Redemption (The Restoration Series Book 1) (25 page)

 “These smell amazing, Mrs. Matthews.”

 “Oh, dear. Thank you. And please call me Sara.”

 “Sara,” I repeated, waiting for her to show me where to go.

 She nodded and held the door open for me as we walked out to the porch carrying the large silver trays. Davis saw me and immediately whisked them from my hands and set them on the long table resting underneath the windows on the porch.

 “Thanks.”

 “You’re welcome.” I slipped back inside, and after a few trips back and forth, the table was full. Davis reached for my hand.

 “Want to go mingle a little?”

 I nodded and he pulled me to him, guiding me down the steps and into the crowd of people. We spent the next hour laughing and talking with various people that Davis had grown up with. It was very insightful. The people he met just reinforced what I already knew about him. He was loyal and passionately dedicated to those he loved.

 Halfway through the night, a car pulled up the drive and I saw Evie and her mom
step out. Evie seemed nervous and pale, but I quickly rushed toward her.

 “Hey! I haven’t seen or heard from you in a few weeks.” I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around me like an iron vice and didn’t let go. “Sorry. I’ve not been feeling well.”

 “Are you okay?”

She nodded, glancing at her mom and then back to me. “I’ll talk to you about it later.”

 I nodded and pulled her back with me toward Davis.

 “Hello, Evie. Mrs. Palmer.” He greeted them, offering his hand.

 Each of them shook it and said their hello, and he continued. “Thanks for coming. I know Nova hasn’t really seen you much, and I’ve been taking up most of her weekends. I’m sorry for that. Thought
it’d be nice if you could join us tonight.”

 I watched as Evie’s eyes roamed all around us at the people huddled in every direction. Nervous fidgeting was beginning to tremble her hands and I pulled her arms, forcing her to move closer to me.

 “You’re safe. This is a safe place.” I whispered in her ear. She took a deep breath. Davis studied us with concern.

 “Why don’t we find a quieter place to talk?” He stepped forward, offering his arm to Mrs. Palmer and turning her toward the house. We all stepped up and into the living room, taking seats around the room. Evie stayed glued to my side and Davis took the arm of the couch beside me.

 “So what’s going on? Where have you been?” I asked my friend.

 “Around. I started going to the center. Lillian is really nice.”

 “Yes. She is.”

 Evie’s face went pale and she shot to her feet. “Restroom?” She asked as Mrs. Matthews pointed to the small door beneath the stairs. Evie rushed over and flung open the door, throwing herself
to her knees and letting whatever was making her feel
sick flood out of her stomach and into the bowl. I quickly moved to pull her hair back as Davis rinsed a small hand towel with water and passed it to me.

 “You okay?”

 “No!” She cried, wiping her mouth with the towel.

 “What’s wrong?” I panicked and tried to get her to focus on me.

 “I’m….. I’m… oh, Nova!” she cried out. “I’m pregnant.” She fell apart then. She leaned into me and sobbed. I heard Davis step out of the room quietly and shut the door behind him, leaving us to our moment.

 “Shh.” I comforted her as best as I could. Thoughts raced through my head. Knowing that this was a product of “the event…” I couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling.

 “Are you healthy?”

 “Yes. The doctors did a test at the hospital while we were there, but it was too early. I just found out a few days ago and I just don’t know what to do. Mom says we’ll be fine and she’ll support me no matter what happens, but I don’t know if I can do this, Nova. I don’t know if I can raise a child that will remind me of that terror, every day of my life.”

 I didn’t know if I would be able to do it either, but it was her decision alone to make and no matter what I’d be by her side to help her through it all. She was family.

 “Shh. You don’t have to make any decisions right this second. Let’s get you cleaned up and presentable and we’ll go out there together.”

 “Did you get the call about going back?” She questioned as she stood to wash her face and pull back her hair.

 “Yes.”

 “And are you going to?”

 “I think we have to. They need us.”

 “That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t think I can face it.”

 “Well, our parents and Davis will be there, along with all the
officers of course. We’ll be safe, Evie. They won’t let anything happen to us.”

 She nodded and took a deep breath. “I know.”

