“We were just on the beach.”
Brian smiled. “You were thinking of me?” That seemed to make him happy.
“Yeah. I think I tend to when I’m sad.”
“What were we doing on the beach?”
“Making sandcastles. You took the picture.”
He laughed. “I still have that picture. I can’t believe you remember that.”
She moved her head to the side and saw a stand with a drip bag attached to it, and cords. The cords went straight to her. Then she heard beeping and saw a monitor with lines going up and down.
She was in the hospital, she realized, startled.
Taylor tightened her grip on Brian’s hand. “Brian…I think I’m in the hospital. What happened to me?”
That made him look sad again. “A lot. Listen, sweet girl, I’m just going to get your mother. She’ll be so relieved to see you’re awake.”
“Don’t leave me, please.” She wasn’t sure what was going on and didn’t want to be left alone.
He might not even be really here. Her brain may have conjured him up through her need to have someone she could rely on. Richard had disappeared on the beach. Right before her eyes. Maybe this was part of the dream too.
“I’ll come right back. I promise.”
She didn’t know If she could let go. She didn’t want to. Brian had always seemed like some kind of angel to her. When he was around everything was better.
“I feel like I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“You haven’t. But that will change.”
She tried to smile again and still found that her face hurt.
“That’s great. Brian, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“I know. But don’t worry. Give me a second. I’ll get your mom and the doctors. I’ll come straight back. I promise.” He nodded.
“Okay.” She agreed and released his hand.
He rushed away. She tried to move her head and get up. Big mistake. Her body felt broken and the pain that wracked her made her cry out. It felt like being stabbed all over with hundreds of knives.
Taylor had never felt such intense pain before. Never in her life, and suddenly, as if someone was playing a video before her, images of what had happened to her ran through her mind and she remembered everything.
She remembered seeing Richard and his family at the mall, she remembered leaving and going to her father’s office only to find him there with his secretary. And then…she remembered the yellow car that ran her off the road and into the gorge.
God in heaven, how was she alive? How had she survived Dead Man’s Gorge? Most people didn’t. Then again, had she survived?
Her body felt broken so maybe it was.
Someone ran her off the road, trying to kill her. Why?
Within seconds her mother burst into the room with Brian and a host of nurses and doctors in tow.
“Mom.” She tried to reach for her mother but cried out again from the pain. “Mom.”
“Taylor.” Her mother took her hand and brought it to her cheek. “My dear girl.”
“Mrs. Vanderville, I’m sorry. I know you want to have a chance to reunite with Taylor but we have to check her over,” one of the doctors said.
“Can I stay?” her mother asked.
“Of course.” The doctor offered a kind smile then turned back to Taylor. “Taylor, do you know where you are?”
“The hospital,” Taylor replied. She looked over to her mother and Brian. Brian was holding her other hand as she cried.
“Do you remember what happened to you?”
“Yes, I remember everything.”
Regina
As she looked at Taylor all she could do was thank God. She’d tried to keep her hopes up but there were some days when she came to the hospital and thought there was none.
Regina kept thinking that Taylor had to wake up, if only for Brian’s sake, and she had to have the chance to know the truth. To know that he was her father and, unlike Ben, he was a wonderful, amazing person.
The doctors had done all their necessary checks and found that she was doing well. They’d even removed one of the drips but Taylor still had a few cords attached to her, and bags of blood.
They’d informed them that she still needed to be with them for a few weeks yet because of the broken ribs and the surgery they’d done to repair her internal organs. They also still had a lot to monitor.
It was late, way past visiting hours, but Dr. Morris had given them another hour.
Brian left them to get coffee and a hot chocolate for Taylor. His absence gave them a chance to talk.
“Mom, I want to talk about what happened,” Taylor stated, her voice sounding so frail it made Regina’s heart ache.
“How about tomorrow? I don’t want you to stress yourself out.” Stress was the last thing Taylor needed. She needed calm to gather her thoughts and to rest. Resting was what was going to get her back on the road to recovery.
“I would prefer to talk now. Especially before Brian comes back.”
Regina bit the inside of her lip and wondered if she might have by any chance heard the argument Ben and Brian had where he revealed his knowledge of the truth. Brian had called her his daughter on several occasions after that, so maybe she heard. After all, that was why they’d spoken to her while she was in a coma, to keep her mind active and aware.
It was fine; the truth was something Regina was going to tell her. She wanted to find the right time but if that was now then that was what she would do.
Flick and Phil had given her a lot of strength. Their presence here had given her the mental will power and energy to function.
“Okay sweetheart. Talk to me.” Regina reached for her hand.
“What do you know so far?”
Regina wondered where she should begin. Wade had told her about Richard so she thought that as sensitive as the matter was she could begin with that. It was the lesser of two evils because she didn’t know how she would talk about the psycho.
“I know that you found out Richard had a family. You were at the mall when this happened and you left upset in your car…and…” she found it difficult to continue.
“And what, Mom?”
“Someone tried to kill you; they ran you off the road.”
Taylor nodded. “Yes. Someone tried to kill me.” A tear ran down her cheek. “Just after I left Dad’s office.”
