by Laura Burton
He shrugged. “I’m just a guy trying to save his girl.”
Victorine sighed. “It’s not that easy, Daniel. I don’t know how to write a happy ending. How to do justice to your love for her. It’s too strong.”
“Why is that a problem?”
“Because I don’t know what that feels like,” she confessed, staring at the ceiling. “The only time I ever fell in love, my heart was shattered. Now, that’s the only feeling I remember.”
“What about Charles?” Daniel asked. “Can’t you use him to suck up some inspiration?”
She looked at Daniel again. “Once I tap into that source, there’s no going back.”
“It doesn’t matter because once you experience love without reservations...” He smiled. “You won’t want to go back.”
Victorine considered that for a moment. “You think so?”
“Trust me.”
Victorine could feel what was left of her defenses crumbling. And though it scared her, she trusted Charles. “How did you turn out such a hopeless romantic?”
Daniel chuckled. “You have it in you, Victorine. You just gotta give someone the key.”
She nodded then jumped up out of bed with a grin so wide, she didn’t even feel like herself. “Okay. I can do this.”
Daniel laid back with a pleased smile, throwing his hands behind his head. “Go write what’s in your heart.”
Other than someone walking upstairs, the house was pretty quiet. Victorine walked across the kitchen, thankful that Nonna and her friends weren’t there to suck her into another conversation about babies. She was terrified enough about opening herself up for love; thinking about Charles the fourth would probably get her hyperventilating for the rest of the day.
She finally found Charles on the patio, sitting in the rocking chair next to his sister. Victorine stopped in the doorway and took a deep breath. That was it. No going back.
“I thought that’s what you wanted?” Lindzee asked, and Victorine stopped.
“I thought so too, but...” Charles ran a hand over his buzzed hair. “After she opened up last night… I didn’t feel anything.”
Victorine stepped back into the house and pressed her back against the wall.
“Did you tell her that?”
“How could I? She’s like a rollercoaster off the tracks, Zee.”
Tears filled Victorine’s eyes within seconds and she covered her mouth, muffling the sound of her cry.
“Why didn’t you just get it over with last night?”
“I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“I know, but… the sooner she knows your heart belongs to someone else, the better.”
“I know.”
Victorine rushed back to the basement and as soon as the door shut behind her, she dropped to the floor, giving in to her sobs. Her heart felt so tight in her chest, she could hardly breathe. But then she spotted her notebook on the nightstand, and her eyes went dark. She wiped the tears off her face and sucked in a breath. Though her heart was still aching, her mind had never been so clear. And in that moment, as she stared at what was left of her book, she remembered Daniel’s last words...
Go write what’s in your heart.
Charles walked in holding two cups of coffee just as Victorine zipped up her duffle bag.
“Going somewhere?” he asked with a soft smile as he closed the door behind him.
“Home,” she replied in a cold tone, and he cocked his head.
“I thought we were gonna meet up with your sister?”
“Something happened at the writing retreat and she left. So, I’m going back home.”
“All right, I’ll start packing—”
“No need,” she said, grabbing her jacket and slipping it on. “I already called a cab to take me to the bus station.”
“Bus station?” When she didn’t respond, he placed the coffee cups on top of the dresser and moved toward her. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“I finished my book,” she said, straightening her posture like a shield. “And that’s what this road trip was all about for me, Charles. Nothing else.”
He looked at her as if he didn’t recognize the woman standing in front of him. “What’s gotten into you?”
“You said to take one day at a time then reevaluate, right? Well, this is me reevaluating.” She reached for the duffle back, but Charles pinned it to the bed.
“Is this what you really want?”
She pulled back so he couldn’t touch her. “What I wanted was to finish my book. That’s all that matters to me. That’s all that will ever matter to me.”
“What about all the things we said last night?”
“That was just for inspiration. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” She yanked her bag away from him. “I have a book to publish.”
Chapter 8
A few days later, Anne-Marie still hadn’t shown up to work. Victorine tried calling, but it was going straight to voicemail. She went to knock on Tessa’s office then waited for her to finish with a call.
“Please, tell me you have a bestseller ready for us?” Tessa asked, stress clearly visible in the dark circles under her eyes.
Victorine lifted the completed manuscript without much enthusiasm. “Have you seen my sister?”
“She’s on her way, and I suggest you say your goodbyes because I will kill her,” Tessa said, leaning back and rubbing her belly. “I am one week away from maternity leave, which is the equivalent to a fire-spitting dragon, and your sister is driving me nuts.”
Victorine smiled despite her aching heart. “You’re a good friend, Tessa. I’m glad my sister’s got you around.”
Tessa studied Victorine for a few seconds. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yeah.” Victorine didn’t want to talk about it. “Can you just make sure she gets this?”
“You’re leaving it with me?” Tessa’s eyes widened in surprise. “Okay, you’re definitely not well.”
Victorine chuckled, placing the manuscript on Tessa’s desk. “Enjoy your time off. You deserve it.”
