Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20861 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 104(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Vixen simply waited, sensing Riley's desire to say something else.
"What if it was really Mom?"
Her heart broke upon hearing this. "Oh, Riley. Don't go there—-"
"But what if it's really her?" Riley asked shakily.
"I know it's hard not to think about those things, but it's exactly what Jesus asks us to do in Matthew 6:34."
A few moments passed before Riley released a sigh. "I really like how you have a Bible verse for everything."
"I wasn't always like this, though," Vixen confessed candidly.
Riley's expression remained dubious. "I can't imagine you being mean."
"Oh, I don't mean I was different that way," Vixen was quick to clarify.
"So, if you got into trouble back then..."
"I'd just fake it."
"For real?"
It was Vixen's turn to sigh. "You wouldn't like the old me at all, Riley. I was so, so good at faking everything. I'd be the life of the party, but deep down inside, I was worried and insecure the entire time. I couldn't make myself stop pretending because I didn't ever want people to think I was weak."
"And now?"
A slight smile touched her lips. "It's the opposite."
Riley was visibly bewildered. "Like how?"
"I know I'm weak, and I don't mind that other people know this, too. I'll always be weak, and that's the truth."
"So...no girl power?"
"It's more like...I may be weak, but I draw power from knowing He's in control. It's basically Philippians 4:13 at work..."
Riley didn't need any prompting this time to look up the verse on her phone. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
"Exactly."
"And you really believe that?"
Vixen's heart ached anew at Riley's wistful expression. "Those words are true for all of us, Riley."
"But Mom..."
"What about her?"
"You know—"
"Do we know anything? You heard what the police said. She's a person of interest, not a suspect."
"But she was so paranoid about you...and..."
"Unfriendly?"
"Mean."
"Like I said, unfriendly."
The shame on Riley's face finally faded, and a small laugh escaped her. "Oh, Vix."
"Your mom barely knows me, okay? So who knows? We could still be friends—-" Vixen choked back a laugh at how the words had Riley looking at her like she had lost her mind.
"Don't look at me like that," Vixen protested. "I'm serious here. Your mom and I can be friends—-"
"No, you can't. Like, ever."
Vixen feigned a look of hurt. "Well, why not?"
"Because she hates your guts."
"Hate might not be the right word to use—-"
"You're right."
Oh, finally, some progress!
"Mom actually loathes you—-"
Or not.
"Okay, fine. I'm willing to admit that your mom might not yet be ready to be friends with me, but..." Vixen looked straight into Riley's eyes, asking, "Do you really believe your mom to be the type of person to try and attack me?"
"Yes."
"There, you see—-" Vixen broke off mid-speech when she realized what Riley had just said.
"She's never hurt anyone," Riley said unevenly. "But sometimes, she'd get so angry, and...she'd start screaming and throwing things. When someone gets that angry, isn't it only a matter of time before they do something...more?"
Fourteen
RULE WAS NO LONGER surprised to find Vixen still where he left her in the kitchen, but with her eyes squeezed shut. If someone had told him he would find comfort in seeing someone pray, he would have simply dismissed the words as a joke.
But everything was different now, and instead, he found himself thinking...
Maybe...
Maybe one day he and Riley would feel just as close to God as Vixen did.
Vixen opened her eyes as soon as she heard his footsteps, and her gaze flew to the gash on his head as he slid onto the bar stool next to hers.
"Does it hurt?"
Her concern gave him comfort even as guilt stung his conscience. "I'm sorry, Vixen."
She looked at him in confusion. "You're the one who got hurt because of me."
"But we both know the person who wanted to hurt you—-"
Vixen looked at him in dismay. "Oh, Rule. Not you, too."
His lips tightened. "I know you want to think good of everyone—-"
"It's not just that. As long as we don't have enough proof—-"
"I just got off the phone with Detective Sterne. The housekeeper at the Lighthouse said she saw Beatriz leave in a hurry. Flight is indicative of guilt—-"
"Indicative is the operative word, Rule," she countered softly. "It suggests, but it doesn't guarantee."
"Even Riley thinks the same thing," he said heavily.
"I know. And that's why we have to work harder at convincing her not to assume anything. Because that's the only thing we have now. Assumptions."
Rule drew a deep breath. His old self wanted to insist Vixen was being naïve, but because something in him had changed...
"You're right," he heard himself say. "I'm sorry. And I'll make it clear tomorrow to Riley not to assume anything either."
"Thank you."
Rule shook his head. "I should be the one to say that." He gently reached forward to tuck loose strands of her hair behind her ear. "Are you really alright?"