Redemption (The Restoration Series Book 1) (22 page)

 My breathing quickened and I quickly let go of my mother’s hands, folding into myself. I tried my calming techniques, but they didn’t work. Tears started forming and I felt myself begin to lose all control. I bolted out of my seat and ran
for the back door, pushing open the screen so roughly that it slammed against the side of the house. I didn’t care that I was barefoot, I just ran. I ran to my tree, letting the fears and worries overwhelm me.

 I arrived at the base of the trunk and crumpled to my knees, sobbing loudly as flashes of my torment flooded my mind. It felt like I was clinging to the tree for hours before I finally felt a little calm take root inside.

 
“Nova.” Davis’ voice whispered from a few feet away. His approach had to have been muted by my cries.

 “Go away.” My voice broke as I tried to wipe the steady stream of tears from my reddened face. He knew not to touch me without my permission, but he took a step closer, keeping his hands to himself.

 “No.”

 “Please, Davis. I just need to be alone.”

 “That’s the last thing you need.” He paused, waiting for my eyes to meet his before taking yet another step closer.

 “You need comfort. You need to feel safe and protected. You need love and happiness, and joy.” His fingers softly reached out toward my cheek, waiting to see if I’d give him permission. I nodded minutely and he proceeded, running the pad of his fingers across my flushed face, wiping the streams of tears away.

 “You need to know that nothing will ever hurt you again. You need someone to promise you that, Nova. You need to have someone you can depend on.”

 My heart beat a little faster at his words, trying to take in everything he was saying, but he pressed on.

 “You need someone to tell you that you’re perfect. You’re not damaged. You’re whole and wonderful and beautiful. Above all else, you have to know, my beautiful Nova, that you are wanted.”

 “Davis.” I cried a little, planting my face in his chest. My tears still flowed freely, streaming down my face and falling to his shirt, wetting the spot above his heart. He gently wrapped his arms around me and held me to him, offering me the strength I had come to seek from him in recent days. When I lifted my face to his, he placed both hands gently
around my cheeks. His eyes were rimmed
in red, but determination was flowing out.

 “You need to know that all of that is true, sweetheart. You need to know that you are all of those things, to me.” His breath hitched as he held my gaze. “Lastly, you need to know that I want to be the one who makes you believe all of those things.”

 I didn’t flinch when he brushed my mussed hair from my face and ran his fingers down my arms. With
gentleness he pulled my arms around his waist and moved his arm around my shoulders again, pulling me into his chest. The smell of leather and pine surrounded me and I pulled him as close as I could.

 As I cried, the broken pieces of me began to shift and move. His touch brought peace as he stood there, stoically holding me until every last bit of pain had fought its way out of my system.

 “I’m sorry.” I apologized, straightening in his arms, and wiping the dark spot of my tears from his shirt.

 “You don’t have to apologize, Nova. You can cry on me anytime you need to.”

 His face was only inches from mine as I glanced up. He held his face still, not moving closer. The
battle of wanting him to take that chance rushed through my mind before he broke his hold on me and stepped away, causing me to nearly whimper at the loss. I held
my ground, wrapping my arms around me.

 I guess
he’s doesn’t want me like that, then.

 He noticed my stance and cleared his throat, picking up on my feelings of rejection.

 “Sweetheart.” He spoke softly, waiting for me to meet his gaze. I lifted my eyes to see shining eyes.

 “I need you to know that when the time is right, I am yours. It’s in your hands, love. When you know without a doubt that you belong
with me, you will make the choice. I’ll be here waiting, for eternity if that’s what it takes. But just know that you have me. Everything inside of me is yours, Nova. When you’re ready.”

 All I could do was
nod, before he gently reached out and slipped his hand into mine.

 “Come on. Let’s walk back.” I nodded, letting him lead me up the hill and across the field toward my house.

 “Thank you.” I finally spoke as we reached the wide swinging gate.

 “Anytime.”

 “So, did you know that we’d have to go back to Sydney?”

 “Jared had called and mentioned it, but I was hoping they’d change their mind. It’s a lot to ask of you. Too much, if I’m being honest.”

