Coming Home (30 page)

I struggled with telling him or not about my altercation with
Charlie earlier that day. I know how furious he was when I kept the fact that
things were moving in my apartment to myself. I decided to tell him a little
and gauge his response before giving him my full opinion.

“I ran into him outside Matt’s office today. He wanted to
apologize, but I wouldn’t let him.”

“Becca, why didn’t you accept it?”

“He should have known it wasn’t you. I’m sure he saw more than
what I did in that video. Anyone in security should have known they were two
different people.”

“Point taken, but I think you’re being a little hard on him.”

“He thought so, too.” Ryan backed up a little and gave me a
puzzled look. “He grabbed me and told me not to threaten him when I said
security may need to be replaced if he couldn’t tell you and Ben apart.”

Ryan’s hold on me got tighter. “He grabbed you?”

“Yes. Matt came out and told him to let go.” I hesitated. “Then I
swear he told me to run while I could when he did let me go.”

“Run? That doesn’t make sense.”

I mumbled. “It does if he’s the one that’s been threatening me.”

Ryan sat up. “What?”

“He sounded like the man in my apartment.”

Ryan started to get up and I quickly sat on his lap. “Becca.”

“Ryan. Please let’s just talk about this.”

He sighed, but agreed to talk it through. I couldn’t very well
accuse the man without being sure. Especially after I was mad that he
wrongfully accused Ryan of sleeping with Stacy. Ryan didn’t make me go home,
and he didn’t try to leave again, but it wasn’t as relaxing as it was during
dinner.

~*~

It was early when Ryan dropped me off at Vicki’s on his
way to see the boys. I didn’t expect anyone to be up, but Vicki was already
making a huge breakfast. I was actually hoping I could just sneak in and go
back to bed. I loved spending the night with Ryan, it’s just that we didn’t
usually sleep that much.

“Hey, are you hungry?” Vicki smiled as she looked at my obviously
still-tired state. “You look as though you could use a good breakfast.”

I looked at the stove where she was cooking eggs and the counter
where pancakes, bacon, and fruit had been placed. “Actually, I’m starved.” I
looked around again. “I’d ask if there was anything you want me to do, but I
think you’ve done it all already.”

“You can get the juice and milk out if you’d like.” Vicki watched
as I went to the refrigerator.

I turned back to her before opening the door. “What? I know
something is on your mind so just say it.” I got the drinks as she asked.

“It’s nothing.” She glanced at me. “I know you don’t like it when
I say stuff like this, but I was just thinking how much . . . um, how much I
love you and how happy I am that you’re here.”

“Oh. I thought it was going to be a smart remark about how I
looked.” I thought back to the panic I felt when I thought Vicki was still in
the apartment with the fire and realized that I love her, too. She’d become a
good friend and was no longer just an employer or my mom’s best friend. “Just
so you know I love you, too.”

I started taking things to the dining room before she could
respond. On my second trip to the kitchen, Vicki hugged me without warning. I
knew she would get emotional about me finally saying she meant more than just my
employer or a roof over my head, but I didn’t expect the tightness in that hug.
It was as if she thought I would slip away or something.

“Vicki, you’re going to burn the eggs.” I patted her back.

She reluctantly let go and went back to the stove. “It wouldn’t
be the first time.”

Matt walked in. “And won’t be the last.” He kissed her on the cheek
before taking a few more things to the dining room.

After I enjoyed all of the stories about Vicki and her less than
spectacular culinary skills over the fabulous breakfast she made, Vicki
volunteered to teach me how to cook. I explained that my mom tried many times
and each time it turned into a disaster. Vicki assured me it was because my
mother was such a natural in the kitchen and it would take a person that had to
struggle through it to really know how to teach me. I figured it was worth a
shot and I had nothing to do anyway.

Vicki was teaching me how to pick out more than just microwave food
at the grocery store, and I had to say she was better than mom was. She didn’t
get impatient or tell me a hundred ways how I could use something this way or
that way. She stayed in the moment and told me what to look for when buying
fresh produce. I was actually having a great time, and I hoped Ryan was
available soon for me to impress him with my new knowledge.

