Lena knew she was dreaming and managed to force herself out of her nightmare. Though just a dream, it felt so real. Would this be her future with Vince? Is this what she had waiting for her if she went through with the marriage?
But the man? It wasn’t Vince.
Who was it?
And why was she seeing him in her dreams?
Chapter Ten
After an entire night of chiding himself for coming on too strong with Lena, Rick found himself fretful and anxious on Tuesday morning. He wanted to apologize once again for his offensive accusation that Lena was an unhappy soul. Not that he’d said so in so many words, but he got the feeling that on some level, that’s what Lena had heard.
His heart ached for her, and he knew it should be utterly ridiculous for someone he just met to have that kind of effect on him, but he couldn’t help himself. He’d been waiting for her all his life. She may not have reciprocated his feelings, but he hoped in time she would.
Rick was busy filling out his monthly maintenance report, so he hadn’t seen Lena pass by his office, but the lingering scent of her perfume had revealed her presence. He immediately set his work aside and rushed to the doorway. There she stood, in Betty’s cubicle across the hall. She was stunning. And as he took in all of her five-foot beauty through Betty’s plexi-glass walls, he observed her in slow motion, as if he were watching her on film. He breathed in the fragrance that still wafted in the air, while he watched her converse with his co-worker. Lena’s eyelashes were like little butterflies batting at her cheekbones every time she laughed; the sound of her sweet voice resonating as music to his ears.
In the midst of Rick’s reveling, Lena turned and caught him staring. He didn’t look away. He wouldn’t look away. Her eyes met his, and for a few brief moments they spoke without saying a word. His soul spoke of a love eternal, while hers communicated a love unknown. He could read it on her face. She’d remembered him. For one short instant, he saw recognition in her eyes.
Now if he could only help her to hold on to that discovery.
************
Her breath caught the moment her eyes met with his. For a fraction of a second, she saw a man so familiar that a flicker of a memory flitted through her mind. But just as sudden as it came into view, it had disappeared. Although her glimmer of something unexplained had lasted for one fleeting moment, its impact was powerful. She could not tear her gaze from the man that stood across the hall. She'd just met Rick Murphy; she couldn’t have known him before. Her imagination. It had to be. Her mind did have a habit of playing tricks on her. But why was his gaze so intense? And why was her heart beating so fast?
“Lena.” Prompted from the magnetic force of Rick’s emerald-green eyes by his velvety-smooth voice, Lena heard Rick say, “When you’re finished with Betty, would you mind seeing me in my office?”
“Uh. Uh-hum.” Her throat needed clearing from her recent flash of paralysis.
While Betty recounted the customer complaint that Lena had inquired about before the sight of Rick Murphy had taken her breath away, Lena tried fruitlessly to recapture the image she held for a mere twinkling. What did Rick have to do with her unexplained whisper of a memory? And how was he able to arouse in her such excitement? Her insides were jumbled and jumpy. He intrigued her, yet he frightened her. Rick Murphy brought to the surface, an awareness that, in Lena, lay dormant for many years. Possibly a lifetime.
A virtual stranger, Rick Murphy was no one to Lena Giordano. So why did she have the glaring suspicion that she’d met him before?
Rick had been seated at his desk when Lena reluctantly walked into his office. Steeling herself for whatever he needed from her, she stood rigid and uncomfortable, feeling the fool when her entrance caused him to snicker.
“Lena.” His smile held a slight laugh, but he actually stood from his seat to welcome her in. Who did that anymore? “I wanted to give you the technical forms for Alpine,” he continued. “They’re complete and ready to be submitted to the OCTV.”
The OCTV? The Office of Cable Television? That’s all he wanted? After that seemingly significant moment they shared from across the hall, all he wanted was to give her a flippin’ technical form? “Oh. Um. Ok. Thank you.” A chagrined Lena hastily took the forms from Rick, only to have them slip from her hand, scattering them across the floor. Scuttling down to gather the paper, Lena and Rick collided. Thunder bolted and lightning struck when Rick’s hand brushed Lena’s, and he left it there. Her gaze caught his, and her blood pulsed strong, rushing through her veins when he stared into her eyes. “Lena,” he rasped.
