Crossing the Line

by Long, Samantha

  “Goodbye, Roger.” She shut the door in his face. She wasn’t in the mood for his games. Something was wrong with her girls, and she intended to find out what it was.

  Since Lucia sat with Halle, Victoria settled on her other side. “What’s the matter?”

  “Dad talked about you and Nick the whole time. Candace even joined in. He talked so bad about Nick, how he was violent and mean, and trash. He said Nick would hurt you, or us.” Lucia’s eyes watered. “Is it true? Candace said that she dated him and that he hurt her so bad she was in the hospital.”

  “What?” Victoria looked at Halle, then back at Lucia. Even though she was angry at Nick, Roger’s tactics pissed her off. “No, Nick has never hurt me. Has he ever seemed mean to you?” Lucia shook her head. “And Candace is lying. He would’ve said something that day of the barbeque.” But would he? He seemed great at keeping secrets. “Let’s not worry about that right now.”

  “Okay.” She turned to Halle. “Why are you here and not at home?”

  Halle’s eyes flickered with pain, before she smiled bravely at Lucia. “Uncle Trevor and I are getting a divorce.”

  “I want you to be happy, Aunt Halle. Trevor wasn’t nice to you.” Lucia kissed Halle on the cheek.

  It always seemed so simple in the eyes of children.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  A CLOUD OF CONFUSION and hurt hung over Victoria the next week. She tried to listen to her new client, Elizabeth, describe the style she wanted to decorate her new home. All Victoria could think about was how much she missed Nick. They hadn’t spoken since that night and that horrible argument, and Victoria began to think that maybe she’d overreacted. Halle hadn’t seemed that upset to find out Nick knew. Victoria didn’t know if she could trust him, though.

  “I want the kitchen colors to be bold, with light hardwood floors. I don’t want tile anywhere but the bathrooms.” Elizabeth touched her blonde hair to make sure none of the strands were out of the French twist. “I want the furniture to be antique-looking, if not actual antiques. I’m thinking of teal and brown in the living room.”

  Victoria nodded, numbly taking notes with a pencil. She gave up on using a pen a long time ago because clients more often than not changed their minds. “What about for the master bedroom?”

  Elizabeth sat back. “I’m not sure about that yet. I don’t know if I’m going to bring any of my furniture from Los Angeles.”

  “Are you planning on living here full time?” Victoria couldn’t help but be curious. Maybe if she focused on someone else’s life, she wouldn’t have to worry about hers.

  “Until I find something in New York. I want to open my own modeling agency. I need a break from the hustle right now. When I’m ready to go back, I’ll keep this as a summer home.”

  “You’ll definitely get a break out here. Tourist season is busier, but I’m sure it’s nowhere near what you’re used to.”

  “It’s what I’m looking for. Jetting all over the world, the parties, the shoots…I never slept enough. I wasn’t taking care of myself like I should, and I finally decided I needed to get away from it.” Elizabeth’s blue eyes looked into the past. She focused on Victoria after a minute. “It may not seem hard, but it was. The constant pressure alone was enough to kill you.”

  “I believe you.” Victoria thought about never having time to spend with her family, the constant pressure to always look amazing. “I think you made the right choice. Not many people can.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth’s smile was radiant.

  “Give me a few days to get the concepts together, and we can go take a look at the house.” Victoria stood and shook her hand.

  “Thank you. And if you wouldn’t mind, could you not mention I’m in town?” Elizabeth grabbed her massive purse and put it on the crook of her elbow.

  “Of course.” Victoria led her out of the office. “Make a follow-up appointment with Ella, so I can make sure I’m here.”

  Victoria shut the door to her office and then sank back into her chair. She rubbed her temples, trying to stave off an oncoming headache. Ever since the argument, her nights had been restless. She could feel herself folding, wanting to pick up her phone and call Nick, but she clenched her jaw and made herself leave the phone alone. He didn’t seem to be missing her any; he was the one who told her that she didn’t mean anything to him. That familiar ache in her chest pierced at the thought. How could she have been so blind, so stupid, to think that he felt the same thing she did?