Regina narrowed her eyes. “What? Honey you went to your father’s office?” Ben hadn’t said anything about that at all.
“He didn’t see me. I found him with his secretary. They were…together.” The discomfort on Taylor’s face told Regina everything.
Regina closed her eyes and winced. She couldn’t believe that Taylor had to witness that.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah. I know he cheats a lot, but I was still shocked and upset. It’s stupid. All I wanted was a hug. I just wanted to see him and feel a little better, but then I saw him with his secretary. I felt so betrayed. Him and Richard, in the same night. That car came from Dad’s office. I think I remember seeing it in the parking lot, but it was raining.”
The person must have been there for Ben. They must have gone there for him and decided to jazz things up when Taylor came by. She’d tell detective Fray that. Maybe they could get some footage of the person from the cameras at Ben’s office.
Regina pulled in a breath. Now for the hard part. “Taylor, I don’t know how long this has been going on, but someone has been watching our family and sending us threats. It was them that ran you off the road.”
“What!” Taylor gasped and winced clutching her chest.
“Let’s continue this tomorrow, sweetheart. I promise I’ll tell you everything tomorrow.” Regina nodded.
Just then Brian came back into the room. He carried two large coffees and the hot chocolate from Starbucks.
Taylor looked up at him and smiled. Regina was glad that Taylor had always gotten on so well with Brian.
It would help when she knew the truth, or so she hoped.
Regina knew Taylor loved her to no end but she feared how she’d feel. She said she felt betrayed by Ben. It was a sure thing that she’d feel betrayed by Regina too. But the truth had to come out.
Right now she was just thinking of the right time to reveal it.
Chloe
Chloe was so excited to see Taylor. She was bursting with it.
Of course, she’d wanted to go to the hospital from last night when Regina called to tell her Taylor was awake but was told she’d have to wait until visiting hours today.
She’d set out with Wade and met Kelly at the hospital. Since they were forty minutes early, she and Kelly decided to go to the gift shop. She wanted to get Taylor a little something. Wade had gotten a massive bouquet to cover them all and Kelly brought Taylor’s favorite chocolates, but Chloe thought she needed more. You could never give your best friend enough gifts, especially when they’d just woken up out of a coma.
She stood in the aisle where there was some beautiful hand-crafted jewelry.
“She’ll love anything from here.” Kelly nodded, tugging on the end of her ponytail. “It’s so rich with color.” She smiled, looking over the range of vibrant shades. There were bright yellows, purples, reds, greens, a wonderful array of different shades of blue, and pinks. She would have chosen something from the pink range if she was buying for herself.
Chloe picked up a beaded bracelet made of jade. The color was just a tone lighter than Taylor’s eyes. Taylor loved anything green because she made a show of how it would complement her eyes. Chloe could see her loving this bracelet.
“That’s nice,” said a bright voice just behind her.
Chloe turned to face a dark-haired woman behind her. Her hair was up in a ponytail too. It enunciated her high cheekbones and drew attention to the sharpness in her eyes. “My sister has the pink one made of rose quartz. It’s supposed to draw love into your life.”
“Cool.” Chloe smiled. She always found it a little awkward when random strangers started talking to her. “I’m getting this for my friend.”
“Oh, is she here?”
“No.” Kelly said quickly, interrupting before Chloe could answer.
Chloe looked at Kelly and immediately knew why she did that. They were supposed be careful who they spoke to. Suspicion of everyone and care was key. As harmless as this woman appeared, they had to be careful.
“It’s a cheer-up present,” Chloe decided to say just so she wouldn’t seem rude.
“Anyone would love that bracelet.” The woman smiled then narrowed her focus on Chloe. “I recognize you. I’ve seen you with Wade Vanderville.”
“Oh.” Her stomach clenched as she watched something dark flicker in the woman’s eyes.
“We used to hang out way back.” The woman continued to smile.
Chloe didn’t like the way she said hang out and a wave of apprehension washed over her. It was with emphasis, as if she was trying to make a point. “Oh really?”
“Yes, Wade was something else. You must know what that guy is like. He’s hardly with you for five minutes before he wants to get in your pants, and then it’s hours of sex.”
Chloe felt her body stiffen and she stared wordlessly at the woman’s malicious smile.
“I’m sorry, we have to go now,” Kelly stated, answering for Chloe because she must have seen how that comment shocked her.
“That’s a shame. Well it was nice to meet you. Tell Wade Merissa says hi.” She gave a crude smile filled contempt.
Kelly took hold of Chloe’s arm and pulled her away, putting the bracelet down on a shelf by the entrance. She waited until they’d walked far enough down the corridor that led to the wing Taylor was staying on before she stopped.
“Chloe, are you okay?”
“No.” Her cheeks burned and she felt like she could breathe fire. She looked at Kelly and bit her lip. “That was no chance meeting, was it?”
“No way.” Kelly grimaced shaking her head.
Chloe sighed with frustration. It was one crazy day after another.
Tell Wade Merissa says hi.
