Page 83 of The Breakdown

Natalie stiffened. “Oh, no. It’s him. He’s found me.”

“It’s not him,” Vaughn said. “It can’t be.”

They both watched, frozen in shock, as the vehicle pulled up and the back passenger door opened. A woman stepped out into the dim lighting of the porch light and came toward them.

“Vaughn Marie, is that you, my darlin’?”

Vaughn stared, dumbfounded. “Mom?”

“Hey, sweetie!” She hurried up to her and threw her arms around her, hanging off her neck. Vaughn grimaced as her back spasmed, but she was careful not to make a noise.

“What are you doing here?” Vaughn asked, drawing away. Her mother released her, much to her relief, and smiled up at her.

“Surprise!”

Vaughn blinked in disbelief. “Are you really here?”

“I am.” She pinched Vaughn’s cheek.

“But—how?”

“It’s magic,” she said with a laugh. She squeezed Vaughn’s cheek again and spoke to the Uber driver who had retrieved her bags from the back hatch of the vehicle. Her mother took her two rolling suitcases and wheeled them toward the guesthouse, her gaze still on Vaughn.

“Are you surprised? I knew you would be.” She stopped mid stride as she finally noticed Natalie. “Who’s this?”

“This is Natalie. She’s—”

“I’m—”

“She’s a good friend who’s staying in the guesthouse,” Vaughn quickly said.

Her mother appeared confused for a second, but then seemed to recognize her somehow. “Oh, right. So you’re Natalie.”

“There’s room in the main house for you,” Vaughn explained. “You can have the spare bedroom.”

“It’s okay, Vaughn,” Natalie said. “She can have the guesthouse. I can go get my things.”

“No, absolutely not,” her mother said. She stepped forward and shook Natalie’s hand. “You’re fine right where you are. And I’m Vivian, by the way.”

“Natalie.”

“Hello, Natalie. My, aren’t you a cute little thing.”

Vaughn wasn’t sure if Natalie was blushing, but Vaughn sure was. Natalie was cute. Beyond cute. She was downright stunning, even in the dim light of night and it seemed her mother had noticed just as much as she had.

How Natalie could think that Em would ever turn her head was crazy. The cowgirl was attractive, in a young tomboy kind of way, but that was just it. She was young. Too young. And she was her employee. How could she get Natalie to see that?

Vaughn tried to take her mother’s suitcases from her. But she caught one look at the way Vaughn was walking and refused.

“Huh-uh, little miss. You look like you’ve done enough lifting already.”

“I’m fine,” Vaughn said, trying again to take the cases. But her mother shooed her away.

“Here, allow me,” Natalie said, stepping up to take the bags. She rolled them up onto the porch and opened the door. Vaughn watched as her mother smiled and joined Natalie at the door, touching her shoulder as she walked inside ahead of her. “And you’re an angel too.”

Vaughn followed them inside and called out for Gram. “Gram, we have a surprise for you.”

She came into to the kitchen and her eyes widened at Vivian. “Well, my goodness. I didn’t think you would get here as soon as today!” The two embraced and Vaughn eased into a chair, her back now in constant pain, whereas before the pain came in stabbing attacks. She stared them down.

---