Coming Home (17 page)

“I would love to have you at my place.” Ryan looked at me to try
to convince me. “You know I would.” He looked back at the road. “I just think
it’s better if you stay where you’ll feel safe, and frankly,” he glanced at me
again before continuing, “I don’t want to rush into anything. If I take you
home . . .” He trailed off. “It’s just better if you stay with Matt and Vicki.”

I started crying. “Please just take me home with you, Ryan.”

He pulled off the road and parked the truck. I unbuckled and slid
next to him. He held me and started whispering. “I don’t want our first night
together to be fixed to this memory. I won’t do that to either one of us.
Please, Becca, understand.”

Rationally, I did understand. I loved him more for being the
rational one in this, but I needed him to hold me a little while longer.
“Please don’t leave right away.”

Ryan held my face and lightly kissed me. “I would never leave
you. I’m sure Matt and Vicki will want to hear all about it, and I’ll stay
until I get kicked out.”

Reluctantly, I nodded my head and slid back over to buckle up.
Really, I just wanted to look out the window and wish the world away. Ryan gave
me the quiet I needed, and I think he drove a little slower to give me more
time.

Vicki was outside and to my door before the truck fully came to a
stop. She opened my door and hugged me the second I got out. I lost it again.
Vicki was the closest thing to having my mom here, and I crumbled in her
embrace. She walked me inside past Matt, who was obviously not happy with the
turn of events. He seemed to be waiting to talk to Ryan outside—alone. Vicki
took me to the sofa and let me cry on her shoulder.

What seemed like forever later, Matt finally came back in, and I
was afraid that Ryan had left. Vicki sat me up straight and asked if I was
okay. I could only nod my head. She got up with a final promise that everything
would be okay, and then I saw Ryan. Vicki went to sit next to Matt to let Ryan
sit next to me. I wanted to start crying again with relief when I saw he hadn’t
left after all, but I contained myself. I needed to realize I was okay and no
one was hurt. I was scared, homeless, and the obvious target of someone’s sick
and twisted hatred, but I was okay.

“This is getting out of hand.” Matt was beside himself and
couldn’t sit still. Vicki reached over and put her hand on his bouncing knee.

“I agree, but until we find out who is behind it all, there’s not
a lot we can do.” Ryan calmly stroked my arm as I sank further into his side. I
looked at Vicki. “Please don’t say anything to mom until I tell her. She’ll be
worried, and I need her to concentrate on the bakery right now.”

“That’s up to you, but she’ll be upset if you don’t tell her
soon.”

“I’ll tell her tomorrow. I just know she’s already in bed since
she has to get up so early for the bakery. Saturday is her biggest day, and
with it just starting and everything . . .”

“We could drive out there tomorrow and tell her in person so she
knows you’re okay.” Ryan was always thinking ahead of me.

“That actually would be great, but . . .” I sat straight up. “You
missed tonight. You never miss, and now you’ll miss the rest of the weekend if
we go there. You know my mom won’t let me leave.” I sat back, shaking my head.
“I’ll go there alone tomorrow and come back Sunday. You need to be with the
boys. I’m not taking you from them.”

“I need to be with you. You said you wouldn’t take me from them
for a date. This is not a date. This is serious, and I don’t like you driving
there by yourself.” Ryan squared his shoulders.

I looked at him and knew we were about to have our first fight on
the night my apartment was destroyed and in front of my bosses, no less. Fights
are inevitable. Everyone has them, but to have them on such an emotional night
and in front of an audience was not something I was looking forward to. We
couldn’t even make up properly here.

I was about to suggest we discuss it tomorrow so we could discuss
it in private when we weren’t so keyed up with the break-in when he said,
“That’s final.” He sat back as if he had spoken and I—the little woman—had no
say. I suddenly didn’t care who was in the room.

I stood up and took all of my anger and fear out on him to let
him know the only final thing would be us if he ever talked to me like that
again. “I am a grown woman that can and will make my own decisions. I have made
plenty of decisions without the great Ryan Thomas to make them for me. If I
want to go home alone, I will go home alone, and maybe I’ll just stay there if
this is how I’m going to be treated in Dallas!”