  * * *

  “Damn it!” Nick threw the ruler across his shop and ran a hand through his hair.

  “Hey! That almost hit me.” Luke came into the shop, holding the ruler up. “This thing has a sharp edge, you know.”

  Nick tried to rein in his temper by breathing deeply a few times. “Sorry.”

  Luke set the ruler down and Nick a beer. “Look, dude, I don’t mean to get all in your love life, but it’s beginning to become a problem.” He ignored Nick’s death glare. “No, it is. You have been in a fucking awful mood, and it’s only gotten worse. You look like shit, no joke. You’ve missed dinner at Mom’s, and she’s worried about you.”

  Nick’s stomach twisted at the thought of making his mom worry. “Didn’t you explain what happened?”

  Luke nodded. “She called us both idiots and said that she raised us better than that.” He tipped his beer up and swallowed. “She said you should’ve told Victoria from the beginning, and she understands why Victoria’s upset.”

  Nick groaned. “Women. How the hell are we supposed to understand them?”

  Luke shrugged. “No clue. Though I’m hoping to learn soon. Halle hasn’t gone home. Oh, I heard that Addie punched Trevor that night he came to Victoria’s.”

  “He went to Victoria’s?” Nick tried to tamp down the protectiveness that rose in him, but it was useless. “Why did Addie punch him? Did he hurt Victoria?”

  “And you say you’re over her.” Luke sighed. “No. From what I hear, Trevor wouldn’t leave and called Addie a bitch, so she dropped him.”

  Nick smiled reluctantly. “Victoria said that Addie was the feisty one.”

  “Are you really done with her?” Luke asked.

  “I want to be.” Nick stared down at the beer in his hand. He missed her so much it was a physical ache. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do, or if she even wants me back. I told her she didn’t mean anything to me, that she was just another notch.”

  Luke whistled. “I wouldn’t want to get back with you.”

  “Fuck off,” Nick growled at his brother.

  “Hey, I’m just telling you the truth. That was too harsh. You want her back? You’re going to have to beg for mercy.”

  Nick knew he was right. He’d really, really fucked up this time. So badly he didn’t know if he could fix it. “Since you’re here you can help me finish this blueprint, then we’ll head to Mom’s. It’s about time I went and saw her, anyway.”

  His thoughts turned back to Victoria. Could he forgive her for not believing in him? Could she forgive him for being an ass and not telling her about Halle’s husband? Was he being a hypocrite, trying to get her to see his side but not trying to see hers? He couldn’t lie to himself; he hadn’t been the same since that night. He needed her back.

  * * *

  “Mom, I can’t find my brush!” Lucia hollered down the stairs.

  Victoria sighed. Lucia was supposed to have packed everything last night. Four thirty in the morning was not the time to search for things. “Look in your room!” She hollered back up. Three weeks without Nick, with that pain, had her nerves on thin ice.

  Helena sat on the couch in a pair of sweats and a hoodie. She had the hood pulled up and her iPod on, effectively cutting her off from Victoria. Even though Nick wasn’t around anymore, her attitude hadn’t changed. Victoria knew Roger was behind this, but she didn’t
know how to fix it. Helena ignored her and refused to go to the math and science camp next week, saying that it was for dweebs and that her dad thought she should do something more social.

  Victoria wished she’d punched him when she had the chance. The slap wasn’t nearly satisfying enough.

  “Found it! I’m ready!” Lucia ran down the stairs, her bag in one hand, her carry-on in the other.

  “Are you sure you have everything?” Victoria asked. When Lucia nodded, Victoria nudged Helena’s shoulder.

  “What?” Helena snapped.

  Victoria clenched her teeth before she started an argument and made Lucia late. “We’re leaving,” she grit out.