Like hell she would. Chloe was normally the most placid person. She didn’t like contention or arguments of any kind. She hated it, but she could hold her own when it came down to it.
She didn’t know who Merissa thought she was, but she wasn’t going to get under Chloe’s skin. As much as it hurt her to hear her talk about Wade that way she wouldn’t allow herself to be thrown off track. Clearly Merissa was just a bitter ex who’d taken her chance to confront Chloe and try to upset her. It was a classic bitch tactic and she hoped she wouldn’t run into her again.
“We need to be more careful,” Kelly said firmly.
“Definitely. Let’s go see Taylor.”
Taylor beamed when she saw Chloe and Kelly walk into the room. The sight of her made Chloe forget everything bad that had happened over the past week and that stupid run in she had with Merissa.
Chloe ran over to her and had to restrain herself from hugging her. Since she was now only allowed two visitors at a time everyone else waited outside to give them a chance to see Taylor.
Chloe dreamt of this happening every day last week. She’d desperately wanted to come and see Taylor sitting up and looking just like this.
“Girls,” Taylor cried. At least she could put out her hands to hold theirs. Kelly started to cry as she held Taylor’s hand. “Aww Kel.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just so happy to see you,” Kelly cried, wiping her tears away with the back of her other hand.
“I’m sorry I ran off like that.” Taylor shook her head.
“Are you kidding? You don’t have to apologize for anything.”
Taylor smiled and focused on Chloe. Chloe tried to restrain the tears but they came. She felt the same as Kelly, so happy to see Taylor awake that it overwhelmed her.
“Little Chloe,” Taylor said. She hadn’t called her that since they were children.
“Oh Taylor. I was so frightened.”
“Me too, and I nearly did die when I saw the state of my hair.” Taylor was trying to joke but she started crying too. “You mean to tell me that neither of you could run a brush through my hair. I look like hell. Suppose Eduardo Verastegui came walking by my room.” She started to laugh.
Chloe laughed too. “I can brush your hair now,” Chloe offered with a smile.
“That would be amazing. I’ll need a full-on hair day at the salon when I leave this place, and a mud facial. Who knows what’s happened to my poor skin just this past week.”
They were all laughing now.
Chapter 9
Taylor
Taylor pressed her lips together as her father entered the room. Like everyone else he looked happy to see her.
She wished that she could return the sentiment.
“Taylor.” He smiled and came over to her, but her stomach churned when she looked at him and bile rose into her throat making her feel like she was going to vomit.
All Taylor could see in her mind was him with his secretary, his hands on her naked body telling her how beautiful she was.
“Taylor,” he said again, seeing her reaction.
“Dad.” She focused on him now and gazed deep into his steel gray eyes. “Thank you for coming, but I don’t know if I can see you just yet.”
She thought she’d get straight to the point with him. There was no point in stepping around a problem. That’s what they did for years.
“Why?” He looked really hurt, but she couldn’t let that bother her.
“I know everything.”
His shoulders slumped and he brought his hands up to his forehead.
“What did they tell you? What did your mother tell you?”
“Enough, but it’s not just them. It’s what I saw for myself.”
He narrowed his eyes and looked confused. “What did you see?”
“I went to see you on the night of my accident, but you
were too busy screwing your secretary to notice that I was even there.”
The blood siphoned from his face. “Taylor, I—”
“No.” She held up her hand to stop him. The movement made her chest ache and she winced. “What excuse are you going to tell me? What could you possibly say to me? Dad, you’re the state’s attorney. Aren’t you supposed to be setting some kind of example? Forget me being your daughter, think about it. You’re supposed to be married to Mom, who’s this amazing woman, but all you’ve done is hurt her.”
“I’m sorry, Taylor.” He shook his head.
“No. You aren’t.” Her voice wavered. She gulped back the sorrow and disappointment she felt as she remembered it all. “It shouldn’t have happened. I needed you so much that night.” She was getting too worked up, and needed to calm down. Her chest was hurting and that couldn’t have been a good thing. “All I wanted was a hug. It sounds so stupid now to even say it at my age. I guess I just needed to be with someone who cared. Instead I ended up here.”
“I’m here now, sweetheart.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t need you now. So you can leave. Go back to your secretary.” She turned her face away from him and allowed the tears to fall.
He stood there for a few seconds and then he left. Once the door closed she turned to face it.
She couldn’t believe the mess everything was in. She supposed the next person she’d have to face at some point was Richard. Chloe told her that he came to the hospital and she sent him away.
Taylor was glad she did that and the minute she was able to she would confront him. She just hoped like hell that no one would try to kill her again.
She still hadn’t been able to accept that that’s what happened. It was best not to think about it right now because it would make her more angry with her father.
She was in a very vulnerable state and the weakness in her body was unreal, she’d never felt so frail before and she knew she had to gather strength to be able to recover and get out of here. Taylor needed to find some form of strength even if that was just for her to answer the questions the police had. Detective Fray had come by earlier. He seemed to have things in hand, but she still had a bad feeling that this was only the beginning. It didn’t escape her that whoever tried to kill her hadn’t succeeded.
Secrets and Lies Page 11