As she walked away from the final draft of her book, her heart squeezed in her chest. There was no going back. She left the building and took a cab. Next thing she knew, she was being dropped off at the children’s clinic.
As she walked into Ari’s room, she spotted a nurse changing the bed sheets. “Where’s Ari?” she asked.
“Upstairs for the last set of her treatments,” the nurse replied. “Your sister’s up there with her.”
Victorine sighed as she sat on the recliner in the corner. “Would it be okay if I wait for them here?”
“Sure.” The nurse finished making the bed then headed toward the door. “She’ll be happy to see you.”
Victorine forced a smile. “Thanks.”
As soon as the nurse walked out, Daniel appeared by the window. He had his back to Victorine and her heart ached in her chest. Even if she apologized, it wasn’t going to be enough. Nothing was ever going to be enough. There was no forgiveness for what she had done. What she had written.
“Very clever finishing your book on a cliffhanger.” When he turned around, his eyes were gray and void of all emotion as if he’d been stripped of his soul. “I just can’t believe you made me the killer.”
A sickening feeling rose in her stomach. “You asked me not to kill her.”
“Yet, you managed to give us a fate worse than death,” he replied, his voice deflated. “Congratulations on your precious award. I really hope you get it.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll see that it won’t fill the void in your heart. Nothing will. Ever.” When she didn’t respond, he stood up straight and shoved his hands in his pocket. “Goodbye, Victorine.”
“Daniel…” But before she could say anything else, he was gone. Still, she whispered, “I really am sorry.”
As Victorine got out of the elevator and walked down the hall, she spotted Lindzee coming out of Charles’ apartment.
; “Hey,” Lindzee greeted, locking the door and turning toward Victorine. “I got your niece’s paperwork, by the way. I was just about to call your sister. Michelle, is it?”
“Yeah, I just came from seeing her,” Victorine said. “She has a lot of questions.”
“I hope I’ll have answers. I’m really nervous about the clinical trial presentation.”
“You’ll do fine.” Victorine offered her an encouraging smile. “I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe you could come over tonight for a glass of wine?” Lindzee asked. “I could use the company.”
Victorine felt a stab in her chest at the thought of being in the same room with Charles. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh, don’t worry, my brother won’t be home,” Lindzee said. “In fact, I’ll be moving in. I’m kinda hiding from my ex, and it’s closer to the hospital. So... win-win.”
“What about your brother?” She shouldn’t care, but she couldn’t help it.
“Depending on how the interview goes,” Lindzee replied. “He might be moving to England.”
“England?” Victorine swallowed the lump in her throat. “I thought he didn’t want to take that job?”
“He didn’t, but…” She shrugged. “When things didn’t work out with you, he changed his mind.”
“Then I guess it’s for the best.”
Lindzee frowned as if she had been expecting a different response. “I guess so.”
“Well, I better get going.” Victorine motioned toward her apartment. “I see you around, neighbor.”
Lindzee’s phone rang and she ignored the call. “I really hope you change your mind about coming tonight. Otherwise, I just might get desperate and give in to this rollercoaster-off-the-tracks woman.”
Victorine froze with her key still in the lock. “What did you just say?” Victorine turned to face Lindzee again.
“Oh, it’s nothing.” She waved it off. “That’s just what my brother calls Karen. And she hasn’t stopped calling me ever since he told her they were never getting back together.”
“But I thought he wanted to work things out with her?”
“He spent a long time considering whether or not he should,” Lindzee admitted. “And after your little spat on the dance floor—which was not subtle by the way—Karen was all over him. She even begged him to take her back, but he didn’t because he was falling for you. He should’ve told her that, but—”
“He didn’t want to hurt her feelings,” Victorine cut in, and Lindzee looked at her in surprise.
“Exactly. Did he tell you?”
“Where is he right now?” Victorine asked, and Lindzee glanced at her watch.
“At the airport. His flight leaves in two hours.”
Victorine took off running down the hall then rushed down the stairs and through the lobby. She almost got run over trying to catch a cab, and after an eternity in traffic, she finally arrived at the airport. Before the taxi even came to a full stop, she threw the money with an extra tip on the driver’s lap then jumped out of the vehicle.
By the time she reached the desk, her heart was beating out of her chest. “I need a ticket to England,” she spoke out of breath. “The flight that’s leaving in an hour. I need a ticket for that one.”
“They’ll be boarding in fifteen minutes,” the woman replied. “I’m not sure we have any seats left—”
“Then I’ll take anything.” Victorine slapped her credit card on the counter. “Just give me a ticket.”
The woman took the card and typed on the computer. “Oh, why didn’t you just say you have a ticket for that flight?”
“I do?”
“Is your name Victorine Leesky?”
“Yes.”
“Then here you are. I’ll print your boarding pass right away.”
Lindzee.
By the time Victorine was given her boarding pass, she sprinted toward the gate. Going through security was both a nightmare and a blur. She only got to put on one shoe before she was bolting again.