 “We still have a few weeks before we have to face that, though. So let’s get through tonight and we’ll face the rest together, okay?”

 She pulled me into her arms and sighed. “Thanks, Nova. Love you.”

 “Love you too, sis.”

 We stepped out of the bathroom and all everyone stopped talking. Mrs. Matthews walked up to Evie and pulled her close, whispering words of calm and love to her before pulling her into the kitchen to brew some tea.

 Mrs. Palmer rested her face in her hands on the couch and I slid beside her. “It’s all right. It’s going to be okay.”

 “Nova, she’s just so lost. I mean, she lost her spark.”

 “We’ll find it again, I swear. It won’t be easy, but she just needs time and all the support we can give her. She needs to feel safe and accepted. We’ll make that happen. I swear.”

 “I hope so.”

 After we had finished our tea, we spent the next hour chatting with Charlie and a few other friends of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. Eventually, Evie and her mom packed up and left. Shortly after, the party dwindled and a good amount of people started leaving. Those who were still around started building the bonfire in the backyard. Others pulled giant logs around the exterior for seating. Davis pulled me with him to an open spot and we took a seat, letting the warmth of the fire cover us. I was still a bit cold, so he ran inside and got a blanket, wrapping it around my shoulders when he returned.

 “Thanks.”

 “You’re welcome, beautiful.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my temple. I couldn’t help but lean into him, letting the scent of leather and pine fill my senses as I took in the scene around me. I felt normal. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I the past was finally where it belonged. In the past. And I couldn’t help but think that my future was sitting right next to me in dark jeans, flannel shirt, and cowboy boots.

 We spent the rest of the evening cooking s’mores
over the campfire and listening to one of the Matthews’ ranch hands play the guitar. When it was nearing midnight, Davis pulled me up and headed toward the truck.

 “I think it’s about time to get you home.”

 I yawned and stretched my arms up high. “Yeah. I think so.”

 He chuckled, wrapping his arm around my back, and his other quickly went to my knees, lifting me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and burrowed into him as he carried me to the truck and placed me gently inside. “Let’s go, sleepyhead.”

Chapter 20

DAVIS

 The drive was quick. We pulled up to the house to find the porch light off and the house dark. It was odd. Even if her parents had gone to sleep, they would have left those lights on for us. I quickly glanced around, taking measure of the scene before me.

 “You think everything is okay?” I questioned, wondering if the scene before us was normal.

 “Umm, yeah. Probably.” Nova clenched her seat belt, but the nervousness wracked through her muscles as she tensed. I stepped out and walked around the side to open her door.

 “All right, gorgeous. Let’s go.” I gripped her hand and took cautious steps toward the porch.

 “Thanks for tonight. It was fun. And thanks for calling Evie. I miss her.”

 “I know you do.”

 We heard a small creak of the screen door swinging on its hinges as we approached the porch. It was dark, keeping us from seeing anything more than a few feet around us, causing the unnerving feeling to grow in the pit of my stomach.

 “Nova, I want you to walk back to the truck and shut the door, okay? Let me just check everything out, and I’ll come get you in a second.”

 “Davis, my parents…”

 “I’ll just make sure everything is good. Go.”

 She nodded and ran back toward the truck and locked herself inside. When I knew she was safe, I stepped onto the porch, knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell.

 “Mr. and Mrs. Drake?” I yelled through the door. There was no answer. I turned the knob and it opened freely. Stepping inside, I flipped on the lamp near the door. In the living room sat Mr. and Mrs. Drake, tied to two chairs with ropes,
cloths gagging their mouths. Tears streamed down Mrs. Drake’s face and blood dripped from Mr. Drake’s lip. In the dark corner of the room sat Pete. He had a gun in one
hand, and a silver jewelry box in the other. The smell of liquor permeated the room.

 “Well, well, well…,” he spoke darkly. “If it isn’t the prodigal son. Did you have fun with my girl tonight?”

 “She’s not your girl, Pete. It’s been years since you were together. She left you.”

 “She never left me!” He screamed as he stood up, moving toward me.

 “She told me you went crazy, Pete. That you were controlling her and that you lost it.”

 “I didn’t lose it. She did. She went all crazy. I LOVED HER!”

