Nila's Hope (17 page)

Will sagged against his basement wall under the weight of his memories. Pain twisted his heart as the scene concluded. One evening he'd been laughing and dancing with Vixen, and the next she was dead of a drug overdose. He'd failed to save her.

But in last night's dream, time and time again, Vixen's face had morphed into Nila's. He rubbed his face, desperate to dispel the haunting images, but they replayed. Over and over. Finally he dropped his trowel and trudged upstairs.

Coffee. Maybe that would help.

He paused halfway up the stairs as the familiar sorrow pushed his shoulders down. He never even knew her real name. And he couldn't protect her. She was dead because he'd failed.

He straightened his shoulders. He couldn't fail Nila, too. He just couldn't.

 

****

 

“I take it that didn't go as well as you'd hoped?” Lydia held out a fresh cup of coffee to Nila.

Nila shook her head as she cradled the mug in her cold hands. “She didn't believe me. Just like that cop.”

Lydia patted the chair beside her in the breakfast nook. “We'll keep praying for Hayley. You did what you could, honey. Try not to fret about it, OK?”

Nila nodded as she sat. “I hope I'm wrong, that Gerard isn't Nick. But something inside me says he is.” She nibbled her lower lip. “I'm afraid for her.”

Lydia placed her warm hand on Nila's. “Is God still in control?”

Nila considered that. And nodded. “Yes.”

“Can He handle this?

She sighed. “Yes, He can. I get it.”

“So what are your plans for the day?”

Nila stretched her back as a smile warmed her face. “Will's getting his truck back this morning, and then he's taking me to get my learner's license. He said I shouldn't wait until spring. I should learn to drive in winter weather.” She glanced out the window. “Since we get so much of it.”

Dave had popped into the kitchen for a coffee refill and heard her response. “That's good news. I agree wholeheartedly. Smart young man you've got there.” He winked at Nila.

Heat crept up her neck into her face. She sipped her coffee and smiled. “I already booked my lessons. They start the third week of January.”

Dave patted her shoulder with his broad hand. “Good for you. Does that mean you'll want to buy a car soon, too?”

She shook her head. “I hadn't even thought about it until Will and I talked about it. I just figured I'd wait until spring for that.”

He sat opposite her and rubbed his chin. “Well, I might know of a good deal if you don't mind an older sedan. Mrs. Gorman doesn't drive anymore, and she wants to sell her ten-year-old Civic. Her price seems reasonable, and she told me it's never given her any trouble.”

Nila felt as though her world had suddenly expanded. A car? That meant freedom to come and go as she pleased. Independence! She jumped up and wrapped her arms around Pastor Dave's shoulders. “Thank you.” She stepped back just as quickly, but she couldn't resist returning his grin. “How soon can we look at it?”

“I'll give her a call. She's an early riser, and I imagine she would love to have company this morning, if you have time.”

She looked at the clock. “Will won't be here for at least two or three hours. If this works out, I could learn to drive in my own vehicle.” She lifted her face. “Thank you, Jesus.”

Dave picked up the phone. “I'll phone her right now.”

Her feet barely seemed to touch the floor as she skipped down the stairs. Her license and a car? She could hardly believe it. Her dreams of independence were finally coming true. She stumbled and had to grab the handrail. No, not all her dreams. A vision of a cozy apartment appeared and immediately faded. Would she ever feel ready to get her own place?

Was Nick holding her back? Or fear?

If only she had Lydia's kind of faith.

She nibbled her lip as she continued to descend.

 

****

 

Will saw it as soon as he drove up to the Harris home. Did they have company? He didn't recognize the car.

The front door flew open as soon as he parked, and Nila waved while stepping into her boots. Before she got her coat on, she nearly danced down the steps.

“Did you see it? Isn't it great? I can't believe it's mine.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the silver Honda Civic.

“You bought this? Where'd you get it? It's pretty cute.” He touched her nose with one gloved finger. “Not nearly as cute as you, though.”