Her breath, an involuntary inhale. Their gaze,... frozen.
“Lena.” He attempted a stronger proclamation this time. “Would you…like to get a slice of pizza with me for lunch…today?”
Another breath caught in Lena’s throat. Oh my goodness. Yes. She’d love to. But…she couldn’t. “Um…I…uh…no, thank you. I’m sorry," she regretfully declined.
And just like that, he stood from his crouched position, leaving her momentarily slinking beneath him.
“Okay.” He held out a hand to help her up. “Maybe some other time.”
“Sure.” She swung around and left his office, taking a moment in the hall to gauge what had just happened.
What was it about Rick that made her whole world turn upside down? The potency behind his gaze served as a strong poison to a girl engaged to someone else. Though never particularly satisfied with Vince in her life, she had made the commitment, and until recently, was set to honor it. But now…how could she…when all she could think about was Rick Murphy?
Chapter Eleven
“What the hell’s your problem, Lena?”
Lena stumbled backwards, almost falling down the stairs, when she’d unlocked the door to her apartment and Vince was already inside. “Vince. What are you doing here?”
“Don’t change the subject, Lena. What’s your problem? You’re in another world lately.”
“Vince, what are you talking about?” Sidestepping him to put her purse on the table by her front door, Lena couldn't avoid his shoving her against the wall. He pinned her to it by grasping her wrists. “Vince, please. Let me go.”
“Tell me what’s going on?” he demanded.
“Nothing’s going…I don’t even know what you’re talking a…”
“Shut it,” he growled, pulling her away from the wall and pushing her across the room.
“Vince. Why?” Lena cried, before he picked her up and threw her flying through the air.
But he didn’t let her finish. “You’re screwin’ somebody else, aren’t you?”
“What? No. Vince. Where’d you get that idea?” Lena scrambled to get to her feet, but Vince caught her and shoved her back against the wall.
“You can’t fool me, Lena. Your mind’s somewhere else and if it ain’t on me, it’s gotta be on some effin’ other guy.”
This was true. She definitely had her mind on someone else, but how in the world could Vince have known that? Darn. His intuitiveness scared her, but he had it all wrong. How could she convince him? “Vince. No. Not at all. Please,” she begged.
But he didn’t care what she had to say. He just concerned himself with his warped view of reality. If he already had it in his mind that Lena had spent time with another man, then nothing she could say could stop those thoughts. “You’re a bitch. Y’know that?”
Lena tried to propel herself forward to loosen Vince’s hold on her, but instead, it gave him more leverage to grab her around the waist and throw her onto the couch. “You’re mine baby? Then prove it,” he said angrily, while tearing her dress right off her body.
“Vince. No. Not tonight. Please. Another time, okay?” Lena implored, pleading for him to get off of her. He would not.
She tried to fight him off, but he used his hand and slapped her in the face. Her head shot in the direction he hit. Twisting to get herself out from under him, she failed. He punched her on the other cheek, causing her def
eat. The mixture of black and colored spots entered her vision. He must have used all his might in his fist. She felt her consciousness slipping away. He tore off her tights and plunged himself deep inside her, bringing her back to her senses as she screamed out in pain. Releasing himself, he pulled out, pulled up his pants and took off with nary a glance back. Lena was left prostrate…violated and shaken.
Trembling with dismay and momentarily paralyzed, Lena remained curled up in the fetal position, where she stayed until the sun hinted at dawn through the gaps in the blinds.
Morning brought with its new day, the stark realization that Lena was engaged to a merciless and soulless human being.
**************
Lena’s absence from work the past three days wasn’t boding well in Rick’s mind. He had the discerning feeling she was not sick. In fact, the nagging ache in his chest signaled a much worse fate. He needed to rescue her.
It took him about fifteen minutes to get to Haledon after hounding the Personnel department for Lena’s address. He saw her car parked in the apartment complex’s parking lot. Number 14. He had the right place. Though his nerves were standing on end, he had to do this, had to help her. Without further thought, he rang the bell.
