Revenge & More

by Tanya Kelly

  “Kim, please stay still,” the female voice said again, holding her down. “Sir, please. You can’t be in here. You’re upsetting her. Leave now before I call security.”

  Feeling lost in a haze of pain, both physical and emotional, Kim let the fog drift back over her. She couldn’t deal with reality right now.

  * * * *

  Kim cautiously opened her eyes again, only this time the room wasn’t so bright. As her eyes adjusted to the darkened surroundings, she made out a shape sitting in a chair next to her. She blinked and the shape came more into focus.

  “Lacey?” she said, which actually came out more like a croak.

  Her friend sat up, wiping sleep from her eyes. A smile broke across her face as she saw Kim’s eyes open. “Hi,” she whispered. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I’ve been hit by a truck,” Kim replied. “Water, please?”

  Lacey reached for a glass of water with a straw and held it to her lips. Kim drank greedily, feeling like her mouth was stuffed with cotton.

  “Slow down, not too much all at once,” Lacey cautioned and removed the straw from her lips. “Do you remember what happened?”

  Kim nodded. “There was a deer. It jumped right in front of me and I swerved away from it. That’s all I remember.”

  “That explains it,” Lacey said. “They found your car on the side of the road head on with a big tree. You must have hit it when you swerved for the deer.”

  “Am I okay?” Kim asked, slowly moving her hands and feet, scared of the pain she’d felt last time.

  “Yes, you’ll be fine. The airbag deployed so you may be a bit sore and your arm was twisted a bit weird but nothing broken.”

  Kim let out a sigh of relief. Her one arm was quite tender. “That’s good. You didn’t have to come all the way here.”

  Lacey smiled and smoothed Kim’s hair back from her face. “When I hear my best friend wrapped her car around a tree, I had to come see this for myself,” she said with a laugh. But then her smile disappeared and she stared intently at Kim. “Seriously you scared the shit out of me. I’m so glad you’re okay. And don’t worry, everything is fine at the store.”

  “The wedding?” Kim asked, trying to sit up.

  “Whoa, take it easy.” Lacey pushed her back down against the pillows. “It’s Thursday. You only just had the accident last night. If everything goes good, you will be released tomorrow and all set for the wedding Saturday.”

  She nodded, feeling sleepy again. Then she recalled something else. “Damon. I thought I heard his voice earlier?”

  Lacey brought the cup and straw back to her lips, letting her drink a bit more. “Yes, you did. He’s here. Do you want me to get him?”

  Kim let go of the straw and shook her head violently causing her to wince in pain. “No, I don’t want to see him, Lace. Ever. Again. Please make him leave. Please,” she pleaded with her friend.

  “Are you sure? Do you not want to hear what he has to say?”

  Kim shook her head again. “It doesn’t matter. There is nothing he can say that justifies what he did.” She looked at her friend, blurred by the tears in her eyes. “Have you spoken to him?”

  “Yes,” Lacey responded, her eyes filled with sadness. “He told me everything and I’ve spoken with your mom as well. But I still think you should hear what he has to say, then decide.”

  Tear’s slipped down her cheeks. “No,” she said more firmly. “I don’t ever want to see him again. Please, Lace, make him understand and get him to leave. Go back to Toronto. I just can’t…I can’t see him again.”

  Lacey nodded and smoothed back her hair. “Okay, hon. I’ll take care of it. You just get some rest now.”

  Kim closed her eyes and more tears trickled down the sides of her face. She couldn’t face Damon. She was terrified she’d somehow listen to his bullshit and forgive him. Weak. Stupidly weak where he was concerned or she’d never have gotten back involved with him.

  It was best to just get him out of her life again, quickly. She’d healed before. She would heal again. At least she hoped.

  * * * *

  “How is she?” Damon asked, stopping his pacing as soon as Lacey came in to the waiting room.

  “Tired,” Lacey replied. “But better. The doctor thinks she can be released tomorrow morning.”

