Page 20 of A Chance at Forever
“Only that Tori had a bad experience with Alan Richmond in New York City. She’s trying to cope and doesn’t need pressure from Jeff or anyone else, for that matter.”
Steve draped an arm across Mia’s shoulders and drew her close to him as they strolled beneath dark skies sprinkled with stardust. “Well, when Rusty gets home, everything will be better.”
They stopped on the sidewalk in front of their home, and Mia gazed up at Steve’s face barely visible in the glow from a streetlamp. “Why would you say that?”
He claimed her soft mouth in a sweet kiss. “No particular reason.”
After they paid their babysitter and sent her home, Mia and Steve tucked their boys into bed and read them each a story. While Mia headed into the master bedroom, Steve ducked downstairs and secluded himself in his home office to call Rusty.
“Hey, pal, I hope I didn’t wake you up.”
“No. I wasn’t asleep.”
His raspy voice caused Steve to frown. “You okay?”
“I’ve been sick. Knocked me for a loop.”
Steve heard him mumble at someone else in the background. “If you’ve got company, I can call back some other time.”
“My sister is here.”
“Oh, okay. Is that why you’re still in Colorado? Usually, you’re home by now holding football practice.”
“Yeah, I’ve been getting texts and calls from parents.” Rusty sounded lethargic.
“Man, I’m sorry for calling so late. I’ve been worried about you since we’ve been out of touch.”
“I’m slowly getting my strength back, Steve. I plan to fly home in a couple of weeks.”
“Call me. I’ll pick you up at the airport.”
“Sounds good. Everything okay with Mia and the boys?”
“Yeah, great.”
“Good, good. Look, Becca is tapping her foot and pointing at her watch. She’s making me take my medication and sending me to bed like I’m one of her kids.”
“Take it like a man, dude.”
Rusty started to laugh, then choked in a coughing spasm. “Sorry about that. See you soon, buddy.”
“Yeah. Get some rest and take care of yourself.”
Steve pressed the red STOP button on his cell phone and shook his head. Rusty ill. Victoria changed. His plan to play matchmaker nosedived.
*
A week lateron a Sunday evening, Victoria returned from a jaunt around the lake with Bud and settled down to read an anthology of one-act plays she had purchased for her drama classes. It contained contemporary themes that she hoped would pique her students’ interest. In two short weeks, teachers would be back in their classrooms preparing to meet their students after Labor Day. She had never felt so unsure of herself as she did at this moment and wondered if she could regain the spark she’d ignited six years ago when she was fresh out of college and eager to make a difference in young people’s lives.
Someone pounded on her front door as she ran lines from a monologue out loud to Bud. He sensed a stranger and leaped to his feet, a low growl rumbling through his body. She snapped the book shut. “Easy, boy.”
One thing about Marysville, visitors constantly dropped by whether it be night or day. In New York City she would have been afraid to open the door, but not here. Not here in her hometown where everyone knew each other and looked out for their neighbors.
When she opened the door, Victoria gasped in astonishment. “Dad! Carter! Derek! What in the world are you doing here?”
“Surprise!” Carter exclaimed. He lifted Victoria off her feet and spun her around the room. “Thought you’d gotten rid of us, didn’t you?”
Laughing in delight, Victoria hugged and kissed her father and brothers. “I’m so glad to see you. But how did all of you manage to get away from Lockridge Cosmetics at the same time?”