 We moved around the house and up the steps to the front porch and I led him to the porch swing. He sat down and gently pulled me
into his side. I relented and relaxed beside him, pressing into his warmth.

 “Will you go back with us?”

 “To Sydney?” He asked as his fingers lightly drew circles on my arm.

I nodded, resting my head on his shoulder.

 “Of course I’m going with you. There’s no way I’d let you go back there without me.”

 At his words, the tension inside me melted a little. The screen door creaked open and my parents walked outside, a little taken back at the sight of Davis and I snuggled up together on the swing. My father looked carefully at Davis, and I felt Davis nod. My mother quickly stepped over to me, pulling me into her arms.

 “Sorry, I ran out like that,” I spoke softly in her ear as she hugged me tightly to her.

 “I’m sorry, baby girl. So sorry.” Eventually, she let go and my father reached down for me, and I willingly stood and went into his embrace.

 “I wish I could keep you from all of this pain, baby girl.”

 “I
know, Dad. It’s going to be really hard, but I’ll have you and mom. I’ll have Davis.”

 Dad nodded, slipping his arm around Mom once again. I glanced back at Davis, then my dad cleared his throat, pulling mom with him back inside the house after saying a quiet goodnight to Davis.

 “I better get back.” Davis stood and stepped toward me. I moved into his chest again, resting my head
above his heart. He instinctively wrapped his arms
round me, holding me gently.

 “Will I still see you tomorrow?”

 “Yes, sweetheart. I’d never break plans with you if I can help it.”

 “Good.”

 He tipped his chin down and kissed my forehead gently.

 “I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful.”

 My heart began to mold itself together again with every word he spoke.

 “All right. Good night.”

 He waited for me to walk inside and shut the door behind me before he stepped off the stairs and headed across the field into the night. I watched him as long as I
could, until I couldn’t see his shadow anymore.

 Moving up the stairs, I quickly dressed for bed, slipped into my heavy covers, and started to fade into the darkness. I was almost asleep when my phone buzzed beside me. Picking it up off the nightstand, I slid my finger across the screen to reveal the message.

 Davis:
I’m yours when you’re ready. Good night, beautiful.

 I smiled a little and responded.

 Nova:
Good night.

* * *

 
My feet were slipping as I gripped the chains above my head. Thick warm blood laced the floor beneath me as it poured out of the wounds on my thighs. Strength eluded me as I attempted to stand on my feet, causing me to bear most of my weight on my chained wrists. The metallic stench filled the air around me as tried to keep myself from getting sick. I knew I had lost a significant amount of blood. Lethargy filled my bones as I fought to keep my eyes open. It was at the moment that I was about to succumb to the darkness completely that my door groaned open, letting in the young doctor. His eyes went wide in horror as he saw me hanging from the chains attached to the cross beam above my cell. His bag made a thud on the ground as he dropped it.

 
“Nova. Stay awake,” he whispered as he rushed toward me and reached up to release my arms. As soon as I was free, I collapsed. He caught me before I hit the ground and laid me across the mattress.

 
“What happened?” He pulled his bag toward me, quickly retrieving new gauze to clean the re-opened wounds.”

 
I turned my eyes toward him and winced as he prodded around, cleaning the gashes once again. “I don’t know. I was asleep when he came in.”

 
Anger filled the young doctor’s face as I watched him work methodically around my wounds. When he was finished, he reached behind him and started to clean the puddle of blood on the floor.

 
“I’m sorry, Nova. We’re going to get you out of here. I promise.”

 
I wanted to believe him, I truly did, but the sliver of hope that I had been holding on to was finally bled out of me. It was gone, and I was just a shell. The Nova that existed days ago, was finally beaten and gone.

* * *

 When I woke, fear rippled through my skin as did an eerie sense that someone was watching me. I glanced at my small bedside lamp as it dimly glowed across my bed, then looked around my room to see if my parents were there, but it was empty. Taking a few deep breaths, I pushed myself up and moved toward my window, looking out the field. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so I dropped the blinds and closed the curtains.

