Ch. 8: Welcome to hard times
For a moment, Walt wished he could take it back. That was impossible. The thought passed and he stood his ground. She told him that she wanted the truth. That was what he wanted as well. There was no way this was going to work otherwise. Walt knew enough to know that. Still, the expression on her face gave him pause. In a way, it scared him. She stared at him, her eyes on his. Electric. He didn't like the silence. He wanted her to talk to him. No matter what she said. Even anger would be a reaction. Something that was familiar.
"You…wanted…to…hurt me?"
It was a slow, deliberate question when she finally voiced it. Walt swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry and pasty.
"Yeah."
She nodded slowly, absorbing his words.
"Why?"
Honestly, he was expecting a stronger reaction. Her question came out low. Genuine in the most heartbreakingly raw manner.
"Um…"
Walt looked around and his eyes fell on the couch.
"Sit."
She didn't move. He tried again.
"Vic, sit with me."
When he said it, he reached out and touched her wrist very lightly. Her eyes flicked to the couch and back to him. He was starting to think the answer would be no when she finally moved and sat down.
Her posture wasn't welcoming. She was sitting upright. Walt took a seat beside her. Vic looked at her lap before she turned slightly so that she was facing him.
"Okay, I'm sitting. Explain it to me."
The directness was to be expected from Vic. It still made him uncomfortable.
"Vic…"
He started and faltered before he picked up again.
"…I wanted you. You know that now. But…at the time…it just seemed like a…a bad idea. Because of everything that was going on at the time. Because you work for me. I just…"
He took a breath.
"…it felt like we were getting close to something. Just…before Branch. It…rattled me. I wanted to push you away. But…you're so persistent. I…"
Another pause.
"…I've never had the kind of nerves that you do. The way that you just put yourself out there. Not when it comes to my feelings. You're…brave like that. I…didn't know how to…let go of what was between us. And you…the way you made me feel was…confusing. When I met Donna, she seemed like a good…distraction. But…the feelings that I wanted to be there…were never there."
"That's why you were so upset when she went missing. Because you didn't have any feelings for her."
Her words were tinged with disbelief.
"I cared for her. I won't lie about that. But, I thought the abduction was my fault. After that, we never found our footing. It just wasn't…what either of us wanted it to be. I was trying to force it to keep you away. I'm not even sure I knew that until later."
"Except that now she's had a change of heart."
"Maybe. But…that's her problem. Not mine. I wanted to hurt you so that you would stop…caring for me. So that you would stop trying to make me see what I was afraid to see. You were right…about all of it."
Vic studied him in a way that made him want to disappear. It never ceased to amaze him how intense her eyes could be. How unsettling.
"You were an asshole."
She said it as though she were reading a weather forecast.
"Yep."
She continued to look at him.
"You take responsibility for that?"
"I do. I was…an asshole."
Her eyes didn't waver.
"You know…you could've come to me anytime. Once my marriage was over, I wanted to be with you. You knew that."
Her voice wasn't accusatory. More matter of fact than anything.
"Yeah."
He braced himself, but found her next words not what he was expecting.
"I'm not sure we wouldn't have fucked it up, though."
Walt's head cocked.
"What do you mean?"
Vic sighed.
"God, Walt. We were both carrying around so much shit. I don't think either of us was ready for this. Not even if we really wanted it. I don't think I have to tell you that love isn't always enough."
"No, you don't."
She smiled when he said it. A fleeting smile that he wished he could bottle for later. Her expression grew somber again.
"I appreciate you being honest with me."
Her hand moved and landed on his thigh. Walt felt something in his chest catch.
"I think we both…fucked up. I should have told you about the pregnancy. You should have told me how you were feeling."
His hand covered hers.
"Aren't you the one who said we needed to stop doing that."
Vic smiled ruefully.
"That's easier said than done."
"Yep."
She leaned towards him, entering his personal space.
"You can't…keep this stuff bottled up, Walt. You've got to talk to me or this…"
She motioned between them.
"…isn't gonna work."
"That's why I'm telling you this. I want…I want this to work."
"Yeah."