At the gate, she was completely and utterly out of breath as she looked around for Charles. The terminal was empty, and she turned to the man standing by the podium.
“Have you started boarding this flight already?” she asked, still out of breath.
“Yes, we have.” He reached out his hand. “Your boarding pass, please?”
She handed him the ticket with her ID, but as the man took it, he gave her a quizzical look.
“What?”
“Why are you wearing only one shoe?” he asked, and she looked down.
“Oh…” She let out an embarrassed chuckle then shuffled through her purse until she found her other shoe. “Security makes me nervous,” she mumbled, slipping it back on.
“All set. Have a good flight,” the man said, handing her back the ticket and ID. She darted toward the plane, but as soon as she reached the passenger entry door, she froze. Her knees weakened and her heart began beating at her throat.
“Are you okay, miss?” the flight attendant asked, stepping forward with a polite smile.
“Yeah.” Victorine sucked in a terrified breath as all color drained from her face. “Just a bit of a… aviophobia.”
The attendant smiled as if it was completely normal. “Here, let me help you find your seat.”
Victorine leaned against the door, feeling slightly nauseated. “I’m actually looking for someone.”
“I would be glad to help once you’re in your seat,” the attendant said, and Victorine turned toward the coach section. The narrow aisle just about caused her heart to jump out of her throat. She didn’t normally feel claustrophobic, but that tight space made her start sweating profusely. “Follow me.” The attendant led the way, and Victorine pushed her wobbly legs forward, holding on to each seat she passed.
“Here you go,” the attendant stepped aside and motioned toward a middle seat. Victorine wiped her damp forehead with the back of her hand while she waited for a young man to jump up and let her through.
Once she took a seat, she hurried to fasten her belt then looked up at the attendant. “Miss, please…” she begged. “His name is Charles Wiseman. I need to speak with him.”
“I’ll go check on that for you.”
When the attendant walked away, Victorine grabbed onto the armrest so tightly, her knuckles started to turn white.
“First time flying?” the young man next to her asked, but all she could do was nod. “Yeah, my girlfriend gets like that too.”
“My parents died in a plane crash,” she vomited the words as a wave of panic washed over her. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
“Do you need a barf bag?”
“What I need is to find Charles Wiseman.”
“And you’re sure he’s on this plane?”
Victorine’s eyes widened in horror. What if he wasn’t? What if he changed his mind about leaving? “Okay, this was really stupid.” She unbuckled herself and climbed over the young man like a cat recoiling from water. “Wait, don’t take off yet!” she yelled, hoping the pilot would hear her. “I wanna get out!”
“Victorine?”
She froze mid aisle and turned around. “Charles?” Even though she came looking for him, she was still surprised. Either that, or she was trying really hard not to panic in front of him. “Is it always this hot in here?”
“What are you doing here?” he asked, and she let out a nervous chuckle.
“I’m here because…” Her knees were shaking so much. It was shifting her focus from all the words she’d practiced on the way over. “I couldn’t let you leave without knowing how sorry I am for all the things I said.”
“You were pretty clear—”
“I was hurt,” she confessed. “But that’s no excuse for hurting you. I was a jerk and I doubted you, and I’m sorry.”
“So…” Charles moved toward her. “You were going to fly all the way to England just to apologize?”
“If that’s what it would take for
you to believe me, then yes.”
He narrowed his eyes. “And what did you plan to do when you got to England?”
“Probably look for a horse tranquilizer so I could fly back.”
Charles laughed. “You didn’t think any of this through, did you?”
“Not at all.” She chuckled, her stomach still fluttering with nerves. “I just needed to get to you before you left. But not to keep you from going,” she clarified. “If you want to take that job, I’m not going to stand in your way. So, I’m not asking you to stay. I just need you to know that even though watching you leave is breaking my heart, it’s okay. Because the pain is there to remind me that what we had was real, and I don’t ever want to forget that. I don’t ever want to forget you. Falling in love with you was the most liberating experience that has ever happened to me, and I will never kill that... no matter how much it hurts.”
Charles brushed her soft cheek with his finger then looked into her eyes. “Then come with me.”
She gasped at his unexpected request, and when she opened her mouth to speak, no words came out. There was so much to consider, her mind was spinning. “Charles, I…” Could she really do it? Leave everything and everyone behind? Her sisters? Ari? “I really am in love with you.” It didn’t answer his question, but she needed him to know that.
“Victorine...” He cupped her face in his strong hands. “I’m not moving to England.”
She shook her head as if she hadn’t heard him correctly. “You’re not?”
“No. I was invited by a friend to give a lecture at the university, but that’s it. I’ll just be gone a week.”
“But your sister said…” She stopped then gritted her teeth. “She tricked me.”
“Seems so,” he said with a chuckle. “So, what do you say? Want to spend a week in England with me?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, her nerves fading away like a thunder in the distance. “I would love to go to England with you.”
He wrapped his arms around her thin body and lifted her up, nuzzling her neck. “I’m never going to let you go ever again.”