Smoke and Mirrors: (Fire and Fury Book Two)

by Avery Kingston

  Scott chuckled. “All right. I’m game.”

  “Becca?” Wayne asked.

  “Nah, I’m good. You old people can play.” Becca laughed.

  Such a teenager.

  “Old people,” Scott scoffed. “Who are you calling old?” Shoes squeaked across the tile floor and Becca squealed. She imagined that Scott was playfully wrestling her, which made a warm grin creep across Tori’s face.

  “Uncle Scott!” she squealed. “Stop it!

  “Come on, play one game with us,” Judith urged.

  “I really can’t, Grandma. Lisa’s mom will be here to get me soon. I’m staying the night with her since Robert is sleeping at the hospital with Mom and the baby.”

  “The baby.” Judith made a pfft noise. “They need to name that sweet boy.”

  A phone chimed in the distance. “See, that’s her now. She’s here. Gotta run, see you later…old people. Nice meeting you Tori!” she hollered as her footsteps left the room.

  “You too Becca!” Tori shouted back.

  “What about you, Tori? You up for some cards?” Wayne asked.

  “Um…” Tori giggled. It was sweet of him to offer out of kindness, but borderline silly. “I’m not sure how that would be possible—”

  “Of course, you can play.” Judith’s chair scraped against the tile floor. “We got a braille deck. You wouldn’t think we’d leave you out, do you?” Judith shifted on her feet, her hand lightly brushing Tori’s shoulder and she braced herself for another hug. Judith cleared her throat, then nothing. Had Judith stepped back? That was odd. Tori raised her brow. She was growing fond of Judith’s hugs.

  “Sit down,” Judith ordered and guided her to the chair “I’ll take this for you.” Judith took her cane.

  Emotion swelled in Tori's chest. “I… well… how, I mean, that’s so thoughtful,” she stammered. “I can’t believe you went to that trouble for me.” Those weren’t something you could walk into the store and buy, they had to have made a special trip to the local Lighthouse for the Blind to purchase them.

  “It was no trouble.” Wayne patted her on the back as he sat down at the table next to her. “We were in town, just swung by and picked some up.” The deck of cards shuffled against the table.

  “We also got Uno, and Scrabble and—”

  “Mom, I love family game time but there’s only so much I can handle.” Scott laughed.

  “Oh, you know your mom, always spoiling her kids,” Wayne added.

  “That’s what mammas do,” Judith defended.

  No, that wasn’t what moms do. Not in her world. She couldn’t remember one damn thing her mom ever did to spoil her. A childhood memory of her mother and her at Wal-Mart flashed in Tori’s head.

  “Mamma please. She’s so pretty. It’s only ten dollars.” Tori had clutched the box with the Barbie doll to her chest.

  “We can’t afford that, Victoria,” her mother had said. “Go put it back now.”

  She’d dropped her little ten-year-old head and sighed, her eyes stopping at the large box of beer in the shopping cart.

  One doll. Her own mother couldn't even grant her that. Yet Judith and Wayne went out of their way to make her, a stranger, feel loved. Tori’s chest tightened sitting around the table now with Scott’s family, that would soon be her family.

  Don’t cry; don’t you dare fucking cry.

  Scott’s chair scraped across the floor as he sat next to Tori. “Got you another beer.” She heard him place it on the wood table.

  Tori swallowed the lump in her throat and plastered a grin on her face. “Thanks baby.”

  Tori woke up the next morning, threw on some jean shorts and a tank top, and wandered into the kitchen still half asleep. Scott and his parents were noisy, early risers. It was seven am on a Sunday for fuck sakes.

  “Morning, beautiful. Sit down and I’ll get you some coffee.” Scott’s chair scraped across the tile floor and before she knew it he had her arm, pulling out a chair for her. “I’ll take this for you,” he said as her cane disappeared from her hand.

  “Thanks.” Tori yawned and ran her fingers through her hair.

  Scott’s heavy footsteps crossed the kitchen.

  “Did you sleep well?” Wayne asked. A newspaper rustled, and Tori imagined him peering over it at her with glasses sliding off his nose. She had no idea if he wore glasses, but that’s how she saw him in her head. An older, grayer version of Scott, skin wrinkled from hours in the sun with calloused hands from his manual labor.