Ryan sat there shocked as I continued. “I didn’t ask for any of
this. I didn’t ask for my sketch to be plastered all over the building, for my
tires to be punctured, for my coffee to be drugged, my apartment to be
destroyed, or to fall in love with an asshole. I came here for one reason only
and I can’t even get that—” Ryan stood up quickly and kissed me.

“You’re falling in love with me?” Ryan still held my face and
leaned his forehead against mine.

I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Maybe.” I
couldn’t believe I’d told him that, but it was true. I was falling for Ryan.

“Can’t say I like the asshole part of your declaration, but I’ll
take it however I can get it.” We both smiled. “I have to say I’m growing very
fond of you, too.”

Vicki cleared her throat, and we separated like two teenagers
caught doing something we shouldn’t. I completely forgot they were there. Vicki
laughed as she stood up and pulled on Matt’s hand. “Come on. There’s nothing
else we can do tonight.”

Matt reluctantly got up. “We will pick up this discussion
tomorrow.”

Vicki agreed. “Especially the part where you thought someone had
been in your apartment, but didn’t say anything.” I nodded my head. “Rebecca,
please lock up after Ryan leaves and get me if you need anything at all.” She
gave me one more hug before heading upstairs after Matt.

I was exhausted and I knew Ryan had to be, too. We spent hours
with the police and hadn’t even had any dinner yet. My stomach was a little too
upset to eat anything, but I knew Ryan must be starving. “Do you want to find something
to eat? I’m sure Vicki won’t mind if we raid her refrigerator.”

“I’m not really hungry, but we can look for you.”

I shook my head and sat back down to let him hold me just a few more
minutes. I really wanted to take him upstairs and have him hold me while I tried
to sleep. I got the hint from Vicki that he was to leave at some point that night,
though. I knew why Ryan brought me there, but I really wished he would have
taken me home with him instead.

After thirty minutes and several yawns from Ryan, I made him go
home. I locked up and turned off the lights. I slowly walked the stairs to the
guest room I assumed I was supposed to use again. Matt and Vicki made me feel
very welcome here, but I wasn’t sure how people at work were going to take my
sleeping over again. I was grateful or I would be in a hotel room alone right
now.

Suddenly, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to go home for a while.
Maybe I could stay with Stacy when I got back from my parents on Sunday. I’d
have to talk to her the next day. I went into the guestroom and started to take
my shirt off, and then I remembered I didn’t have anything to change into. I lay
on top of the comforter and stared at the ceiling.

~*~

There was a soft knock on the door and I sat straight
up. It was morning. I didn’t realize I had fallen asleep. I cleared my throat.
“Come in.”

I was rubbing my eyes, but heard the door open. “Did you get any
. . . Rebecca, why did you sleep in your clothes?” Vicki seemed a little
irritated by my wardrobe.

I looked at her as if she had lost her mind. “I don’t have
anything left to wear. I’ll just shower and change when I get to my parents. I
left stuff at mom’s house.”

“Ryan called while you were giving your statement. He said
everything was ruined and asked if you could borrow from us, but really you’d
want your own clothes.” Vicki walked over and opened the closet door and then a
couple of drawers in the dresser. “You have everything you need here. You
should have checked.” She seemed a little hurt that I didn’t notice what she
had done.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I even turned the light on, and I collapsed
on the bed as is.” I waved my hand down my body to show I meant fully dressed.
“How much did you buy?” I got up and started looking through the closet.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t go overboard, even though it would have
been very easy for me. I just got enough for a couple of weeks. Who knows how
long it’s going to take to get your insurance check.” Vicki turned to me. “You
were insured, right?”

“Yes, I have renter’s insurance.” I turned to Vicki. “Thank you,
Vicki. I want to pay you back.”

“No. This is a gift. I told you I don’t have anyone to buy for,
and I made sure to stay out of the designer boutiques this time. It’s just
normal everyday clothes.” She sat in the chair while I looked through
everything. “Oh, I like that one. You should wear that today.”

I shrugged and kept the blue shirt out. Since she paid for the
clothes, the least I could do was let her decide what I wore first. I picked up
two pairs of jeans and held them out to her. She chose the darker pair. I put
my new outfit on the bed and sat down. I could tell she wanted to have a
conversation since she made herself comfortable.