She laughed and patted the hood of the car. “Mrs. Gorman sold it to me. Now I
have
to get my license.”

“Are you ready?”

“Absolutely.”

A few minutes later, Will stopped for a red light. “I'm really glad you got your car, Nila. I'll bet you'll soon wonder how you ever managed without it. Daniel's truck is great, but it's good to have my own wheels again.”

“I'm glad you got your truck back, too.” Her legs fidgeted, and she nibbled her lip.

Will pulled into the Saskatchewan Government Insurance lot and turned to Nila. “Are you nervous?”

“A little.” She followed his gaze to her legs. She held them still with her hands. “I've just about memorized the Drivers Handbook. And I found my papers from Driver's Ed.” She took a deep breath and opened the truck door. “I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be.”

Half an hour later, she clutched her Class 7 license in her hand as she and Will returned to his truck.

“That was easier than I'd thought.” She smiled up at him. “Thanks for making this happen. Now I'm counting the days until the twenty-fourth of January. I can't wait to actually drive.”

He couldn't help it. He pulled her close and touched her rosy mouth with his firm lips. “I knew you could do it,” he whispered. “You just needed a chance. And now you're one step closer to that independence you crave—and deserve. With this and your new car, nothing can stop you.”

Her eyes were huge as she gazed up into his. “Thank you.”

“For the ride or the kiss?”

Nila's face bloomed a dark rose.

He relented. “Guess I shouldn't tease. But I'm not sorry I kissed you.”

She touched one gloved finger to her lips. “Me, neither.” Then she moved her hand onto his arm, stopping him before he could open the truck door. “Getting my learner's means an awful lot to me.”

He kissed the top of her head and opened the door for her. “My pleasure, ma'am,” he drawled. He studied her profile as she fastened her seatbelt.

She glanced at him and cleared her throat.

“What?”

She fidgeted and nibbled her lower lip. “I…you've already done so much for me.” She turned to face him. “May I ask one more favor?”

“Of course.” Pleasure warmed him. He reached over and touched her cheek. “Anything.”

She took a deep breath. “I need those professional driving lessons, but I wondered if you would get me started. The more comfortable I am driving my car, the easier the official lessons will be.” She smiled, her eyes dancing. “Besides, I just can't wait to get behind the wheel of my very own car.”

“We could start tomorrow if you want.”

“Really? Will, you're the best!”

His heart swelled, and it was all he could do to keep from pulling her into his arms. He began to lean toward her, but his tight seatbelt restrained him. He grimaced and started the truck. “Yeah, I must be.”

Once they were headed toward the store, Will glanced over at Nila. “Do you have any ideas about paint colors? I got two coats of drywall mud on, so the walls are almost ready.”

“I do.” She cleared her throat and continued, “I think a warm beige would work well with blue and green accents. That's masculine enough for you and should work for Hannah when she comes. What do you think?”

“I think I'll leave that to you. I don't know how you put colors together and make it all look good.” He glanced at her again and savored the sparkle in her eyes. “That's why we make such a good team. You're great with all the finishing touches, and I'm…well, I must be good for something.”

She laughed, a carefree sound that echoed in his heart.

 

 

 

 

19

 

At the hardware store, Nila went straight for the wall of paint chips while Will headed toward the plumbing department.

“I'll pick up what I need to plumb in the bath fixtures and meet you here in a few minutes,” he told her as he walked away.

“OK,” Nila murmured, already engrossed in the variety of colors. She picked out two color chips and read the backs. “Muskrat and Silk Stockings. I wonder who gets to make up these names. Wouldn't that be a fun job?”

“Are you having fun, Nila?” The low, menacing voice came from behind her, and she froze. “I told you I'd be watching you. Did you miss me? Or were you too busy having
fun
after you got me arrested?”

Nila turned slowly, not wanting to believe her ears—or her eyes. The squeak in her voice betrayed her. “Nick.”

“In the flesh,
darling
.” He grabbed a fistful of her hair and tugged. “You didn't really think a haircut would fool me, did you? You belong to me. And you always will.”