  “I slept great, thanks.” Once Scott kicked the damn cat out of our room. She grinned and took a deep breath. The aroma of fresh-baked bread and bacon wafted through the room. “Something smells heavenly.”

  “Mom made biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs.” A mug hit the table in front of her.

  “Coffee's in front of you. Want a plate?”

  “Some bacon and eggs would be great. I’ll pass on the biscuits.” She patted her stomach. “Better stay away from the carbs.”

  “Please, honey,” Judith scoffed. “You’re too skinny anyway, you could use a little meat on your bones. They’re homemade.”

  “Ok, fine, just one, but then you take me on a run, Scott. Deal?”

  “Deal.” The clink of the porcelain plate hitting the stack caught her attention as he prepared her a plate.

  Wayne let out a little laugh as the newspaper rustled again. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but how on earth do you two manage that?”

  “Pfft. Who do you think you’re talking to?” Scott scoffed. “I can rig anything up.” He crossed the room to her. The plate hit the wood on the table. Scott put his hand on her back and leaned in to her ear. “Bacon ten, eggs two, mom’s homemade biscuits at six, fork to the right.” He leaned back up. His chair scraped as he sat and went right along with his story, as if that small exchange that meant volumes to her was absolutely nothing to him. “Blind runners do marathons all the time with sighted guides. I tether her arm to mine and we take off. Easy-peasy.”

  Tori grimaced. It wasn’t as simple as he made it out to be, but they managed. On the turnaround the other day, for example, she’d tripped, almost taking them both to the pavement.

  “There are some lovely paved trails nearby that Wayne and I walk. You two should go there after church,” Judith remarked.

  Tori’s fork slipped and clanked loudly on the plate. “Church?” Tori swallowed her mouthful. Scott hadn’t said anything about church being on the agenda.

  “Well, of course. It’s Sunday, after all,” Judith said. “Pastor hasn’t seen Scott since he was a teenager and I’d love to show you off, Victoria.”

  She must have looked like a deer in the headlights. She dug her nails into Scott’s thigh.

  “Dear, I’m sure they’re exhausted from the flight. We don’t expect you two to go.” Wayne came to her rescue.

  Tori wasn’t a hugger, but she could have jumped across the table and flung her arms around the man in that moment.

  “Yeah, Mom, we’re pretty worn out, maybe another time.” Scott squeezed Tori’s hand on his lap.

  “Fine, but next Sunday I’m not taking no for an answer,” Judith said. There was no way they would get out of it the following week. She was learning one thing, you don’t argue with Scott’s mom. After all, Judith was already displeased that they were sleeping in the same bedroom.

  “We’re going to the hospital to see Dawn and the baby after church. We’ll be back around supper. Scott, when do you plan to go see the baby?”

  There it was again. Subject of babies. Her ears warmed. “We can go this afternoon,” Tori blurted out. If they kept avoiding it, Judith would wonder why.

  Scott cleared his throat. “Yeah, sure. This afternoon.”

  “So,” Wayne continued. “I need to head out and feed the animals and then we can go, Dear.”

  All that property, with horses. She’d nearly forgotten. “Oh, Scott, you have to take me out there and show me around!” she exclaimed.

  “U
h huh,” Scott mumbled. “In a little bit, I need to go make a quick call. Make sure the team made their flight.” Scott left the table.

  “Why don’t you finish up your food and you can ride out there with me now?” Wayne suggested. “You can help me feed the animals and I’ll show you around.”

  Tori’s heart rapped against her chest thinking about heading out there without Scott by her side. “Don’t you need help cleaning up first, Judith?”

  “You go on out there. I’ve got the dishes today,” Judith ordered, then added, “I insist.”

  “Ok.” Tori wasn’t about to argue with Scott’s mom when she just got off the hook for church. “Sounds fun.” She scarfed down her food and stood from the table, having no idea where Scott placed her cane, but before she knew it Wayne was on it.

  “Here you go, sweetheart,” he said handing it to her, taking her arm and wrapping it around his. His arm was almost as thick and solid as Scott’s was.