She said the word softly as she leaned in and pressed her mouth to his. Vic pulled away before he was able to respond and pushed her forehead up against his. He hadn't ever been with anyone who expressed themselves as openly as she did. The degree to which she was honest with him kept him feeling unbalanced. It felt like some invasion of her inner most thoughts. He was a reserved man when it came to his feelings. Martha was less conservative than him. But, nowhere near what Vic was.
She had always been that way, though. Since the day he hired her. It was one of the aspects of her personality that reeled him in and refused to release him. He wanted to offer her the same in return. He just wasn't sure that he could. He was willing to try.
She kissed him again. This time with intent. Her fingers plowed into the strands of his hair and her fingers gripped at his scalp. The sensation was almost painful. Not that he really cared. All he wanted in that moment was to occupy the same space as her, as though that were even possible.
Walt pulled on her, dragging her from her seat and on top of him. The kiss broke off momentarily while she adjusted herself, straddling his legs and settling into a more comfortable position. Walt alternated between tugging at his belt and pulling at her shirt as he tried to get both of their clothes off simultaneously. It was unlike him to feel such a frenzy, even during sex. This moment between them just felt so intense. All he could think about in that moment was the two of them, his world narrowing down to what was happening in his cabin.
xxx
Vic couldn't have said what woke her up with any real certainty.
It wasn't a jarring type thing. More of a slow ascent out of sleep. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn't woken up on her own. Rolling onto her back, she noticed the empty space in bed that Walt should have occupied. Reaching out, she ran the back of her hand over the softness of the sheets to find it cool.
With a sigh, she sat up and listened.
At first, all around her seemed quiet. Maybe Walt was outside on the porch. He was prone to sitting out there some mornings with his coffee and a book. Rubbing a hand over her face, Vic pushed the sheet off and turned, slipping her legs from the bed. Her feet landed soundlessly on the floor and she stood up slowly.
Glancing around, she considered her clothing options. She started to reach for Walt's shirt. Hearing a heavy thump from outside, she paused. It was a sound that she couldn't place. Frowning, Vic reconsidered and grabbed her overnight bag from where it rested on the floor. Fishing out a pair of jeans, she slipped on her bra and underwear before pulling on her jeans and a tank top.
In her bare feet, she walked through the cabin to the front door. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she noticed that the front door was locked. That was different. Walt wouldn't lock himself out if here simply sitting outside. Vic turned the latch and opened the door, stepping out onto the porch. She squinted her eyes in the bright morning sunlight, wincing at the onslaught of light.
The Bronco was gone.
Vic heard another sound and turned. A ladder was leaned up against the far end of the porch.
"What the hell?"
Vic muttered the words to herself.
More thumping ensued before feet appeared on the ladder. Vic walked to the porch rail and leaned out just in time to see jeans and a familiar plaid shirt pause almost at eye level with her as Henry Standing Bear noticed her for the first time.
His eyes settled on hers as he continued to hover there on the ladder.
"Vic."
Vic folded her arms over her chest.
"Henry."
Henry cleared his throat and completed his short journey down the ladder, his boots scuffing over the dirt and sparse grass.
"I…did not realize anyone was here."
Vic's eyes left Henry's and shifted to her truck. In a mind reading moment, a small smile quirked up his lips and he expanded his explanation.
"I thought you and Walt were out. I knocked."
She must have slept through that. It was no wonder after the previous night. Vic eyed the ladder.
"Do you normally show up and fix things?"
He came around and up the steps onto the porch. He pulled off a pair of work gloves and tossed them aside.
"Walt…knew I was coming. I assume he did not mention it."
Vic shook her head.
"He did not."
"I am sorry."
Vic shrugged and looked around the yard.
"Where is he?"
"I do not know. I am sorry for waking you."
Vic flapped a hand at him.
"It's alright."
She shifted on her feet, wanting to retreat back into the cabin. This unexpected moment felt awkward. Henry must have sensed it and spoke.
"Walt told you that I know."
Even in her still partially sleepy mind, she knew what he meant.
"Yeah, he told me."
She refolded her arms and looked out at the landscape as she continued.
"He gave me the impression that you don't approve."
"Who Walt chooses to be with is not something that needs my approval."
She felt skeptical at his words.
"Maybe approval is the wrong word. You questioned the choice."
It wasn't a question.
"I did."