 He was obviously not in his right mind; this idea was reinforced as he stumbled slightly. If I could just get him worked up enough to come close, I could free him of the weapon and get him under control.

 “I don’t think you loved her,” I spoke candidly. “I think you wanted her, sure. But love? Love doesn’t alienate her, tear her down, make her feel less than something. Love doesn’t control or order other people around. That’s not love.”

He moved toe to toe with me. “And how would you know what love is?”

 He spat in my face, and I jumped forward, gripping his hand and twisting it so his arm bent awkwardly behind his back. I squeezed his hand roughly until his fingers released, and then I snatched the gun out of his hand, turning it to face him.

 “I
know, because I love her. She’s not
yours, Pete. She never was.”

 Nova gasped behind me, taking in the scene around us.

 “Davis…” she whimpered. My heart ripped to pieces, knowing she was having a flashback of the night I saved her.

 “It’s okay, Nova. You’re back home. This isn’t Sydney.”

 She rushed to her parents, loosening the ropes and the material in their mouths. They quickly stood up and Mrs. Drake pulled Nova into the other room. Mr. Drake stood with anger and judgment in his eyes.

 “You have made a very big mistake, Pete. Coming into my house, threatening what’s mine. You should have thought twice about that.”

 It didn’t take long before he had Pete’s arms pulled
behind his back and rope tied around them and his feet. Sirens blasted through the air as police cars rushed down the driveway to the house. Nova or her Mom must have called the police.

 Within seconds, officers were pushing through the door and held their guns toward the three of us. I dropped my weapon and kicked it across the room.

 “Davis.” Nova rushed toward me, wrapping her trembling arms around me. I pulled her into the corner and sat her on my lap, letting her calm down while the officers arrested Pete and pulled him out of the house. A few detectives lingered to get our statements. As soon as Nova was able, she turned to face them and told him everything.

 I sat there, offering comfort when I could, but just giving her the strength to move on. My heart was still racing from the confrontation, but having her close to me calmed me as well. When all was said and done, Nova fell asleep on my lap. Mr. Drake sighed as he fell into the couch, pulling his wife with him.

 “Do you mind if I take her to her room?” I whispered to him.

 “We trust you. She needs you.” He spoke softly, caressing his wife’s hair as she cried softly into his shoulder.

 I lifted Nova, trying my
best not to stir her from her much-needed rest. Carefully, I took each stair and made my way across the hall to her door. My foot pushed the door open and it swung quicker than I anticipated, thudding against the dresser behind it. I froze, watching Nova carefully, hoping the sound didn’t wake her. Satisfied that she was sleeping soundly, I moved toward her bed and gently laid her down. I tugged the boots free from her feet and pulled on the intricate quilt, tucking it around her, letting my fingers brush the hair from her face.

 “I’m sorry you had to go through all that, beautiful. I’m sorry that you had to feel unprotected and unsafe, again.” My heart was twisting painfully.

 I bent to kiss her cheek and she moved her lips to meet mine. I stilled, not knowing if she was awake or asleep, but her eyes fluttered open and then she closed them again and kissed me. I set my hands on her cheeks and poured every ounce of my love into this moment. Even if it was the only one I’d be getting, I’d let her know that I was here, that I was taking care of her and that I was fulfilling my promises.

 She broke away and smiled, tears forming in her eyes. I gently wiped them away, kneeling beside her bed.

 “Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

 “You l-love me?”

 I smiled, brushing the hair away from her cheeks once again.

 “More than anything, beautiful. I never imagined God would bring you into my world and allow me to love someone like you. You’re everything I could have ever asked for.”

 She wiped at her eyes again and reached up to wrap her arms around my neck. “I love you, too, cowboy.”

 Warmth filled me and I bent to kiss her again, causing my heart to pound ever so roughly in my chest. “You’re mine, Nova. Mine to protect, to care for, to love. I will do all of that. I swear to you.”

 “I know you will. I trust you.”

 I gave her another gentle kiss, then stood. “I’ll let you get some sleep, gorgeous. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”

 She nodded and pulled the blankets around her, letting her eyes close and sleep overtake her body. I watched for a few moments later and then closed her door and walked away.