Ghosts (7 page)

She relaxed visibly at his words. Her fingers gingerly sought out her swollen face. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“It’ll heal,” he assured her, resting a hand on her shoulder. Medical staff moved around them, taking her vitals, asking questions, assessing her injuries again now that she was responsive. When they were finally alone, they sat in silence for a moment, regarding each other.

“I’m such an idiot.” She attempted to frown but winced instead. “I can’t believe I thought he was going to make me a model.”

“You were just looking for a way to take care of your brother and sister,” Vance guessed. “Hey, the nurse left some crushed ice for you in case you woke up. Do you want some?”

Nicole nodded, gratefully accepting the spoon of ice chips he held to her mouth. She sighed and sank deeper into her pillow, her eyes fluttering closed.

He set the Styrofoam cup back on its table and settled into the chair by her bed. “Get some rest. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”

She reached out for his hand in response, and he enveloped her tiny fingers with his own large hand. He willed her to heal as he watched her sleep; he needed this one to be okay.

He must have dozed off. The sound of Henry’s voice in the hallway woke him up. He straightened a little, glancing at Nicole as he did. She was still out of it, no doubt helped along by the pain medication. She looked like she could be his sister, with her sandy brown hair and green eyes. Maybe he’d never met her before this mess, but now that she was in his life, he’d die before he let anything happen to her.

Vance extracted his hand from Nicole to greet Henry and Martha. Ever stoic, Martha’s expression was the only giveaway as to her anguish at seeing Nicole in such a state. Vance backed up a little to let them have time with her.

“Vance?” Nicole’s eyelids fluttered open.

“I’m here,” he soothed, stepping out of the shadows. “The Barnetts are here to see you.”

“My sweet, sweet girl. You’re okay now. We’ve got you now.” Martha smoothed the girl’s hair back as she crooned.

“Vance saved me. I thought I was going to die—I wanted to die—and then he was carrying me away from that horrible place, telling me I was going to be okay. I didn’t know him, but I believed him.” Nicole’s small voice was hoarse.

Martha’s eyes met Vance’s from across the room. Did he see pride there? Appreciation? He had the feeling he’d finally been able to do right by the Barnetts, to repay at least some of the kindness he’d been shown.

VANCE TAPPED A NERVOUS BEAT
on his steering wheel as he waited for the heavy wrought iron gate to swing open.

Nicole glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be nervous. You know that, right?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen these people. It just brings back memories.”

“The girl who died. It has to do with that, doesn’t it?”

He sighed softly. “Harmony. Yes, this place reminds me of her.”

They rolled down the driveway, coming into view of the main house with the words
Harmony House
arching over the doorway.

Nicole’s tone was wry. “Yeah, I guess I can see why this place would remind you of her.”

“It’s named in honor of her.”

“Ah.” Nicole fell silent, studying him for a moment before continuing. “Thanks again for sticking with me.”

Vance shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “I couldn’t hide from this place forever. Besides, I promised you I’d be with you through this.”

“But you’re leaving now…” There seemed to be a tinge of hope in her voice, hope that he might decide to stay.

“I have to leave. Having a strange, scary guy lurking around wouldn’t do much for the healing process.”

“You’re not scary.” Nicole frowned.

Vance chuckled. “To you, maybe not, but you’re not the only one here.”

“But I feel safer with you here.”

“Wait until you meet Neena,” Vance promised. “She could take me out any day.”

“I doubt that.”

“She’s pretty scrappy.” He held his ground. And then, the scrappy woman in question was coming to meet them. Nicole eyed Vance warily after taking in Neena’s tiny stature.

“I’m not feeling safe.”

“You will,” he promised again. By that time, Rachel had joined her sister-in-law to wait for them to park. It had been three weeks since Vance pulled Nicole out of that closet. The swelling was gone, the bruises were fading, and every day Nicole looked more and more like a normal teenage girl. But the bruises left on her spirit would take longer to heal, and the two women standing in front of his car now were just the two to help mend those wounds as well.

Vance greeted each woman with a hug before introducing them to Nicole. After a few awkward minutes of small talk, he agreed to help Nicole to her room before leaving. Every fiber of his being wanted to get back in his truck and drive away without looking back. He wasn’t sure why; it’s not as if he expected to confront Harmony’s ghost in the hallway. But it was a painful reminder that he’d been unable to save her. No matter how much he raged at the universe for taking her, there was nothing he could do to stop it or reverse it. Touring the safe house named in her honor made that real. She wasn’t coming back.

***

Vance had a long drive from Louisiana to Missouri for that knowledge to settle in: Harmony really was gone. It was time he moved on with his life; he was finally ready to admit it. With Nicole tucked away safely, he had one more stop to make before taking that next step back to normal—well, his normal, anyway.

Long before he was ready, his truck was parked in the Barnetts’ gravel drive, his feet as rooted in place as they had been a short month ago. This time he was greeted with hugs instead of a shotgun and suspicion. He was there to say a real goodbye—and to have that family dinner he’d promised Martha.

As chatter bounced around the table and the mashed potatoes were passed, Vance filled everyone in on what Nicole’s room looked like at the safe house. Izzy and Isaac weren’t happy to hear they had to wait even longer to get their sister back, but they said they understood why. The pair was more mature at twelve than most adults were. Of course, they’d seen more in their short lives than most adults ever would.

Vance could tell by the hints Henry dropped, by the way Allie glanced up at him when she thought no one was looking, that his family hoped he’d say he was staying. But he couldn’t do more than promise to visit. This place would always be a part of his past, but his future was still out there somewhere. At the moment, it was wrapped up in finding the man who’d hurt Nicole. After that, it was wide open.

C
URRENTLY
AVAILABLE
FROM
H
EATHER
H
UFFMAN
AND
FEATURING
V
ANCE
D
AVIS
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