"Why?"
"It is not personal."
"It feels personal. It feels like you think he's making a mistake."
"That is not for me to say."
Henry's lack of clarity was frustrating. It reminded her too much of Walt.
"C'mon, Henry."
He was quiet for a moment, his dark eyes on her.
"You work for him."
"For now."
"That is right. He is…planning to retire."
"Yes."
"He has not told me this."
"That doesn't make it any less true."
"Fair enough."
"You still think it's not a good idea?"
Henry sighed.
"What I think is not relevant."
"We both know it is."
She wasn't letting him off that easily. Henry smiled at her, a small smile.
"You are persistent."
"So, I've been told."
Henry glanced at the bench. Walking over he sat down. Vic took a seat beside him.
"Walt is not a short-term kind of man. He invests a great deal of himself into the people he cares about."
Vic looked his way.
"And you think what…that I don't?"
"I do not know."
Vic considered what he was saying before she spoke again.
"I've noticed something. Everyone just assumes that Walt is…I don't know…fragile or something. That I'll be the one who hurts him and not the other way around. You know…he is just as capable of hurting me as everyone seems to think I am."
Henry frowned.
"I did not mean…"
She shook her head.
"You did."
"You are right. I did."
"I have feelings, Henry."
"I was not implying that you did not have feelings."
"Only that my feelings aren't as strong as Walt's."
He looked like he might deny it. Then didn't.
"Are they?"
"I don't know. I'm not messing around here, though."
Henry studied her.
"You care for him."
"I love him."
"Have you told him?"
"Yes."
Quiet spread out between them.
"I know you're questioning his decision making in all of this. Truth is…I question it, too."
"Why?"
Vic shrugged.
"Because…we're both so…"
She sighed.
"I don't know. Damaged. It makes me wonder what we can really offer each other."
Henry shifted in his seat.
"Walt offers all of himself to the ones he loves."
She smiled.
"I know. But…what do you do when you don't feel like a whole person."
Henry didn't seem put off by the question.
"Offer what you have."
He stood up.
"I am sorry that I disturbed you."
Vic looked up at him from her seat. She started to say something else when they both heard a familiar sound. The Bronco. Vic stayed in her seat as Henry looked out towards the road as the vehicle wound its way to them. Walt slowed, parked, and the door opened. There was a noticeable pause before he slid out and looked up at them on the porch, his face full of questions.
Henry raised his hand and smiled.
xxx
Walt drummed his fingers on his desk.
The morning at work was relatively quiet. Maybe a little too quiet considering the rate at which his mind was working. It wasn't that he didn't have anything to do. There was always something that required his attention. It was that he was having a hard time focusing on what was in front of him.
"Don't strain yourself."
Walt jumped back into the present and his eyes landed on the door where Vic stood watching him.
"What?"
She crossed the threshold into his office.
"You look like you're thinking awful hard. Don't hurt yourself."
She smiled at him when she said it and his thoughts scattered like marbles all over again.
"Right."
Vic slowly crossed the floor.
"What are you working on so hard?"
His gaze dropped.
"Just…paperwork."
She gave him an amused look.
"Exciting."
Walt cleared his throat.
"Not really. Just…evaluations and such."
He picked up the papers and attempted to straighten them. Vic's interest was piqued.
"Evaluations. Of…us?"
Walt leaned back in his chair.
"You and Ferg. Zach hasn't been back long enough."
"Since when do you evaluate us?"
Walt laid his now somewhat organized papers back down on his desk.
"I've always evaluated you."
"That's the first I've heard of it."
The tips of his fingers rested on the papers.
"It's a requirement. I'm uh…requesting raises for both of you."
"Really."
"Yes. You were right before. To ask for a raise. The two of you deserve…more than I can give you. I want to take care of this while I have time."
Vic sat down in his visitor's chair.
"So…you're basically telling them how awesome we are."
He smiled and dipped his face in that shy way she associated with him.
"Something like that."
When he lifted his face, his expression was serious.
"I owe both of you. You've…helped keep this place afloat the past few months."
"Walt…"
He shook his head, cutting her off.
"It's true. And…I should tell the two of you more how much I appreciate you."
She stared at him in a manner that suggested he had broken her train of thought. Walt cleared his throat.