And waited.
After five long minutes of ringing the bell, he heard footsteps plodding down the stairs.
Unprepared for what he saw in front of him when the door crept open, Rick gasped. The eyes peeking through the crack were of someone so familiar, his knees nearly buckled beneath him. This could not be happening again. It had to be better this time. Destiny could not be this cruel a second time around.
He needed to get a grip. “Lena,” he whispered.
She cleared her throat, then let out something inaudible.
“Lena. Let me in.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry.” But he barely heard her. Her soft voice sounded as if it hadn’t been used in days.
“Please, Lena. I want to help.”
She shook her head again and pushed the door to shut it, but Rick used his hand to keep it from closing. “Lena.” His voice unfaltering, he gently nudged the door open and stepped inside. Exposed on one side of her cheek was a faded bruise. Someone had hit her.
“No. No. Nonononono. Leave me alone,” Lena pleaded and then broke down. Banging her hands against his chest and pushing him back, she screamed,. “Get out, get out. Out.”
Lena’s swollen eyes begged for tears, but it looked as if she’d been crying for so long that there were no more tears to cry.
“Sweetheart, it's okay,” Rick whispered, grabbing hold of her and pressing her head to his chest. He slid his hand over her tangled hair and breathed, “Shhh. It’s okay.” He continued to stroke her hair. “It’s okay.”
The gasps of breath Lena was offering in response proved she had been crying for far too long. Rick closed the door behind him and picked her up, cradling her in his arms to carry her up the stairs. He shoved blankets and used tissues aside and sat her down on the couch. Kneeling on the floor before her, he took her hands. “What happened?” was all he whispered, but all she needed to hear to allow herself to fall into his arms.
“I can’t.” The tears finally released. And released. And released.
“Then at least let me dry your eyes.” Cupping her face in his hands, his thumbs wiped the tears that escaped her eyes.
Rick’s own eyes began to tear as he stared into her crestfallen brown eyes. He thought he heard a slight chuckle between her sobs. “What?”
“Why are you …crying?” She laughed and cried simultaneously.
“When your heart breaks, mine absorbs the pain.”
Now Lena looked befuddled. “But…you hardly even know me.”
Rick took his eyes off of her momentarily to look down, then he returned his attention to her sad chocolate eyes. He wanted to tell her. But now was not the time. So he simply said, “I’d like to know you better.” Which was the truth.
Lena shook her head. “Why? Why would you want to get to know me? I’m so…messed up.”
“Well, I think you are perfect.” He continued to caress her cheek with his thumb.
She averted her eyes and grew silent. But Rick saw her chest rise less noticeably and her breathing become less labored. She was calming down, accepting his friendship. That was a start.
“Lena, can I make you a cup of tea or something?” Rick broke the slight awkwardness of the moment.
“Oh. Sure. I’ll get it though.”
Lena got up and Rick took her hand. “Show me the way.”
In the kitchen, Rick watched Lena fumble through the cabinets, searching for something. “Lena, do you not drink tea?” he asked, noticing the tons of single-serve coffee cups on the counter.
“Um, well, not really.”
“Let me guess,” Rick signaled to the big Keurig coffee machine sitting on the counter. “You like coffee,” he stated, not asked.
“Mm-hmm.” She smiled.
“Then why on Earth would you accept a cup of tea from me?”
She shrugged. “Because you offered.”
“Oh, my dear. You are something. Show me how this thing works and I’ll make you a cup of coffee.”
Lena offered a slight giggle and silently walked him through her single-serve coffee making process. He made a second cup on his own.
“I like your apartment,” Rick said, as he led them back into the living room and onto the couch.
“Thank you.”
“Have you had it long?”
“Um…yes…no.”
“Okay?” He wondered.
Lena chuckled again and Rick’s heart warmed at the sound of her.
“My grandfather owns it. He lets me live here…for free.”
“Ooh. Very nice.”
Lena raised a shoulder, then dropped it. “I guess.”
