“It’s Mom. The ambulance just left. She’s been taken to the hospital. She had a heart attack. You need to come to Dallas.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Tory stood framed in the picture window at her parents’ house, staring at the street where she’d grown up. Dusk settled over the landscape, forcing some of the neighbors to switch on their lights. She remained in the dark, needing its comfort and shield.
Dallas. When she’d left four years before, she’d never wanted to return, hoped she would never have to. Her mother’s heart attack had changed all that, and now she was faced with the past. Across the street and two doors down was Brandon Clayton’s parents’ house. They had thought their son had done nothing wrong, that she had lied about the rape. They had been so vocal in their protest, even though she had ended up in the hospital overnight from a concussion and cracked ribs.
“Tory?”
She pivoted toward the sound of Slade’s voice.
“I got the overnight bag down. You’ll need to pack what your mother needs.”
She’d promised her father she would get some things for her mother, but she hadn’t realized how difficult it would be coming back to this street. “I’m gonna stay at the hospital tonight. You and Mindy can stay here or at Judy’s.” She walked toward her parents’ bedroom, her hands trembling, her legs weak.
“Brad said something about taking Mindy home with him so she could see Ashley and Jamie. I’ll stay with you.”
“No, you don’t have to,” she said in a rush. At his raised brow, she continued in a slower voice. “Mindy’s upset. She’ll need you.” She knew that argument would persuade him as no other.
“I guess then I’ll stay with her.”
“You should be with her as much as possible.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
No! I’m not sure about anything right now. “Yes.” The wounds of the past lay open, festering with the memories she tried to forget.
Only the day before she’d thrown aside her defenses and had contemplated making her marriage real in every sense. But all the fear and doubts had resurfaced the minute Slade had turned his car down this street—actually, when she’d seen the skyline of Dallas in the distance.
Tory hurriedly stuffed into the overnight bag what her mother would need. She needed to get out of the house before she fell apart. She didn’t to have time for that. Her mother needed her and she was determined to be there for her. She ran four years ago. She wouldn’t now no matter what turmoil she experienced.
Tory took the bag and left the bedroom to return to the living room where Slade was waiting. The worry and concern she’d seen in his eyes on more than one occasion was evident as he rose and reached for the suitcase. His fingers brushed hers. She snatched her hand away, inter-locking her fingers to still their trembling.
The doorbell rang. Tory gasped at the intrusion. She looked toward the door but didn’t move. Slade strode to it and pulled it open.
“May I help you?”
“How’s Eleanor? I saw the car in the driveway and we all want to know how she’s doing.” The gray-haired woman gestured toward the houses on the street.
Mrs. Johnston. Tory closed her eyes for a few seconds before filling her lungs with a deep breath and heading for the door. “Mom’s holding her own. They want to do triple bypass surgery on her as soon as she is stable and her condition is good.”
“Oh, dear me. I was so worried when I saw the ambulance leave here yesterday afternoon.” Mrs. Johnston peered around Slade, her gaze directed at Tory. “I didn’t know if you would come home.”
The censure in the woman’s voice shredded Tory’s composure. She dug her fingernails into her palms and counted to ten. Mrs. Johnston had been one of the doubters. She lived next door to Brandon’s parents and let it be known she didn’t believe Tory’s version of the events. She schooled her features into a neutral expression and said, “Of course, I’d come home. Mom had a heart attack. She’ll have surgery tomorrow or the next day. I wouldn’t be any other place but beside her. Thank you, Mrs. Johnston, for inquiring about her health. I’ll tell her when I see her in a little while.”
“She can receive visitors?”
“Just family.”
Mrs. Johnston’s sharp gaze shifted to Slade, her mouth pinched into a frown. She stuck out her hand toward him. “I’m a neighbor from across the street.”
“I’m Tory’s husband.” He shook the woman’s hand.
“Ah, I remember your mother saying something about going to a wedding a few months ago.”
“That would have been mine.”
“You didn’t send out any invitations?”
“No, Mrs. Johnston. It was a quiet wedding with a few friends and family.”
The woman snorted. “Tell your mother I’ll be up to see her when she can receive visitors.”
Slade closed the front door as Mrs. Johnston stomped down the porch steps. Tory went to the picture window and watched the older woman make her way across the street and to Brandon’s parents’ house. She clenched her teeth and sucked in several deep breaths.
“A charming neighbor. Did I detect an undertone there?”
“I always said you were intuitive. She doubted my story about being raped and voiced her opinion to whoever would listen. She only came over to check out who was here. Mom and she hadn’t been on the friendliest terms since—” Tory swallowed the rest of her words. She didn’t want to go into the dynamics of the neighborhood right now.
“We’ve got everything. Let’s get going. I’ll drop you off at the hospital, make sure your mother is doing okay and go see how Mindy is doing.”
“Give Mindy a kiss for me.”
“I’ll bring her to the hospital tomorrow morning. If I don’t, she’ll pester me until I do.”
Slade locked the door to her parents’