“Ryan’s coming to pick up Matt so they can go get your car. I
don’t like it left over at your apartment. Then we are all going to sit down to
breakfast and talk about what has been happening. We need to figure this out,
and now that the police are involved, it’s going to be dug into deeply.” Vicki
waited for me to nod my understanding. “Then Ryan will go spend his weekend
with the boys as he had planned, and you and I will head out to Hillary and
Dave’s.”

“I can go by myself. What about Ashley?”

“Ashley is with her friend this weekend, and I really want to see
the bakery that Hillary has set up. It sounds great, and she’s so excited about
it.” Vicki stood up. “Take your shower and change. The guys will be back soon
and I’ll have breakfast ready.” At least she didn’t say it was final as Ryan
had last night.

Chapter 12

I had come to the grand opening of the bakery, but I
was still just as blown away the second time. I couldn’t believe my mom had
actually gone and done it. It was absolutely remarkable, and I couldn’t have been
more proud of her. It was easy to walk in the door with a smile on my face. I
was happy to be there and to see mom again, even if the reasons sucked.

Vicki and I took one of the few empty tables and waited as my mom
finished with her customer. She came running over as soon as she was done and
threw her arms around me. “This is such a great surprise!” She turned me to
everyone and proudly announced that I was her daughter—as if most of them didn’t
already know. Vicki laughed at my discomfort until mom grabbed and hugged her,
introducing her as my mother’s best friend. It was my turn to laugh.

Vicki and I spent the afternoon looking around the small town at the
insistence of my mother. I was sure Vicki couldn’t have cared less to see the
town I grew up in. I showed her where I went to school, where I worked for my
first job, the place where I first kissed a boy and where Matt and I met for my
interview. We made it back just as mom was locking up.

Vicki excused herself to the restroom when we got back. I thought
it was to give mom and me a few minutes alone. “Mom, this place is so busy! I
thought the morning would be, but even the afternoon was busy. Congratulations.
I knew you could do it.”

“Yes, yes, I know. It’s getting to be a little big for just me.
I’ve had to hire a few people to help out.” She looked behind her to make sure
Vicki wasn’t coming. “So, are you two getting along okay?”

“We’ve always gotten along just fine, Mom—other than her accusing
me of sleeping with Matt, that is. I’m glad you are so close, really I am, but
she’s my boss. It’s just awkward at the office with everyone. I don’t want to
be treated any differently. You know that.”

She reached out and held my hand. “I know I must be putting you
in an awkward position, but I really need you to do this for me. I want to make
sure she’s okay, and you can help me with that. You know, give me a heads up on
her off days.” I nodded my head. Mom didn’t normally ask me for anything. I could
keep an eye on Vicki for her. “Now tell me why you’re really here.”

Mom squeezed my hand as I closed my eyes. I had forgotten about
the apartment during my afternoon with Vicki. I don’t know how she managed to
do it, but I don’t remember thinking about it once while I was answering
Vicki’s questions about my childhood. Maybe that’s why mom sent us off for the
tour. She knew I needed to get my mind off of the trouble she didn’t know about
yet.

I took a deep breath and told her. “The worst part was the
writing.” Vicki still hadn’t come back from the restroom, but I lowered my
voice anyway. “Someone wrote that I wouldn’t find what I was looking for and to
go home. How does anyone know what I’m looking for? Only you and Ryan know
that.”

“Maybe it doesn’t mean what you think. Maybe it’s just because
you left home, and they want you to go back. A lot of people leave home to find
themselves. Rebecca, I need you to be honest with me. Who do you think did this
to you?”

“I really don’t know. Stacy is who I would consider my closest
friend, but she still doesn’t know anything about the search. I know she’s
upset that I’m spending a lot of time with Ryan. She doesn’t want me to get
hurt and thinks Ryan is just using me. She doesn’t know that we’re seeing each
other.

“Wade has backed off a lot since our fight over the kiss. We
still have dinner once in a while, but he hasn’t tried anything again. He
doesn’t even put his arm around me anymore as he used to.” I sat back and
crossed my arms, shaking my head. “I really can’t think of anyone else.”