Page 67 of Wasted
She smoothed her features. Hopefully, she hadn’t let her momentary apprehension show. Spring and her other siblings needed her to be strong, not wallowing in fear and self-pity. Oh, how she hoped this situation wouldn’t shake them or unsettle them in any way. She would never forgive herself if it did.
She managed another smile. “Well, thank you for the update. I’m grateful I might be released tomorrow. Thanks for coming all this way to tell me.”
“I didn’t want you to be alone.” Spring’s gaze traveled up and away, as if surveying the room. Was she thinking of the rehab center that had been her own prison for too many months?
Sadness squeezed Victoria’s ribs. “You don’t have to stay if this reminds you of the rehab center.”
Spring’s gaze jumped to Victoria as if the statement surprised her. Did she think Victoria had forgotten or not understood how she had felt then, when Spring’s paralysis was new and seemed to have destroyed her life?
“I’ve never given you enough credit. Or thanks.” Spring’s eyebrows lowered. “You’ve done so much for all of us. Me, especially. And I’m ashamed to say I’ve never thanked you for any of it.”
Victoria stepped closer to the bars, closer to her sister. “There’s no need to thank me.”
“But I want to.” Spring lifted her chin. “You stepped into Mom’s shoes for me and the other kids. And you’ve done an amazing job.”
Victoria stood silent. She’d never expected any of her siblings to recognize what she’d tried to do or thank her for the effort. She certainly didn’t deserve that.
“I’m sorry that I made your job more difficult through the years. I’ve been so ungrateful.”
“No.” Victoria moved near enough to see her sister through the gap in the bars. “I need to apologize for making you feel unworthy for so many years. I failed to help you and make sure you knew you were loved and valued.”
Spring shook her head. “That wasn’t your fault. Dad and I always had issues, and that’s the heart of it. But I was also looking in the wrong places for worth and purpose. I’ve found both in Jesus now.”
Victoria nodded, a witness to Spring’s transformation since she’d become more grounded in Christ and found her value in His love. “I’m so thankful for that.”
“Me, too.” Spring’s expression remained serious as she watched Victoria. “And I’m thankful you were there with me at the rehab center when Luke…”
Held them hostage. Spring didn’t need to finish the sentence for Victoria to know she was referring to the shooter that had held them and others at gunpoint for what had felt like an eternity.
“She knows how to do as she’s told.” The shooter’s comment about Victoria echoed in her memory, as fresh and sharp as if he’d just spoken. She had done her best to cooperate, to keep the peace and keep the criminal calm—a difficult task while Spring’s now-fiancé, Torin, had kept angering the shooter with his attempts to free them.
But in these four months since it was over, she continually questioned her decision to cooperate with the shooter’s instructions that final time. She had thought it was the right choice, the safer choice for Spring and the other vulnerable hostages. But when she’d learned what had happened afterward…
And here Spring was, thanking her. Regret squeezed Victoria’s throat. “Nonsense.” She could see the moment like it was yesterday, looking over her shoulder as she’d left Spring with a killer. “I should have stayed with you. Then perhaps you wouldn’t have almost been killed.”
“You had to leave me to save the others. You had to take Bradley to safety, and I’m so glad you did.”
It was kind of Spring to say so.
“When you left, it was like a wakeup call to me.” Spring’s fingers tightened on the arms of her wheelchair, and she glanced away. “I hadn’t realized how badly I had been treating you until then. And how wonderful you’d been to me. Not just when I was paralyzed but my whole life, especially since Mom…” Spring landed her gaze on Victoria, her eyes glistening with moisture.
“Thank you, Victoria. Thank you for that night. I remember you woke me to tell me, just like I’d asked you to. And you held me when I cried. ‘I’m here. I love you.’” Two tears escaped and trailed down Spring’s cheeks. “You kept saying that over and over.” She wiped the tears away with her fingers. “And I really, really needed to hear it.”
The comforting words had come easily to Victoria that night, because her own breaking heart had yearned to hear them in her mother’s voice. She had ached to feel her mother’s arms around her, smoothing her forehead and telling her everything would be fine.
But there had been no comforter for her that night when her world had shattered. When she’d born the weight of her horrible mistake and the crushing pain of grief at the same time. When she’d become a mother to four children at the age of fifteen.
Encroaching tears burned as they reached her eyes. But she blinked them back, swallowing down the lump filling her throat. Spring still needed her to be strong. All of her siblings did. “I’m thankful the Lord used me, though I know I’ve fallen short many times through the years.”
Spring shook her head as if she disagreed. “You’ve stepped into Mom’s shoes better than anyone else could have. You were God’s gift to us during that time and since.” Her lips firmed into a line. “I wanted to make sure you know that.” Her gaze traveled across the bars of the cell. “Though I suppose this isn’t the ideal place to have a heart-to-heart.” A half-smile pulled up the corners of her mouth.
Victoria grabbed at the humor for a distraction from the heavier emotions pushing in on her. It would be easier to stay strong if she made light of the situation and stopped focusing on the past. “You must think I’ll be in here for a very long time.”
Spring let out a laugh. “No, no. I’m positive Dad won’t let you stay here for more than one night. You should’ve heard how mad he was that the judge wouldn’t hold your bail hearing today instead.” She gave Victoria a rueful smile. “Apparently, he’s the only judge in the county our dad can’t get to do his bidding.” Her smile faded quickly. “But you know he doesn’t like anybody pushing his kids around.”
Victoria nodded. “I know.” And it was a good sign Spring realized that now, too. It would help Spring to mend things with their dad if she recognized he did have some positive qualities—that he did love her and all his family, in his own way.
A click and sliding sound drew their attention to the door. It opened, and the female officer stepped into the room again.