She jerked her head back and clenched her teeth.

His fist still held several hairs.

“Don't touch me,” she hissed. “You're not supposed to be here. Do you
want
to go back to jail?”

He grabbed the arm he'd broken before and twisted it. “You put me there once, but I'm never going back. And if you make trouble, your boyfriend is going to have an accident. Got it?”

Pain radiated up and down her arm, and a whimper escaped. “Please…don't.” She bit her lip until she tasted blood.

He squeezed harder and pulled her up against him. “Got it?”

Panic choked her. She couldn't answer. She could only pray. “Jesus, help me.”

A strange calm washed over her. She turned to look her enemy in the face. “You don't own me anymore, Nick. And if you don't leave right now, I'm going to scream.”

“You little…” Nick squeezed even harder until she thought her arm would snap in two.

She closed her eyes and yelled. “Help! Someone help me, please!” Her arm suddenly hung limp at her side, and she slumped to the floor as her legs gave out.

“Are you all right, miss?”

The man's voice was unfamiliar.

Nila opened her eyes and stared at a balding, heavyset man in a store uniform.

“I—I…” She looked past him. Nick was gone.

A crowd began to gather, but she couldn't see Will. Desperation made her voice squeak again. “Where's Will?”

“Let me help you up.” The man extended one beefy hand to her, and she grabbed it with her good hand and pulled herself up.

“Now,” he said once she was standing, “who is this Will, and what did he do?”

Nila shook her head and dizziness rocked her. She leaned against the wall. “Will is my friend. He didn't do anything. But Nick did.”

“All right, you've got me confused.” The man looked down his nose at her.

Nila looked from face to face in the crowd now surrounding her. “Did any of you see the man who grabbed me? About this tall,” she indicated a height above her head. “He's wearing a black parka and dark blue toque. He was right here.”

Heads shook in denial, and people drifted away.

“Anyone?”

“Let's get you somewhere quiet, miss.” The store employee took her bruised arm, and she flinched.

“Don't. That hurts.” She pulled out of his grasp. “I don't need to quiet down. I just need my friend. Could you please have Will Jamison paged? I'll wait here.” She met his eyes without blinking, despite the fact that panic continued to rise. She hoped he wouldn't notice.

He gave her one last intense look and walked away muttering, “Christmas. Sure brings out the crazies.”

Nila grabbed paint chips in several shades of blue, green, and brown without really looking at them. She stuffed them into her pocket with her good hand as she heard Will's name announced over the loudspeaker. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She felt every heartbeat thump in her injured arm.

“Nila, what happened?”

Will.
She opened her eyes. He looked like an avenging angel, his eyes ablaze and fists clenched.

“Nick,” she said before she felt his arms gently pull her to him. She whimpered when he touched her left arm.

He growled something she couldn't hear and put his arm around her waist instead. “Let's get out of here.”

Memory clicked on, and Nila looked up at him with eyes that threatened to overflow. “Did you get your plumbing stuff?”

Will frowned and shook his head. “That doesn't matter. You do. Come on. I'm taking you home.”

 

****

 

Will kept his arm around Nila as she held an ice-pack against her arm.

Pastor Dave paced, his brow furrowed.

“I still think we should call the police. Nick broke the conditions of his parole, and they need to know that.”

“But they won't believe me,” Nila said. Her wide eyes looked wounded. “No one saw him. At least no one admitted it.”

“What about cameras?” Lydia perched on the edge of the couch, hands clasped. “Those stores have cameras everywhere, don't they?”

“I'm going to make some calls, including one to the police.” Dave marched into the kitchen.

Will felt her tremble against his side, and he tightened his arm around her waist. “How's your arm doing? Are you sure you don't want an X-ray?”

Nila shook her head without looking at him. “It's the same arm he broke before, so it's extra sensitive.” She sighed, a sound that tore at his gut. “I've been through this before, you know. I wish…I wish I'd remembered what I was taught in the self-defence course at Haven House.”