 Dismissing my worry, I moved to gather the few items I’d need to get ready for my morning appointment. Davis didn’t know I was going to change our plans for the day. He didn’t know I was going to ask him to come to my appointment with me to see Dr. Lillian.

 I slipped into a long denim skirt that fell to my ankles and pulled an ivory blouse on to match. I slipped my sandals on my feet and made my way downstairs. My blonde hair was pulled up into a messy bun as I wanted to be relaxed today. I needed to be.

 Davis arrived at his usual time and my father greeted him at the door. Over the last few weeks, my father had really come to respect and love Davis. I watched as the two of them hugged briefly and bantered back and forth about the morning and their ranches.

 “Hi,” I spoke softly, stepping into the kitchen where they stood, sipping mugs of coffee.

 Davis’ eyes left my fathers and took me in. His smile brought calm to my insides and I felt like I could breathe easier.

 “Hey, beautiful.” He smirked at my dad’s choking, then stepped toward me, pulling me into his arms and kissing me softly on the cheek.

 I giggled a little at my parent’s shocked reactions. They stood there as different emotions crossed their faces. Worry was prominent, but after seeing my smile and acceptance of Davis, they relaxed and only beamed at me. My mother wiped a tear from her face.

 “So where are you guys headed today?” My father spoke first, setting his coffee mug on the counter and wrapping his arms around my mother’s waist.

 Davis looked down at me and shrugged. “Where do you want to go?”

 “Well, I was hoping you’d go with me to the center. I have an appointment with Dr. Lillian this morning, and I think it’d be a good idea for us both to talk to her.”

 He froze, startled at my revelation. After a few beats, he instinctively stepped back tossing a more cautious look at me.

 “Nova, are you sure about that? I mean, I’ll go, but are you ready for me to be in there with you?”

 I nodded. I had thought about this all week. I knew it was time to discuss things with him, and Dr. Lillian could help me get there.

 “Yes. I already told Lillian that I’d like to have a session with you.” I worried he wasn’t ready for this, but I waited.

 A few moments of deep breathing escaped his lips as he kept his eyes focused on mine. It was as if he was seeking out the permission he needed before stepping further into my world. I waited for him to realize that I wanted him to be in it.

 He nodded gently. “All right. I’ll go.”

 I stepped back to his chest and wrapped my arms around him.

 “Thank you.”

 “I’d do anything for you, beautiful. You know that by now.”

 I heard a sniffle from my mother as my dad said goodbye and tugged her up the stairs, leaving us to go about our day.

 It was sunny and bright as we stepped out of the house toward the waiting truck. Once again the
feeling of being watched halted me in my steps and I gripped Davis’ hand tightly, glancing in all directions.

 “What’s wrong?” Davis questioned, pulling me closer to his side, looking around the area to find what had made me stop.

 I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary so I took a deep breath. “It’s nothing. Just had a weird feeling.”

 “What kind of feeling?” Worry etched across his brow and he turned to face me. I shrugged, trying to let it go and move, but he halted me. “Tell me.”

 A deep sigh left my lips and I glanced away. “I don’t know. I just had this weird feeling when I woke up that someone was watching me, and then again when we stepped outside. It’s probably nothing, Davis. Just after effects of my nightmares.”

 His calloused hand came up to my cheek, turning my face to meet his. “It’s not nothing, Nova. If you feel something is off, we’ll check it out. Even if it is the “after effects” of your nightmares, as you say. I’d rather know you’re safe, and make sure you feel that way.”

 I nodded, and we continued on to the truck. I waited as he held my door open, and his hands gently guided me inside. As he walked around the truck, I saw him pull out his phone and make a quick call. By the time he made it to the driver’s seat, he was finished and had a firm look
on his face.

 “Davis.”

 “Mmmhmm?” he said distractedly as he backed up to turn down the drive.

 “You okay?”

 He sighed and then grinned a little at me. “I’m fine, beautiful.”

 There he was. The soft, caring, loving, protector of mine. We took the highway and rolled down the windows, letting the Texas sun kiss our skin and the wind float around us. It wasn’t long until we pulled up to the center. When we did, we saw Ellie running around the jungle gym with her arms stretched outward, tilting every which way as if she was an airplane.