"Was there something you needed?"
Vic was still staring.
"Um…yeah. I found some classes for Cady. In Cheyenne."
"Classes?"
He felt a hint of confusion.
"Yeah. Some law enforcement classes. Basic stuff. But…"
Her voice trailed off and her brow furrowed.
"What?"
"I didn't realize you were looking into classes for her."
Vic tilted her head.
"It's just…part of next week. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Is…something wrong?"
Walt shook his head.
"No. I just thought you were…"
He shrugged.
"I'm not a teacher. I keep telling you that. I can show her what I know. But this…"
She waved one arm.
"…is real instruction. It's what she needs. It'll give her a better foundation. They've got some more stuff scheduled for later. I just thought this would be a good place to start."
She paused.
"What is that look?"
Walt shook his head.
"It's just…I didn't expect you to do this."
"Is it a problem?"
"No. It's…there's no problem."
Truthfully, it was more effort than he expected from her. She seemed reluctant from the beginning to take this on. She told him it didn't have anything to do with Cady. He wanted to believe that. Most of the time, he did believe it. This was turning into one of those moments.
"Okay. Want me to tell her? We're about to go to lunch."
Walt's eyes drifted over her head.
"Lunch."
"Yeah. Do you want something?"
He noted the lack of an invitation.
"Um…no, I'm good. Thanks, though."
She nodded and stood up.
"Okay. I'll be back in a while then."
Walt merely nodded in response as she pulled his door open and left the office. From his now open door, he could hear the sound of Vic talking to Cady. The conversation seemed light. There were the familiar sounds of Cady standing and their voices faded as they left the building.
Walt sat at his desk, something pulling at him that he couldn't name. It was a good thing that the two of them were getting along well. Both professionally and personally. It was what needed to happen. It was what he wanted.
Now that they were all past the initial doubts, Vic seemed to be applying herself fully to the task at hand. She took Cady with her whenever she left the office and her focus was fully and completely on her job.
It was a good thing.
Walt wanted to chastise himself for even needing to remind himself of that. Everything was going the way that it should. So, why did he suddenly have an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. What was that exactly?
He really didn't want to think about it.
He wasn't sure that he would like the answer.
The more he sat and thought about it, the more it didn't seem to make any sense.
Walt pushed aside the thoughts and returned his attention to the paperwork in front of him that was still waiting for him to complete it. Lowering his eyes from the door, he tried to get his focus back on the task at hand and stop his mind from all this wandering that it was doing.
The problem was that his mind clearly had other ideas and didn't seem to be in the mood to cooperate.
It kept reminding him that he was currently the odd man out.
xxx
"What's the craziest thing you've ever seen on the job?"
Vic looked up from her lunch and gave Cady a look.
"The craziest?"
Cady sipped her water and nodded.
"Yes. Surely, you've got some good stories. Especially from a city the size of Philadelphia. I guess you've pretty much seen it all."
Vic shook her head.
"Just when I think that, something comes along to prove me wrong. Don't underestimate Durant. There are some crazy ass people in this town."
Cady grinned at her from across the table.
"I know that. I grew up here. I was just thinking that a big city like that…"
Vic took a drink from her iced tea.
"You alright?"
Cady's expression turned serious, damn near somber.
"Yeah."
She didn't sound all that convincing. Vic poked her fork through the salad on her plate.
"You're lying. What's going on?"
Cady shrugged.
"I just…keep wondering if I'm making the right choice here."
Vic considered her.
"Running for Sheriff or…staying in Durant?"
"A little of both."
"You still thinking about New York."
Cady shrugged.
"I've already told my friends that my plans have changed."
Vic shrugged.
"Doesn't mean you can't change them again. You know…we talked about this."
Cady nodded.
"I know. I just feel like I've made so many…questionable choices lately, I'm not sure I trust my own judgement."
Vic chewed a bite of her lunch and gave Cady a knowing look.
"I'm somewhat of an expert on questionable choices. You want to talk about it?"
Cady pushed out a sigh and seemed to give up on the idea of eating.
"I have a hard time believing that. You seem so…secure with your place in life."