  He led her out the back door, turned toward what she thought was the side of the house. “Getting in the Ranger here; watch your head.” He guided her into the passenger seat.

  “Thank you.” She placed her cane between her legs and over her shoulder as he turned the key and they took off with a slight jolt, making Tori squeal.

  Wayne chuckled, amused. “So, we have twenty acres of property out here. We have a little bit of cattle, some for dairy, some for beef. We also have the horses and some chickens. They lay fresh eggs, like you had this morning. Judith has a nice garden growing as well.”

  A few moments later the vehicle came to a halt and the smell of manure stung her nostrils. They were near the livestock. She stood and placed her finger against her nose, wrinkling it a bit at the stench.

  “Yeah, you have city-girl nose.” Wayne gave a hearty laugh. “You get used to it after a while.” He took her by the arm. “This is the barn I’m taking you to,” he explained as the tall grass scratched against her ankles.

  Her mind painted a picture of an old, red barn, faded and weathered over the past several years. As they walked inside, she could smell the hay. It flooded her memories with grade school trips to the petting zoo.

  Scott’s dad explained to her what he was doing as he fed the cows, and she leaned against the rail listening, twirling her hair between her fingertips. “So, do you have to milk them also?”

  “Yes; you want to try it?”

  “Oh god,” Tori snickered. “I don’t think so…”

  “Oh, don’t be a girly girl. You’re tougher than that, I can tell.”

  Her breath hitched in her throat as déjà vu washed over her.

  “Whatchya doin, Daddy?” Tori had pattered out to the garage.

  “Changing the tire. Wanna learn?”

  Six-year-old Tori giggled. “I’m too little, Daddy.”

  “Don’t be a girly girl. You can do this.” Her dad scooped her onto his lap.

  Tori swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked back the tears in her eyes as Wayne took her by the hand. “Sit here.” He placed her hand on the stool, leaning down next to her after she sat. “Now hold the bucket between your legs.” He placed the bucket between her knees and tapped on Tori’s leg. “She’s pretty gentle, but you don’t want her to kick it over if she gets feisty.”

  “Oh, goodness.” Tori squeezed her legs around the bucket. Beads of sweat formed on her brow and her heart was thumping out of her chest. She’d never been this uncomfortable in her entire life.

  “What’s her name?” Tori reached her trembling hand out and touched the cow.

  “Her name is Sugar,” Wayne replied. “She’s mostly all white, like sugar.”

  “Let’s hope she’s sweet like sugar too.” Tori grinned and stroked the cow.

  The animal huffed at Tori’s touch and let out a loud groaning moo.

  Tori squealed and yanked her hand back.

  Wayne let out yet another hearty laugh and she busted out with her own giggle after the shock settled.

  He laughed just like Scott.

  Her chest warmed.

  “She’s just getting to know ya, now calm down.” Wayne patted Tori on the back as his laughter died down. “Now, give me your hands.” He took Tori’s hands into his. “I’m going to put some Vaseline on ya.” Before she knew it, her palms were covered with slimy goo. “Now grab the front left and back right udder, you want to go diagonal.” He guided her to the cow’s tits and she cringed. “Hold the base like this and extend your thumb and first finger so that it fills your whole palm.”

  “Like this?”

  “Yes; now squeeze down to push out the milk.” He pulled her fingers. “Keep your grip on the base of the teat so that the milk doesn't flow back up into the udder.”

  The milk flowed in the bucket. “Holy shit! I’m milking a cow,” she exclaimed, then grimaced realizing she’d cussed in front of Scott’s dad. She sounded so unladylike. “Sorry, didn’t mean to curse.”

  He laughed again, from his belly—strong and loud. “It doesn’t bother me one bit. Judith sings sweetly with the choir on Sunday, but can cuss like a sailor Monday through Saturday when the preacher ain’t around. Just don’t ever say the big F word in front of her. She’ll whack you upside the head for that one.” He let go of her hands. “Good. Now, don’t jerk or yank the teats. Be gentle, yet firm.”

  “Ok, now I can see you’re almost done there because they’re nearly deflated now. Switch to the opposite two.” Tori could tell the difference through touch; the others were quite full in comparison.

