Page 16 of A Chance at Forever
“Of course. You have several thousand dollars at your disposal. Get whatever you need. Fill out as many purchase orders as you deem necessary, and we’ll process them immediately. Oh, I forgot to mention, the auditorium is scheduled for a complete overhaul starting in October. I hope you’ll be able to work around the noise.”
“I’ll make do. Thank you, sir, for giving me free rein to get what I need. I’m starting from scratch.”
“I have great faith in you, Victoria. I’m expecting you to inspire our drama students. They’re a great group of kids, but they lack direction and cultivation of their natural talent. I hope you can change all that. Since you’ve been gone, our students haven’t qualified for a single state competition.”
“I’ll do my best.” Under her guidance the drama department had reached new levels of excellence, and its obvious decline saddened her.
“I have no doubt you’ll make your classroom and the auditorium vibrate with life.”
On her way home from school a couple of hours later, she stopped at Smith’s Diner and ordered take-out. She hoped a fresh burger would make Bud feel better. When she arrived at her Victorian, she was relieved to find him on his feet and eager to eat. After they both enjoyed the delicious food, Victoria settled into a recliner with a novel she’d been wanting to read and never had time to begin.
Her life in New York City had been a constant whirl of social activity. She attended every opening on Broadway, visited museums and art galleries, and acted as her father’s hostess on those rare occasions he entertained guests at their farmhouse. It only became worse when she started dating Alan. He loved every minute of the spotlight. Victoria found herself smiling so much in selfies her face hurt.
Victoria tamped down the panic rising in her chest. She had to hope Alan valued his football career and endorsements too much to make the sex video of her public.
I can’t think about it anymore. What’s done is done.
Squaring her shoulders, she focused on the psychological thriller in her hands.
*
“Good evening, SleepingBeauty.” Jeff’s husky voice invaded her daydreams as Victoria lounged on her front porch swing with Bud lying at her feet later that night.
Startled, her eyes flew open, and she stared up at him. “Hi, Jeff. What brings you by tonight?” As if she had to ask. She knew what was on his mind.
“I wanted to see what you’ve done with the house. It looks great.” His warm brown eyes darkened with admiration. He wasn’t referring to the house.
Bud let out awoof, and Jeff bent down to rub the dog’s belly. “Yeah, hello to you, too, big fella.”
“Thanks. Um, have you eaten dinner? I have leftovers, if you’re interested.” Now, why in the world did she invite him to eat?
“I’m starving.”
Victoria grew apprehensive as she prepared a plate with grilled chicken breasts and sautéed vegetables for Jeff. She scooped salad into a bowl and set it in front of him at the kitchen table, along with a bottle of Italian dressing.
“What can I get you to drink? I have beer, wine, water, and lemonade.”
“A glass of wine, if you’ll have one with me.”
Oh goodness.She dreaded the things Jeff planned to say to her.
Both chatted with their nerves jumping like live wires and gulped several glasses of wine. A little tipsy, Victoria laughed too easily at Jeff’s attempts at humor. He helped her clear the table and load the dishwasher, and when they were finished, she turned away to dry her hands with a kitchen towel.
Coming up behind her, Jeff murmured, “Look at me, Tori.” She did as he commanded, though her heart pounded with fear. He lifted her chin. “God, you’re beautiful.” He bent his head to claim her mouth in a soft kiss.
It lasted only a moment before Victoria placed both hands on his chest and pushed him away with gentle force. “Stop. Please don’t do this to me, Jeff. You don’t have the right to kiss me anymore.”
“I love you, Tori. I’ve always loved you.”
Tears stung her eyes. It hurt to hear his confession. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m not in love with you.”
“You used to be,” he argued. “We can recapture what we lost when you moved to New York.”
Victoria put distance between them. “No. Ican’tlove you. And you can’t continue to love me. You’ve put your life on hold long enough.”
“Why? Please tell me why you can’t love me.”
“Because I’m not the same little girl you chased all over the playground in elementary school. Don’t you think I wish I could be? I haven’t forgotten what we once meant to each other. But those days are gone and we can’t go back.”