Vic nearly snorted her tea out through her nose. She brought her napkin up and swiped it across her face as she fought the urge to laugh at the comment. Cady watched her with clear amusement.
"What?"
Vic balled up her napkin and tossed it on the table.
"It's just…right now…I'm the least secure person I know. I…question every decision I make lately. Is it not obvious?"
Cady shook her head.
"No. You hide it well. From me, at least."
Vic let out a breath.
"Well, it's good to know that I do something well."
She cleared her throat and grew more serious.
"Cady, you are never going to be a hundred percent sure of any choice you make. If you are…you should probably worry. You should also do what's best for you and not what's expected of you. I'm willing to bet you've been doing that your entire life."
Cady smiled.
"That obvious?"
Vic shrugged.
"Sometimes. You're the kind of person who wants to do what is expected of them. By your family, friends, society. Let me guess…that conflicts with what you really want to do a good bit of the time."
Cady nodded slowly.
"You pretty much pegged it. I was just…all set to go to New York. I was excited about it."
"Durant isn't as exciting as New York."
"No, it's not. But, I'm from here. This is my home."
"You can have more than one home you know."
"Is that how you feel?"
Vic picked up her nearly empty glass and swirled the slowly melting ice.
"We're not talking about me."
"Right. But…the situations are pretty similar. Why didn't you just go home after your divorce?"
Vic looked into her glass.
"It's complicated. There's a whole backstory that you don't know. It's not as simple as just…going home. I thought about it. But…it just didn't feel right."
"Because of…dad?"
Cady lowered the volume of her voice when she said it. Vic looked up.
"Some. I suppose. That's not all it is. I wanted to stay here. I felt like…I still feel like…I have something to prove. To my family. To myself. Is that what you're feeling?"
Cady nodded slowly.
"Something like that."
Vic smiled at her across the table.
"Nothing is ever as simple as we want it to be. I think we try and pretend that it is in order to make ourselves feel better. But…all we really do is undermine our own feelings. There's no right or wrong answer here, Cady. If you stay, you're working towards something. If you go, you're going to something. I don't know that either is a better choice over the other. I think it really comes down to what you really want."
She could see Cady mulling over her words.
"I know what you're saying. And, you're right. I just feel…conflicted."
Vic pushed her plate away and stood up.
"If you ever stop feeling conflicted, let me know. I'm starting to think that's natural."
Cady rose and they left the Busy Bee. Outside the sky was blue and the air was warm. Vic looked up and down the street as they started slowly down the sidewalk in the direction of the office.
"You never gave me a real answer."
Vic stopped and turned, her eyes landing on Cady.
"About what?"
"Why are you still in Durant?"
Cady posed the question again. Vic disagreed. She had answered the question. Maybe not directly, but the answer was there all the same. Vic inhaled, taking in a breath of air that was cleaner than any breath she ever took back in Philadelphia.
She would be lying to say she didn't miss her native city. She still missed a great deal about it. From the feel of the city to the never-ending array of food and entertainment that if offered up. There were things that Durant would never be able to replace in her mind or her heart. And, who was to say that she wouldn't go back someday. She felt like it wasn't something she could rule out completely.
Not in her current frame of mind.
For now, Durant felt right. It felt like where she needed to be. Where she wanted to be. It was hard to explain and she wasn't sure she even had the words to express it adequately. It was too much human nature to try and simplify everything when nothing was ever really simple. People weren't simple.
She offered Cady the only answer she could come up with. Vic smiled when she said it, her eyes once again taking in the town around her.
"Me."
xxx
The sun was setting. He could see it from the windows in his office. The blinds were only halfway open, giving the room an odd hue that could only be achieved this time of the day. Walt sat behind his desk, which was now cleared of its earlier clutter. He was done for the day and there was no real reason to continue hanging around.
He stood up slowly, stretching out the muscles in his back that protested being in the same position for so long. He took slow strides across his office and opened the door. He didn't remember closing it. Maybe Ruby had earlier when she came in to bring him a phone message. He opened the door and stepped out. The main office was slightly brighter than his private space.
He expected to find himself alone or to find only Vic in the office. He knew that Ruby was gone. She popped in to tell him that she was leaving about an hour ago. A quick look around the office told him that Ferg and Zach were also nowhere to be found. What surprised him that Cady was still there.