“Did you grow up in this town?”
“Yup. Been here all my life.”
“Oh. Where do your parents live?”
“Right up the street on Belmont…next to Frank’s Liquors.”
“Right. I passed that on the way here. The liquor store? You’re right next door?”
Lena smiled. “Yeah, my dad owns the store. Convenient, right?”
“Mmm.” Rick looked at her and raised his hand to her tender cheek. “Did you put anything on this?”
“Mmm. A couple days ago. Ice.”
“Did anyone get a look at it? Your nose could be broken.”
Lena’s head came down, suddenly looking ashamed all over again.
“Lena. Who did this?”
“Why are you here, Rick?” she asked, ignoring his question.
Rick put his cup down on the coffee table, then reached for Lena’s mug and placed it next to his. He maneuvered closer to her, lacing his fingers with hers. “I knew something was terribly wrong.” He caressed her cheek. “And now I have proof.”
Lena closed her eyes and shook her head. “But…how? How did you know that?”
“Call it a sixth sense. Lena, I could just…feel it.”
“But…how?”
Words caught in his throat. What could he tell her that wouldn’t scare her away? This time he shrugged. “I just…know,” he intimated, then paused a few seconds. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
Lena shook her head. “Not yet,” she said in a quiet whisper.
“Well, did you at least talk with your parents?”
Lena’s head shot up, and eyes wide, she blurted, “No. No I can’t,” and tapered off.
Rick covered both her hands inside his. “Oh, Lena. You can’t keep this in. Whatever it is, whoever did this…and I’m sure I can guess… you can’t not tell someone. And this can’t happen again.”
Lena removed her hands from Rick and slumped her head into them, leaning her elbows on her legs. Rick let her cry it out again while he caressed her heaving back.
He wanted to rescue her from her troubles, but since she wouldn’t allow it, he’d have to settl
e for silently comforting her while she worked this out in her head.
But he couldn’t sit idly by and watch her hurting. He couldn’t let her down again. This time…he wouldn’t let her down.
Chapter Twelve
Lena drifted off to sleep that evening a little easier, thanks to Rick’s visit that afternoon. Even her dreams had a less haunting nature to them than usual. As a matter of fact, Lena awoke with a smile on her face. During the night, in her other world, she walked hand in hand with Rick down the perfect main street village. It was almost like a scene from an old movie. A smile was plastered on her face as she fussed with her gold heart locket, no longer broken.
Lena couldn’t remember many other details of the dream, but she certainly had recalled her emotions. Happy and suddenly carefree, she wanted to bottle up those feelings, because she knew they had been few and far between, both in her fictional dream and in her all too real life.
Her problems with Vince hadn’t disappeared, but she had managed to avoid him since that dreadful night, claiming to him that she had the flu, and he needed to stay away so he wouldn’t catch it as well. Her mother seemed to accept her excuse as well, but each time her mom attempted to visit or bring her chicken soup, Lena feigned sleepiness and averted the much-needed visits. Lena didn’t have the heart to tell her mother what Vince had done. It would kill her. Yet Lena really needed the comfort of her mother’s hugs…and her chicken soup.
Lena woke ready to return to work. Make-up could hide the faded redness on her cheek, and Rick had put the smile back on her face. It wasn’t deep enough to reach her heart, but it was close. Looking forward to seeing Rick at work, she pushed thoughts of Vince aside for the day. If only it were that easy to push him away for real.
The whole day went by in an instant. Lena had so much work to catch up on that she’d worked through lunch. Already five o’clock, she hadn’t even had the chance to walk by Rick’s office and thank him for sitting with her yesterday. She had barely talked, yet he stayed with her...even while she napped...on his lap. She hadn’t remembered falling asleep, but she woke up, her head on his lap, the back of his fingers stroking her cheek. For a brief while, Lena felt as if someone had unlocked the door to her heart and returned her home. She couldn’t explain it, but at that very moment, she felt that her whole life she had been waiting for Rick Murphy to welcome her home.
Maybe This Life Page 5