  They loaded the bags in the car. Once in, she headed toward the mall where the Greyhound bus would meet them. “Now, remember that the cell phone I gave you is prepaid. You are only to use it to call home or in case of emergencies. There are only so many minutes on it, so don’t use it to call your friends.”

  Lucia rolled her eyes. “All my friends are going to be there with me.”

  “You get what I’m saying.” Victoria was almost happy that it was so early in the morning. All the tourists were still asleep, so the drive was quick and easy. The mall parking lot was eerily empty besides the bus and a few cars. She tried to hold her nervousness in as she parked so Lucia didn’t see it. “And have fun. Don’t get into trouble.”

  “Mom, I’m going to be fine. And I’ll call every night. Don’t worry,” Lucia told her. She smiled at Victoria, her excitement plain on her face.

  “Wait here, Helena. I’ll be right back.” Victoria didn’t move until Helena jerked her head in a nod. Then she climbed out and grabbed Lucia’s bag. Students lined up, waiting to put their bags into the cargo area. A few of the chaperones and teachers walked up and down, checking people in. Victoria and Lucia joined the end of the line. Lucia hugged the girl in front of them, both of them squealing.

  “Mom, this is Natalie.” Lucia beamed up at Victoria. “And this is her mom.”

  Victoria smiled over at the girl and her mother. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too. I’m Kathy.” The woman looked around. “It’s too early for all this.”

  “Victoria. And I agree.” Victoria wrapped her arms around Lucia’s shoulders. “It’s her first trip away.”

  “Mom.” Lucia blushed.

  “Natalie’s gone to cheer camp since she was in fourth grade, so she can help Lucia adjust,” Kathy told her. “She loves it; I’m sure Lucia will. And the worrying gets a little easier, but it never goes away.”

  “Great.” Victoria laughed. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “They take good care of them,” Kathy assured her. “Natalie usually has so much fun she doesn’t want to come home.”

  The cheer coach came by with a clipboard and asked the girls their names. Soon after, they called for the kids to load the bus.

  “I love you, Lucia. Call me when you get there,” Victoria said, hugging her close.

  “Mom, I’ll be fine. I love you, too.” Lucia pulled back. “I’ve got to get on.”

  Victoria reluctantly let her go. “When you get there. Remember!” she called as Lucia climbed onto the bus.

  “I promise it gets easier,” Kathy said. They walked back toward their cars. “If you have any concerns, feel free to call me.”

  “Thanks.” Victoria took her number, just in case.

  Helena had her hood up still, her head lying against the window. Victoria couldn’t see her face, but she imagined the same bland look was there.

  “I’m going to miss Lucia,” Victoria said as she started the car and made her way home. Helena remained silent. “Helena?”

  Nothing.

  Victoria stopped trying to engage her in conversation. There was only so much she could do, and there was no reason she should have to make her daughter talk to her. It hurt, though, adding on top of everything else.

  When they got home, Helena slammed the car door and went straight upstairs. Victoria trudged into the house, her body weary. She needed to go back to bed, even if she only slept for a few hours. Luckily it was Saturday, so she didn’t have to go in to work today. With Lucia gone, it would be lonely in the house. Helena wasn’t talking to her, she and Nick were over, and Halle had gone home when Trevor agreed to give her the house. She’d filed for divorce, paying for the best lawyer with her savings. Victoria knew she was looking for a job at the hospital, and she hoped the interview Monday would go well.

  Victoria changed back into shorts and a cami and slid underneath the covers. One hand ran over the empty spot next to her. Nick had only ever stayed a few nights at a time, hardly enough for her to get used to his warmth beside her, but she missed him with an ache that never went away. It wasn’t just her body that missed him. She wanted to see his smile, to share her day and hear about his. She wanted him to make her laugh, to take care of her. How could she have been so wrong about that? His actions had clearly said he cared for her, or was that just her imagination?

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “I GOT THE JOB!” Halle burst into their parents’ house, jumping up and down.

  Victoria refrained from jumping, but hugged her sister close.