She and Vic were sitting at Vic's desk talking about something in low tones. There were papers s spread out on the desk in front of them and Vic kept tapping her fingers on the papers, maybe pointing out something. They were so engrossed in whatever it was they were doing, neither of them really noticed his appearance.
He was almost to the desk before Vic seemed to hear him and she lifted her eyes, looking by Cady and blinking up at him. Walt paused and offered the two of them a smile as Cady turned his way in her chair.
"Still working?"
Vic nodded and slumped slightly in her chair.
"Yeah."
Vic's eyes stayed on him. She almost seemed to be waiting. For what he couldn't really say.
"It's getting late."
He didn't know what else to say. For some reason, he felt like an intruder.
Vic rubbed a hand over her eyes.
"Did you need something?"
Her question almost took him aback. Almost.
Walt shook his head.
"No. I was just…getting ready to leave. Didn't realize you were both still here."
Cady smiled up at him from her seat.
"We'll be done shortly. Or…so I'm told."
Vic smiled at the comment and returned her eyes to his.
"Yeah."
Walt shifted his eyes to Cady.
"Do you have dinner plans?"
Something flashed across her face. Walt just barely caught it.
"I do. Actually. After I leave here."
He nodded idly.
"Okay. Well…"
He drew the word out and started to retreat towards his office.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
The comment was primarily directed at Cady, who continued to smile.
"Sure."
His gaze focused back on Vic. But, he didn't say anything. He wasn't quite sure what to say. Even though Cady knew about their relationship, it still felt awkward to speak to her on personal matters in front of his daughter. He felt like he was still reconciling the two parts of his life together.
"I'll lock up when we're done."
That was all she said. It made him wonder if she were also avoiding broaching anything personal with Cady sitting right there watching them. With little else to do, he nodded and left the two of them alone.
In his office, he switched off the lights and put on his hat. For reasons he couldn't explain he left through is private entrance, choosing not to disturb them again. As he took the stairs down the door, he made a mental note to call Vic in an hour or so and see if she was leaving or already home.
His ride home felt monotonous. That was a good word to describe his overall mood right now. It was unusual for him. He normally wasn't one to feel bored or restless. But, that was exactly what he was experiencing right now. He was struggling to find the root of it. On some level, he knew that Vic had something to do with it.
In all honesty, he was somewhat reluctant to admit what it was he was really feeling. Maybe that was the real challenge. It seemed childish and somewhat stupid, but the more he marinated in it, the easier it became to identify.
Jealousy.
Was that the word.
It seemed both accurate and somehow not.
Up until this point in time, outside of work, he and Vic both seemed primarily focused on one another and these growing feelings that were expanding between them. But, in the last day or so, she had a new focus. Training Cady.
He couldn't fault her for it. He was the one who proposed all of this in the first place. At the end of everything, it was all his own idea. She was doing exactly what he asked her to do. She was doing an admirable job in applying herself in this new endeavor that would affect them both in the office and out of it.
This entire train of thought almost made him feel silly.
He couldn't occupy all her time. There was just something about the very beginning of this. Before they told Cady. Before anyone else knew and they were existing in their own private space with no intrusion from the outside world.
Walt forced the thoughts out of his head and looked around his cabin. All of the papers and notebooks that he took from Lucian's room at the assisted living home were still on his coffee table, haphazardly stacked up and pushed aside.
Was he really going to do this?
It felt like the right thing. He knew that it would be good for him. Maybe even for Vic. That sounded like an odd thing. Taking time alone when this was all still so new. But, that wasn't it at all. It would still be some time before his retirement became official. So far, no one really even knew except for Cady and Vic. And Henry. He knew that Cady said something to Henry about it. He knew that secret was safe with the three of them. Until he chose to go public.
They were both going through so much change. Both separately and together. Taking some time to digest all of that couldn't possibly be a bad thing. He knew that Vic needed to find some peace within herself before she could fully allow herself to sink into this. He also needed to lay some demons to rest. Not in regards to Martha. He had done that. He finally felt some measure of finality on that front. This was different. This was in regards to all his time lately spent evening scores and tying up loose ends. Losing Lucian.
A chapter in his life was closing.
That was no small thing.