I turned to grab a bag for the tomatoes, and I saw the tall woman
that Gladys called me down to get rid of. She didn’t appear nearly as slutty as
she did when she showed up that day. I almost didn’t recognize her in regular
clothing and natural-looking makeup. “Vicki.” I whispered, even though the
woman was across the room and couldn’t hear me. Vicki couldn’t hear me, either,
so I had to say it a little louder. “Vicki.”

“What? Can’t you get the bag open again?” Vicki started to take
the bag until I pointed to the woman.

“Who is she?”

“Oh, that’s Charlie’s ex-wife.” She took the bag from me and
opened it with ease. “Tammy’s a nice lady, but they just couldn’t get it to
work out, I guess.”

First the video he tried to play off as Ryan having sex with
Stacy and now I learn it was his ex-wife that came to tried to put doubts in my
head. She noticed me staring and quickly headed for the door, abandoning her
cart. I took off after her and Vicki took off after me.

I let her get out to the parking lot, but she got no further than
that. I grabbed her arm and twirled her around. I must have been more pissed
than I thought. I didn’t think it would actually work. She was smart enough to
not fight me and stayed put.

“He never did call me. Did you even give him the message?”

“I have a message of my own. Tell Charlie he can go to hell. He’ll
never break us up.”

Her eyes got big and she looked away. “Please don’t tell him
that.”

Vicki kept looking at each of us. “Is there something going on I
need to know about?”

“I think Charlie sent his ex here to break Ryan and me up. She
came in with his favorite tie and said next time she gets to tie him up with
it. Only Ryan never met you.” I shook my head. I couldn’t believe it. Charlie
had to be the one that was behind the threats and the pranks pulled on me. I
just didn’t know what I did.

“Please don’t tell him anything. Just forget you saw me.” It was
obvious she was afraid of what Charlie would do. If I was right about him, he
had the potential to put her in a locked room and set it on fire.

“We won’t say anything, Tammy.” Vicki put her hand on Tammy’s
arm. “Is he hurting you?”

“Not anymore, but I still don’t want to make him angry.” Tammy
turned to me. “I’m sorry, really sorry about all of that. I’ve only met Ryan
once, so I’m not surprised he didn’t remember me, but I’ve never slept with
him.”

I accepted her apology as I could see she didn’t really want to
do it. I have to say if I was in her place, I probably would have done the same
thing. It was time to discuss my suspicions about Charlie.

~*~

We finished our shopping trip and had just carried the
groceries in when Ashley came running down the stairs. “Guess what? Guess
what?” She was jumping up and down.

Vicki smiled, obviously happy to see Ashley so excited, but I
could also see a little apprehension in her eyes. She knew she may have to
burst whatever bubble Ashley seemed to be in at the moment. I didn’t want to be
part of that, so I headed back to the kitchen to finish putting the groceries
away.

“Becca, you have to hear this!” Ashley could hardly stand still.
Vicki and I just looked at each other and shrugged. This time neither one of us
had a clue. Usually one of us could figure it out before Ashley burst.

We knew it was going to be a fast and furious rapid fire of
information when she took a huge breath before talking. It probably was best
that I stayed. Between the two of us, Vicki and I surely could catch everything
she was saying the first time.

“Dawson Lewis is coming next month! Can you believe it? Dawson
Lewis here. Actually in Dallas. Heather and I just have to go. We know all the
moves and everything!” Ashley started dancing.

Vicki put her hand on Ashley’s shoulder to keep her still. “We
can discuss this later with your father. You’ll need to get us ticket prices—”

“We don’t need tickets.” Ashley put her hand up. “Wait. What I
meant was we already have tickets. We won! Three front-row tickets and a limo
ride. We even get to go to dinner. Do you think he’ll be there? Oh, I can’t
believe we won!” She started bouncing again and stopped when she turned to me.
“Actually, you won. There was a contest and they just called to say you won.”

I looked at Vicki. “I didn’t enter a contest.”

“I entered you for it. You have to be over eighteen, and I knew
you would take us if you won.” Ashley grabbed my hands. “Please take us.
Please.”