  “Thank God.” Damon rubbed his hands across his face. He hadn’t slept in almost forty-eight hours. “Can I see her?” He wanted so badly to see her, talk to her, or just hold her. But the last time he’d been in her room and she’d woken up, the doctor had asked him to leave, saying he was upsetting her.

  Lacey looked down at the floor and shook her head. Damon held his breath. “I’m sorry, Damon,” she said, finally looking him in the eyes. “She doesn’t want to see you.”

  “I understand. She needs more time.”

  “I don’t think so.” Lacey came closer and put her hand on his arm. “She said she doesn’t want to see you…ever.”

  Damon swallowed, her words cutting through him like a knife.

  “I know things are, um, complicated, between you,” Lacey continued. “But I think its best that you go, Damon, back home. Let her be for now to lick her wounds. I don’t know maybe with time, things will hurt less.”

  “But I have to talk to her. I have to explain,” Damon pleaded. He wanted to ignore Lacey’s request and stomp into her room, demand she listen, even knowing it wasn’t the right thing to do. Deep down, he knew Lacey was right. He needed to give Kim some time.

  “Damon, please, just do as I say for now.” Lacey’s eyes shone with tears. “She begged me to get you to leave. Begged me, Damon.”

  He blinked as Lacey’s words sank in. He’d fucked up. Beyond repair. It was ironic actually. How his hate has cost him his love.

  “She will be okay, right?” he asked and Lacey nodded. “I’ll go and respect her wishes. Please, Lacey, call me if anything changes or if she needs anything.”

  “I will, but she’ll be fine. I’ll take care of her.”

  “I know you will. You’re a good friend.” Damon had told Lacey everything and she didn’t judge, nor did she tell him what a despicable person he was. She seemed to sense that he’d punished himself enough with the fact that he was losing what was most dear to him. He turned away, unable to bear the pity in Lacey’s eyes and walked away.

  As he moved down the hall, toward the exit, it took everything in his power not to ignore Lacey’s request and go to Kim but he didn’t want to cause her any more pain than he had.

  The evening stars shone bright when he exited the hospital and Damon stared up at them as anguish filled him.

  Fuck, he was blind. Blinded by his anger and his need for revenge that he couldn’t see what was right in front of him. He’d never stopped loving, Kim. Years of never letting himself get close to any woman because none of them had been her. When he sensed her letting her guard down and allowing him into her life, he should have grabbed the opportunity and left the rest behind. There had been no satisfaction when he’d met with her father and took over his company.

  He got in his car and drove. Back to Toronto, he supposed. There was no reason to stay in Beechfield anymore. He’d give Kim some time and come see her in a week or so, try to explain. But then he realized it would be best to just let her go—forever. Every time he got involved with her, he only brought pain to her life.

  He’d had a chance at happiness and being with the woman he’d loved but he’d let it slip through his fingers because he was too damn stubborn to let go of his resentment. Which only reminded him that he never deserved Kim. Not then. Not now.

  He drove on autopilot and soon found himself in front of Paul and Elizabeth Morrison’s house. He walked to the front door and knocked. It was late and he figured they were probably sleeping but he had to do this now.

  Paul answered the door and stared at Damon in shock, which quickly turned to anger. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  They’d seen each other
at the hospital late last night and again today. At first, Paul had come charging at him spitting rage at how this was all Damon’s fault. How Kim lay in a hospital bed because him. Damon couldn’t disagree with him. It was his entire fault.

  They knew Kim was in the accident because she’d swerved for a deer, but she would never had been on the road or driving distracted if it wasn’t for him. So he’d let Paul hurl insults and direct his anger at him. But Lacey and Reilly had finally calmed Paul down. Lacey had been like a spitting cat, telling Paul to shut up and how none of this was helping Kim. After that, they had all gone to their respective corners of the waiting room, ignoring one another until news came.

  Before Damon could answer, Elizabeth came down the stairs. When she saw Damon, her face filled with concern. “Oh my God. Is it Kim? How is she?” Her voice trembled as she approached the door.