There was no reason to pretend that it was.
Walt lifted his phone from its cradle and looked at it for a long moment. It hadn't really been long enough. This wasn't how he intended this to play out.
Still, he dialed.
xxx
The sudden chirping of her cell phone made her jump.
It startled Cady as well. Vic sighed and lifted her cell phone from where it sat on the corner of her desk nearest the window. She knew it was Walt as soon as she saw the number lighting up on the screen.
Cady cast her a quick look as she held the phone in her hand. Tossing an apologetic look, Vic stood and moved around Cady.
"Excuse me."
"Sure."
Vic put some distance between herself and Cady before she answered the phone.
"Hey, is something wrong?"
There was a pause on his end before he responded.
"No. Still at the office?"
"You know I am. You just left like…half an hour ago."
"Closer to forty-five minutes."
Vic sighed.
"Whatever. Is there something you need?"
"Not really. I was just wondering if you were coming over tonight."
Now, it was her turn to pause. He sounded odd. Impatient. That wasn't like Walt. Not with her. Not with them. So far, his patience seemed nothing short of miraculous. She still wondered how he didn't get tired of her. God knows she got tired of herself.
"I dunno. I haven't really gotten that far. It's been a long day."
Another long hesitation spread out between them.
"Oh. Okay."
Vic frowned at no one in particular.
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"
"Yeah. Um…call me when you leave."
Vic glanced over her shoulder. Cady didn't seem to be paying her any attention.
"Okay."
Not saying anything else, he hung up on the other end. Vic shook her head and returned to her desk. Cady looked up at her.
"Everything okay?"
Vic placed her phone back in its spot and sat back down.
"Yeah. Fine. So…where were we?"
She tried to keep her mind on what they were doing. She wasn't lying to Walt. She wasn't trying to avoid him either. It had been a long day. For her, anyway. He was in his office most of the day. She knew he was catching up and trying to get in a place where handing off his duties would be easier. Even if all of this went as planned, the transition was bound to get rocky at some point.
Nothing was ever as smooth as it should be.
Cady wouldn't be able to walk in and simply know how to handle everything. Even with all they were doing now, there was now way to fully prepare her for this. There was a great deal that she would simply have to learn on the job as it came at her. In the meantime, Vic knew she would shoulder more than her share of responsibility. They had talked about it in passing. But, now that this plan of Walt's was actually in progress, she was starting to see it more as a reality.
Her last two days were spent tutoring Cady on the finer points of police work. Taking Cady on calls. Explaining why she did this versus that. The office wasn't all that busy, but the added load of having to take everything step by step felt somewhat tedious. She wasn't all that good at tedious.
Vic finally dropped her pen and rubbed her face.
"This seems like a good place to stop."
Cady nodded and checked the time.
"Sounds good to me."
"You have plans."
It wasn't a question. Cady lifted her blue eyes.
"What?"
"You told Walt that you had dinner plans."
"Right. I do. They're loose plans, but I still have time."
Standing, Cady started to gather up her things while Vic stacked up the reports on her desk. She trailed Cady out, making sure the door was locked securely behind them. Cady got into her Jeep and drove off with a quick wave.
Vic took a seat behind the wheel of her truck and lifted her cell phone.
Her eyes suddenly felt heavy and she really just wanted to go to sleep.
Tapping Walt's name, she dialed his number.
"Hey."
The phone barely got one ring out when he answered it. Was he sitting on the phone?
"You asked me to call you when I was done. I'm done."
"Didn't expect you to work this late."
"That makes two of us."
Vic rubbed her eyes with her free hand.
"Have you eaten?"
Vic dropped her hand and let her head fall back against the seat.
"No."
"Hungry?"
"Not really. I think I'm just gonna go on home. You're right. It's late and I'm tired. I won't be good company."
His next suggestion came out quiet.
"You could sleep here."
Vic stifled a yawn.
"Yeah, but your place is kind of far."
Turning her key, she started the engine of her truck and adjusted the vents.
"Okay."
That was all he said. Vic started to ask him what was wrong again, but decided against it. She got the distinct impression that he would merely say nothing again.
"So…I'll…uh…see you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Goodnight."
"Night, Vic."
With that, he hung up.