I don't think we'd been able to have a single relaxing conversation since Henry had been arrested. Vic seemed to enjoy the easy banter between Cady, Henry and me and she even jumped in a time or two but I could tell she was holding back. I kept catching her watching me, something she made no effort to hide. Henry and Cady were polite enough not to notice. After all, Henry knows how I feel and I'm sure Cady's figured it out by now as well. After the sun went down, I noticed Vic yawning. She might not have made it to her self-appointed bedtime, but she needed to lay down and get some rest. I didn't trust her going up the stairs on her own with her being so tired. She had already almost fallen once that day. I wasn't sure if she'd fight me on going to bed early but I knew she wouldn't want help getting there. To make things easier I was going to suggest we all call it a night. It would allow Vic to maintain some of her pride if Cady walked her upstairs without observers. Before I could get the words out of my mouth, however, Vic scooted in closer to me on the couch, leaned her head against my shoulder and closed her eyes. I saw Henry and Cady exchange a look just before Cady stood up and stretched.
"Come on Henry, those dishes aren't going to wash themselves."
They went into the kitchen leaving Vic and I alone. Part of me wanted to stay, just like that. If we curled up under a blanket together the fire could die down overnight and we would be plenty warm and comfortable. I wonder if that's what she had in mind. She hadn't been able to talk me into staying with her earlier so maybe she decided to try another approach. After all, she's every bit as stubborn as I am. I considered it, very carefully. I might have made a different decision last week when I still could have been able to keep things professional. Now too much has happened. I know how deep my feelings run and we both know her husband isn't coming back. I didn't think I had enough will power, plain and simple. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and make love to her. If I stayed and she were to give me any indication that was what she wanted too, I wouldn't have been able to resist. It wasn't a risk I was willing to take. Not while she's recovering. Not until we are both completely free to give ourselves to one another.
I decided to help her up the stairs myself. It was something I wanted to do. It was something I needed to do. I hoped she'd be more willing to accept the help if it came from me.
"Vic."
"Hmm?"
"Let's get you upstairs."
"Do I have to?"
"You'll get more rest that way."
She lifted her head to look at me.
"What if rest isn't what I'm after?"
I didn't respond to her question but instead eased my arm around her waist and helped her to stand.
"Come on, Vic."
She leaned into me sliding her fingers of her right hand into the front pocket of my jeans and grabbing hold of the denim.
We made our way up the stairs into the open bedroom, crossing the boundaries of my comfort zone. I paused to glance around noting the loft style of the room and the large bathroom to the left. I steeled myself and walked her over to the bed. I pulled down the covers with one hand and turned to help her sit on the edge but she stopped me. I felt her hand tighten its grip on my jeans and the other move to rest on my side. She was looking at the floor and I could barely hear her whisper, "Stay with me." I slide my tongue over my teeth. Sometimes I hate being right.
I often contemplate what defines a man. How do such wretched and selfish creatures come out of ourselves enough to see the needs of others and put them first, even when they don't want us to? What is it that makes us do the right thing? Whatever the answer, I was able to channel it.
"Vic, look at me."
She kept her head down so I gently lifted her chin to raise her face upward, "Vic...I'm not going to stay, but it's not because I don't want to. We have time. There's no need to rush anything."
I leaned in to kiss her and as our lips gently touched I felt all the tension in my body slide away. Her lips parted and I met her where she was, melting into her as I pulled her in closer to me. It was the perfect sensation of having been lost and then suddenly realizing you know the way home.
The intercom on my phone buzzes and startles me back to the present.
"Walt, Ferg's on line one for you."
"Thanks, Ruby."
I hear the intercom click off and pick up the handset. As difficult as it was, I'm confident that going home was the right choice last night. Neither of us were really ready for me to stay, not yet anyway. I punch the button for line one, "What's up, Ferg?"