  “That’s great, Halle!” Addie high-fived her. Even Helena smiled at her aunt.

  “When do you start?” Cecelia asked as she placed food on the table. “You only had the interview a few hours ago. They must’ve loved you.”

  “They were right to love you.” Wes kissed Halle’s cheek.

  Halle grinned. “In three days. I have to get all my paperwork together and make sure I have a current copy of my nursing license. I’m going to be working on the labor and delivery floor, which I’ve always wanted to do.” Her usual haunted look was replaced with her happiness at finding a job.

  Victoria knew Halle doubted herself those few weeks after she found out about Trevor, but they’d all talked her confidence up.

  They sat at the table, Helena sitting between Wes and Halle. The past two days were hell at Victoria’s. Every time she tried to engage Helena, ask her to come eat or watch something with her, it had ended up in a shouting match. Victoria was over it, but she wasn’t sure how to get Helena to stop.

  “What will your hours be?” Addie scooped some mashed potatoes onto her plate before passing the bowl.

  “I’ll be working three days a week, with every other weekend off. I’ll go in at seven for a twelve-hour shift and work overtime when needed.”

  “Are you nervous? You haven’t worked in a hospital since school, right?” Cecilia asked.

  “Yes, a little. But you guys have faith in me. So I know the skills will come back to me.” Halle bit into her food.

  “Well, I’m just glad you’re eating again.” Cecelia told her.

  “Mom.” Halle sighed. “Anyway, I know some of the nurses on the floor; I went to school with them.”

  “Great, honey.” Wes patted Cecelia’s hand to reassure her. “We’re so proud of you.” He turned to Helena. “Now, do you still have the stubborn idea not to go to your camp next week?”

  Helena shrunk down in her chair and mumbled, “I don’t want to go.”

  Victoria watched Wes and Cecelia exchange a look.

  “Why is that? You were so excited a few weeks ago.” Cecelia kept her voice soft.

  “I just don’t want to!” Helena snapped.

  Victoria’s lips parted. Her baby girl had just back talked her grandparents. When had it gotten that far?

  “Now, Helena, you know that we have nothing but love for you.” Wes set his fork and knife down. “But if you keep up this attitude here or with your mother, no one is going to want to be around you.”

  Victoria and her sisters looked at each other. They remembered when he’d given them those lectures, spoke in that deceptively calm voice. It meant they
were in big trouble.

  “Fine. Whatever.” Helena glared at each of them. “You’re all on her side anyway.”

  Addie shook her head. “There aren’t any sides. We just don’t understand why you’re so mad at your mom.”

  Helena screeched in frustration and startled Victoria. “Because she’s a liar. She’s the reason Dad left. She’s the reason he doesn’t want me and Lucia around. She made him leave, then she started talking to Nick, who’s nothing but a piece of trash.”

  By the end of her tirade, everyone’s mouths hung open.

  “I’m done eating. I’m going to sit in the car.” Helena stood and stormed off. No one moved until the front door slammed.

  “Oh, my God.” Halle looked over at Victoria. “I had no idea it was that bad.”

  Victoria frowned. “I don’t know what Roger’s filling her head with when she goes over there.”

  “I think I need to go have a talk with her.” Wes stood and set his napkin down. “Her attitude is unacceptable. She doesn’t need to talk that way about anyone, especially her own mother. Victoria, give me your keys. If I’m driving, she’ll have no choice but to listen.”

  “I’m going to get some wine,” Cecelia said as Victoria fished her keys out of her purse and handed them to her father.

  “Can I go punch Roger in the face? I think it’ll make me feel better,” Addie growled. “What the hell is wrong with these men?”

  “Who knows?” Halle came and sat beside Victoria. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know.” Victoria rubbed her eyes with her palms. “I just can’t believe he would turn her against me like that, or that she would believe it so easily.” At that thought, she realized how Nick must have felt when she’d so readily believed he wasn’t serious about them. Great, now the guilt could pile on the confusion and hurt.