  They finished and washed up, and he led her out of the barn.

  “Where are we going now?” Tori asked.

  “Just a few more feet and we’ll be at the corral.” He placed her hand on the railing. “Here we are. The horses are roaming the area, but this should get them over here.”

  “Food?” She guessed as he placed some feed into her hand.

  A loud whistle rang in her ear as galloping approached them. She extended her shaky hand with Wayne’s help and giggled as the horse ate straight from her hand.

  “So, is my boy treating you good?” Wayne asked.

  “Too good.” Tori gave him a lopsided grin, stroking the horse’s mane. She loved the texture of the soft mane under her fingertips—much more pleasant than milking a cow.

  “Protective of you, is he?”

  She could feel his intense gaze studying her. “So, you noticed as well?” She nodded and let out a sigh.

  “I take it you don’t like that?”

  “It can get a bit smothering.”

  Jesus, Tori did you just say that aloud? Open mouth, insert foot.

  Wayne guffawed a bit.

  “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it,” Tori backpedaled. “I mean, you raised an amazing man. He tries to protect me from me. He’s overly protective, and so accommodating of me. To the extent that if something goes wrong he blames himself for not watching out for me enough. Then it gets in this vicious cycle of guilt. He feels bad, then I feel bad that he feels bad.” Tori chuckled wryly.

  “And you fear he’ll grow weary of that?”

  Tori’s work colleagues were still guarded when they spoke to her. People feared the unfamiliar. She could even tell Becca was uncomfortable with her yesterday. Keith, Jane and Scott were about all she had left that treated her somewhat normal.

  “Yes, part of me does.” She bit her bottom lip. She couldn’t believe she was being so candid. Being around Wayne reminded her somewhat of being around her dad. That familiar ache—a longing for a father yearned within her.

  “I tried to warn him, gave him a get-out-of-jail-free card.” She laughed nervously. She didn’t know why she told his father that—maybe because she feared they would believe Scott was with her out of some noble obligation to be a valiant protector of the pitiful blind girl. Hell, that was still her biggest fear and it was screaming louder every day.

  “Scotty has never bitten off more than he can chew.” The fence creaked as he leaned agai
nst it. She imagined him crossing his arms like Scott always did. “He’s never backed down from something he wants, even if it challenges him.” Wayne quieted for a moment.

  “What are you two up to?” Scott’s voice boomed from behind her.

  Tori turned toward his voice and flashed a megawatt grin. “I milked a cow!”

  “You what?” Scott snorted. “I don’t believe it.” She could just imagine his jaw on the ground.

  “She did.” Wayne defended her. “Did a damn good job too; look, I have proof.”

  “Did you take a photo of me, Wayne?” Tori cocked her head to the side. “That was sneaky.”

  “He sure did. Oh, my goodness, send this to me, Dad.” Scott laughed as he eyed the photo. “I’m sorry that I missed seeing that.” Scott ruffled Tori’s hair and squeezed the back of her neck.

  “We may turn her into a Texan this weekend,” Wayne said.

  Tori held her hand up in protest and chuckled. “Let’s not go crazy now.”

  Wayne laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Well, I better head to church. You two enjoy your morning.” His footsteps gradually faded in the grass.

  “I still can’t believe you milked a cow,” Scott shouted as he walked over to the barn and grabbed a saddle.

  “Shit. You can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.” She laughed. “I couldn’t say no to your dad though.” Tori stroked the horse’s soft mane. “What are you doing?” Tori tilted her head.

  Scott slung the saddle over the fence. “Getting ready for a ride.”

  “Well, that’s kinky. We may want to wait until your parents leave before you try and saddle me up and break me in.” Tori flashed a wicked grin.

  Scott doubled over, laughing. “I meant the horse, silly. Come here.” He grabbed Tori’s hand and opened the gate, shutting it behind them. He pulled her over by the horse and reached down into a bucket, grabbing a brush. “Help me get her ready.” Scott placed the brush in Tori’s hand, with his hand on top of hers and moved their hands down the side of the horse, showing her how to get the loose hair off the animal. Scott took the saddle pad and dusted it clean.

  “Why do we have to brush her?” Tori asked.