“Ash, we need to talk about this a little more.” Vicki led Ashley
to the kitchen so she could talk to her while we put stuff away. “I’m not
saying no, yet. I just need a few more details. Did the person you talked to
leave a name and number?”

“Oh, I left it upstairs. I’ll be right back.” Ashley ran
upstairs.

“Rebecca, you don’t have to do this. A night out with a bunch of
screaming girls doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.”

“My hesitation wasn’t because of the screaming. I would like it
to get checked out. Maybe I’m on edge and paranoid, but I have an uneasy
feeling about it.” I put the last of the groceries away and headed upstairs.

Chapter 20

It had been a few weeks and nothing had happened: no
notes, videos, or pretend ex-girlfriends from Ryan’s past. I had shared my concerns
with Vicki and Matt. Vicki agreed with me, but all Matt said was that they
would watch Charlie more closely. He couldn’t believe Charlie was behind the
attack or other pranks that had been pulled.

Ryan and I were fighting more and more about who was behind
everything and the fact he couldn’t find any more information on my birth
parents. I kept telling him it wasn’t a big deal, but he wouldn’t stop
obsessing about it. I shouldn’t have been too upset with him because I couldn’t
stop obsessing about Charlie.

I couldn’t understand why he and Matt thought Charlie wasn’t
behind any of it. They weren’t with me when he set fire to my apartment, and
they weren’t with me when he threatened me in front of Mandy’s desk. I know
what I felt and I felt he was behind it all. If I could have just figured out
why, then maybe they would have believed me. I had to admit I was a little
stumped on the why, too.

We used to be friends and I enjoyed watching the bloopers he
found. We didn’t exchange numbers or anything like that. We would just enjoy a
quick conversation in the elevator, in line for coffee, or while I was getting
the security card replaced again. He never asked me out, so it wasn’t a bruised
ego that I shot him down.

I was allowed to go places on my own again as long as I stayed in
the building. I had just gotten into a big argument with Ryan about how a
layout wasn’t coming along. I needed a coffee fix. If I were honest with myself,
it was less about the layout and more about the stress our relationship was
feeling right then.

I barely stayed over anymore, and he seemed to always be out at
the home with the boys. Ryan went out there a lot, but now he seemed to be
there more than ever. I was trying to collect myself by drinking my coffee and
looking at the painting in the hallway. I needed to go back up to try to talk
to Ryan about what was happening with us.

Vicki came around the corner and was walking with a woman that
looked a little older than she was. She pointed at me and said something to the
woman. I checked my watch. I didn’t think I had a meeting that I missed.

“Hi, Rebecca. We just came from Ryan’s. I thought you would have
been up there with him.”

“I was, but needed some . . . air.” I looked at the lady. “I’m
sorry. Did I miss a meeting?”

“Oh, no, this is a friend.” Vicki started to introduce her and
the woman cut her off.

The woman leaned in as if she were telling me a secret. “I
understand needing air. Men can be very frustrating, don’t you think?” She
turned to Vicki and winked.

I mumbled into my coffee. “Especially that one.”

The woman smiled and linked one arm in mine and the other in
Vicki’s. “I think it’s time for some girl talk. We could all use a break and
discuss the frustrating men in our lives. Who knows, maybe we’ll give each
other some perspective.”

Vicki started nodding her head and smiling. “Oh, I think that is
a very good idea.”

I thought we would have gone back up to Vicki’s office, but they
picked a table in the cafeteria instead. I listened for a few minutes while
they each complained about the men in their lives. The woman I still didn’t
know the name of complained that her sons didn’t call her as much as she would
like and her husband spent more time with ESPN than her.

Vicki’s complaints were a little more personal than I thought she
would say. She was tired of Matt acting as if she were going to fall apart
again at every little turn. She agreed she was messed up for a bit, but she was
stronger than ever and needed him to back off.

They both turned to me and asked what I was frustrated with. I
talked about how Ryan didn’t take my concerns seriously and patronized me when
I voiced them. I had to be careful not to discuss the search for my birth
parents. I told them that no matter what Ryan thought he wasn’t superman and couldn’t
do everything.