Page 131 of Axe Backwards
With a wave, Henri led us into a small room off the kitchen. “My brother Remy built the bookcases.”
One wall was floor-to-ceiling bookcases and on the other was a beautiful crib. A rocking chair stood in the corner, flanked by baskets overflowing with toys and blankets.
“Mom did some shopping.” Jude pulled the closet door open, revealing rows of brand-new baby clothes.
“You didn’t have to do all this.” My voice was hoarse with emotion. It was incredible how quickly they’d gotten all this set up. We’d only been at Alice’s house for a few hours.
Back in the kitchen, Mom was pulling her famous peanut butter cookies out of the oven. “Lovewell moves fast,” she said,eyes glinting. “I sent a few texts, and people started showing up. The crib was Thor’s. They don’t need it since he’s already learned to jump out of it. The rocking chair came from Pascal and Parker Gagnon.”
Tears welled in my eyes and my heart clenched as she talked about all the people who’d gone out of their way to help.
“The food brigade will start tomorrow. This freezer will be full,” Mom joked.
Vic was still marveling at the stocked house as I draped an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“What do you think?”
“I think we’re really lucky.”
Vicand I lay on the king-size bed that night with Tess sleeping between us. I couldn’t stop staring at the two of them. I wasn’t sure I’d ever sleep again. Not when I’d have to watch over my girls and keep them safe.
“Are you okay?” she asked, stroking Tess’s cheek. “The fire must have brought up a lot of difficult emotions for you.”
“Yes and no.” I blew out a breath. “Right now I’m still feeling the adrenaline, and the fear won’t go until Denis is behind bars.”
She worried her lip, her focus fixed on Tess. “I did this,” she whispered. “All of it. I poked the bear. He warned me not to mess with him, not to refuse his money.”
Sighing, I cupped her face. “He’s a violent criminal. You did nothing wrong.”
“But you and Tess could have been hurt,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “He’s done so much damage.”
“He tried, but he failed.” I swiped at the tracks of moisture on her cheeks. “The fire was scary, yes. But we’re okay. That’s all that matters. Our things can be replaced. People can’t.”
She nodded tentatively, her lip trembling.
“I’m proud of you for standing up to him. For being brave enough to collect evidence and help the investigation. You’re fucking spectacular.”
Her body deflated. “I’m not. I’m a pathetic thirty-five-year-old woman with nothing to show for her life—”
“Stop,” I said sharply.
Eyes widening, she snapped her mouth shut.
I admired Vic. Hell, I was in love with her. But I hated how she talked about herself. The way she constantly put herself down. If we were going to move forward, she had to stop.
Words had never been my thing. Expressing myself was practically impossible. Jumping out of a plane was easier than processing and explaining my emotions. But Vic had taught me to be honest with myself and others. She pushed me to be better every day and to keep going even when life felt like too much. Using the strength she and my baby girl gave me, I garnered all my nerve, ready to lay myself bare.
“When I moved back here so I could process my grief and put together a life for Tess, I never imagined I’d find a friend.” I grasped her hip and gave it a squeeze. “But to find you? A best friend and the love of my life all rolled into one person? It’s unfathomable.”
Vic gasped and her eyes went glassy again.
“I’m ready to build forever with you. Slowly. If you’re not there yet, I’ll wait. But you should know that Tess and I are all-in.”
The tears had returned with a vengeance. “I’m a mess,” she hiccupped. “I don’t deserve it.”
“You deserve everything. And I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you that. Our happily ever after might not be traditional, but it will be ours.”
“I love you too.” She smiled, her eyes shining with a mixture of joy and tears. “But I’m scared I’ll mess it up. That I won’t be enough for you or for Tess.”
