Out of the window, the sun was timidly beginning to rise as Victoria sat at the kitchen table, a steaming cup in her hand. She loved to indulge in the simple intimacy of her kitchen, it helped her think. The aroma of the freshly made coffee was lingering in the small room together with the memories of the previous day.
It had been like being born again, like if her blood had been frozen for the last four years and now it was flowing again, warming her up, making her feel herself again. It was like, since Tom's death, she had suspended her life, and now she was beginning to savor it again.
Victoria shifted uncomfortably in her chair, crossed her legs and sighed. She sipped from her cup, trying to divert her thoughts from that dangerous direction.
As it came to her mind, she welcomed the image of her young daughter and smiled at the love emanating out of her being like a dazzling light.
Our children are all grown up, Tom.
Jarrod's baby was due for the upcoming April. She hoped they would consider coming to live at the ranch. She wanted to enjoy the new life and all the wonders it would bring.
Victoria sighed, her heart open wide, vibrating and yearning for something. She was so ready to give her love again to someone. She was so ready to be a grandmother.
She was so ready to love and be loved again.
I will love you until my last breath, Tom Barkley. No one will ever take your place. But I'm still alive, do you understand? I'm still alive.
But there was something else, something that had been bothering her for hours stealing her sleep.
Two attentive, concerned gray eyes followed the stranger who lived under her roof, cross the foyer and rush upstairs in nightgown and boots.
The memory of that horrible woman sneaking inside like a thief was disgusting.
"Morning, Mother," Nick's voice said. "You're up early," he noted bending to lay a light kiss on her cheekbone.
"Good morning, Nick." Her eyes followed him as he took the kettle and poured himself a cup of coffee.
By his rigid stance and sullen expression, it was clear something was tormenting him. She resisted the urge to take him in her arms and console him like she did when he was a child, when he'd crawl up on her lap asking her to kiss his booboo. She wished it was as easy now.
Without another word, his cup in his hand, Nick went by the window and his gaze drifted idly outside. The light of the rising sun was fighting its way through the shadows of the dying night. He had left his wife asleep on their bed and had come downstairs to escape his misery. He needed to think straight.
Sabrina had cunningly avoided a confrontation this time, taking advantage of his weakness. She had been refusing his marital attentions for weeks now, and he hadn't been able to resist her advances.
The sight of his wife all tousled and dirty was almost more than Nick could handle.
She sneaked into the room, removed her boots, grabbed some clean towels from the top of the drawer and turned to walk out again, probably directed to the bathroom.
"Where have you been?" Nick asked in a somber voice. She jumped for the surprise and turned her head to look at him, his eyes were cold as ice under his furrowed eyebrows..
"None of your business, I just need a bath," she replied insolently and turned toward the door.
Nick was out of the bed in his long johns and by her side in one long stride. He grabbed her wrist. "This is all of my business, you shameless Now, tell me," he insisted menacingly.
"No!" she yelled in his face, thrashing around trying to free herself. Nick turned her wrist and she cried in pain.
"Tell me where you've been, Sabrina," he pressed as she jerked and jolted, gasping and wheezing. Nick's grip on her was iron.
"I have nothing to tell you," she growled. Her hair smelled of horse and sweat. "You know what? You really need a bath," he said beginning to drag her outside their bedroom by her wrist.
"No!" She yelled, suddenly changing her mind about her ablution, clinging to the door jamb. But there was little she could do against Nick. With a firm yank, he hurled her outside the room. She cried out and let herself fall on her bottom. With his free hand, Nick grabbed a handful of her hair and dragged her to the bathroom.
Once inside, he turned the key to lock the door. He heard his mother and Audra's voices and steps and pressed his hand on Sabrina's mouth, expecting to be bitten at any moment. The room was filled with water vapor from the large tin basin Sabrina had already put on the coal stove for her bath.
When Nick heard his mother and sister's voices as they kissed good night and the sound of their doors closing, he turned his eyes on her. She had stopped fighting and was breathing heavily from her nose, her mouth still covered by his hand.
He suddenly realized he was tired like never before in his life.. With a deep sigh, he let go of her, leaned on the wall and let himself slide down until they were sitting one in front of the other on the floor, both panting for the exhaustion of fighting each other.
In the foggy room, Sabrina got on her feet and got rid of her nightgown in one smooth movement, under Nick's mesmerized eyes.
Without talking, she then took his hand and helped him to his feet. When she began to slowly undress him, Nick's desire for her had already intoxicated every cell of his body and of his mind.
Nick realized that despite himself, the memory still had the power to awaken his desire. Sabrina was a beautiful, charming, captivating vampire, and he had been wrapped around her little finger like a puppet all this time.
When he had woken up that morning, she was talking in her sleep.. She was calling the name of another man.
Jack. Oh, Jack, Jack… Jack…
She had whispered that name again and again with such lasciviousness, with such apparent obscene carnal desire it had turned Nick's stomach.
The memory was too fresh to be ignored, and Nick's mind went blank, jealousy and betrayal overwhelming his whole being. She was a cheater and a liar. Time had come for him to escape her velvet trap.
"Nick," his mother's voice reached his ears, as she lightly touched his shoulder with her small, loving hand. He had even forgotten she was in the room with him. He turned his head and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
"Nick, what is bothering you?"
She doesn't love me, mother, she never did.
He opened his mouth and found he was unable to speak, a lump suddenly forming in his throat, choking him. He just licked his dry lips and shook his head.
Victoria gently took the cup from Nick's hands. "Your coffee is cold," she said thoughtfully. She emptied the content in the sink and poured some fresh coffee. Nick took the refilled cup from her hands and nodded his thanks, grateful for her discretion.
They kept silent for a while, both quietly sipping their coffee.
"Nick, is it about Sabrina?", she asked tactfully after a few minutes.
Nick swallowed a sob, his hazel eyes turning green with unshed tears as the relief washed over him. His formidable mother already knew.
"Actually yes, it is, Mother," he admitted ruefully.
- 1 -