  “She’s fine. Lacey says she’s feeling better and she should be released tomorrow morning.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing here?” Paul demanded.

  “I’m heading back to Toronto, but I have something to say first,” Damon replied.

  “I’m not interested in anything you have to say,” Paul said and began to close the door. Damon put his hand against it, stopping him.

  “It’s important.”

  “Paul, please. Just listen,” Elizabeth pleaded.

  “You have five minutes,” Paul stated, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “When I get back, I’ll have the lawyers tear up the contracts. It’s over. You can have the company. What you did to my uncle years ago was horrible but I should have let it go a long time ago. You will have to live with yourself and the things you did to him, as well as Kim and I. But I’m letting it all go.”

  Both Elizabeth and Paul’s eyes were wide in shock. “I hope you do the right thing and pay back all the money you stole from the company, but I’m going to destroy the evidence I have. You have some employees who aren’t very happy and may talk again to someone else. Where do you think I got the information? So pay back the money and treat your staff better. That’s my advice, take it or leave it.”

  Damon turned and moved to walk away. He stopped and looked back at Kim’s parents. “I’ve lost her because I couldn’t let go of the past and had this need to control everything, get everything I want. I loved your daughter, with all my heart back then and would have made her happy if you hadn’t interfered. I still love her. But I can’t blame you this time. I fucked this up all on my own. Just don’t make the same mistakes as me. Love her for who she is and stop trying to control her. Because she’s amazing.”

  They never said a word as he walked down the steps and got into his car. They still stood in the open doorway, watching him as he reversed out of the driveway and began the long drive back to Toronto.

  He’d finally done the right thing, despite the fact that it was too late and he’d lost Kim. At least he’d righted one wrong, which was to let go of all the anger and resentment. Too bad, he hadn’t done it years ago and saved them both a lot of pain and heartbreak.

  * * * *

  The wedding was beautiful, but Kim was glad it was over. How was she supposed to enjoy a wedding and watch two people who love each other each so much and not feel like screaming at the top of her lungs?

  She kicked off her heels and lay on the hard mattress of her hotel room with a sigh. “You can go now, Lace. I promise I won’t slit my wrists,” Kim said with a smile as Lacey hovered nervously. Reilly and Lacey had stayed through the weekend and were taking Kim back to Beechfield tomorrow. Her car was a total write-off.

  “I know that,” Lacey replied. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted some company.”

  “No, I’m fine. I’m just glad this day is over and we go home tomorrow.” Kim sat up and looked at her friend. “Thanks, Lace, for everything.”

  She didn’t know what she would have done without them this weekend. When she’d gotten out of the hospital yesterday, she’d refused to go and stay with her parents. She was still pretty angry with them as well. Reilly and Lacey had gotten a second room at the small motel in town and had kept her under constant watch, like they were waiting for her to have a nervous breakdown.

  “Now go back to that gorgeous fiancé of yours,” Kim said and forced a smile. “I’m fine. I’m just gonna crash and we can get on the road bright and early tomorrow. Sheila must be exhausted from handling the store all by herself this long.”

  “She’s not exactly by herself,” Lacey said.

  “You hired somebody already?”

  “No, but when I heard about your accident, I had to come and well, um, Damon, um, sent someone to help Sheila.”

  “He what?”

  “He sent one of his staff members from the resort that works the clothing boutique with retail experience to help while we were both away,” Lacey replied.

  “Oh,” was all she could think to say. She stood up and opened her suitcase, grabbing her amenities to take to the bathroom. “How thoughtful of him,” she sneered.

  “Kim, I know he’s done some awful things, but I—”

  “Don’t,” Kim said harshly. “Don’t defend him. He’s a cold-hearted bastard and deserves to rot in hell.”

  Lacey closed her mouth but Kim didn’t miss the sad look in her friend’s eyes. A knock sounded at the door, startling them.

  “Probably Reilly wondering if you’re ever going to come to bed,” Kim said. She opened the door and stared, mouth open. Her parents stood on the either side, looking exhausted and nervous. She’d barely said two words to them since getting released.

  “What are you doing here?” she demanded angrily.

  “Honey, you can’t leave like this,” her mother pleaded. “Let’s talk, please.”

  “There is nothing left to say, mother,” Kim replied coldly. “Please, just go home.”

  “There is lot that needs to be said,” her father interrupted his voice firm. He pushed past Kim and into the room. “Time for some honesty between us.”

  “Honesty,” Kim said with a shrill laugh. “I didn’t know you knew the meaning of the word.”

  She moved to let her mother in and closed the door. “Don’t be snide, young lady,” her father admonished. “We’ve made some mistakes but so have you.”

  “Um, should I go?” Lacey asked, looking from Kim to her parents.

  “No, Lace. You stay,” Kim replied. She needed Lacey’s support. “What are you talking about, Dad?”

  “We wanted what was best for you so we may have pushed you instead of letting you be your own person,” Elizabeth said softly. “But we realize now that was wrong of us. We ended up pushing you away.”

  She came closer and reached for Kim’s hand nervously. “We’ve never been a family that communicates well or is open to compromise. We demand what we want and if we don’t get it, we give up on that person. We made mistakes, honey. Lots of them. But don’t make the same mistakes we did by shutting yourself off to possibilities. Everyone screws up from time to time.”

  Kim pulled her hand from her mother’s and turned away. “If you’re talking about Damon, then I’m really confused. How can you defend him after what he did to you both?”

  Elizabeth looked to her husband with a pleading expression.

  Paul sighed, his face ashen. “We’re not defending him. But you don’t know the whole story and I guess it’s time you did.”

  A frisson of anxiety crawled up her back. Kim was certain she wasn’t going to like this story.

  “After we accused Damon of stealing the jewelry, we never planned on having him arrested or anything, since he didn’t actually steal anything. We just wanted to turn you against him. But it’s a small town and Damon’s uncle, Tom, found out. He begged us not to have him arrested and said he’d pay for the stolen items. We didn’t know how to say no without admitting there was no missing jewelry. We also didn’t realize how financially strapped Tom was. He mortgaged his house and sold his beloved wife’s wedding ring
to pay for jewelry that was never missing. We didn’t know any of this at the time, which is no excuse, but Tom couldn’t afford the mortgage and lost the house, probably causing him a lot of stress. If you remember, he suffered a heart attack at an early age and passed a couple years after Damon left town.”

  Kim starred horrified at her parents. Her father’s shoulders slumped, his face bleak. A tear escaped her mother’s eye and she hung her head wearily.

  “This is why Damon wanted revenge so bad,” her father continued. “He holds us responsible for his uncle’s death. Probably rightfully so.”

  Kim took a step back and sat on the edge of the bed, breathing deeply to fight the wave of nausea that threatened to spill forward.

  Her mother pulled some papers from her purse, tears pouring down her face. “I know after we tell you all of this we are probably going to lose you, forever. But I can’t lie to you anymore and take the risk that our lies deny you the happiness you deserve.”

  She held out the papers to Kim. She took them with shaking hands and realized they were letters. She looked up at her mother in question.

  “They’re letters, from Damon, that I hid from you years ago.”

  Kim fingered the envelopes seeing Damon’s handwriting on them. There had to be over a dozen here. “Why?” she choked out on a sob.

  Her father rubbed his face before fixing her with a pleading look. “You were young when your grandparents passed but they weren’t the most loving people in the world. I grew up in a family where money and prestige was the only thing that mattered and it was all I knew. I was fixated on grooming you and Robert to be just like us. The rich, powerful couple of Willow Lake.” He looked to his wife and took her hand. “Except your mother helped me realize that those things never brought us any happiness. But I’m a stubborn old man and it took me way too long to understand that.”