"Shut up. And if you argue about this I'll … well, I'll find some way to persuade you to my side."
She's quiet and then says, "You're right. I'm freaked out and every little noise makes me jump out of my skin."
"We'll sort it out. Do you think you can sleep some more?"
"Oh, God, no."
She decides to get up and Lynn goes back to the office. There are a few things she needs to handle for me. I'm going to spend the day with Vivi.
As Lynn is leaving, she hands Vivi a scrap of paper. "This is my cell if you need anything. And I mean it. Call me. I'll gladly help."
"Thank you for being so kind."
After she's gone, I say, "I believe you've made a friend."
"Lynn's great."
"I'd be so lost without her. She's my right hand. And I mean that."
We watch movies and TV as I wait on her the rest of the day. It's been ages since I've spent a day doing nothing and it's weird. Vivi dozes a lot, which is what she needs. I make sure she takes her pain pills every four to six hours. Though they make her pretty dopey, they at least help her rest.
When it's time to go to bed, she asks me to sleep with her. "I know you probably don't want to. You probably regret asking me to stay here. But I'm frightened and I'm usually not that kind of person."
"You lived in the scariest place ever and didn't bat an eye. So you don't have to convince me. I don't mind sleeping with you, Vivi." Then I laugh. "Hell, I've been trying to get you into my bed for how long now?"
She tries to muster up a laugh, but it quickly fades. "And look what you ended up with. Something from a freak show."
"Oh, come on. You're not something from a freak show. And this is temporary. It'll fade away. One day, you won't even remember how you looked."
"You're wrong. From now on, this will always be the face I'll see in the mirror. That man has shattered every image I had of myself. He stole my happiness and replaced it with fear."
I hate the agony I hear in her voice.
"We'll get it back, Vivi. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Prescott."
Chapter 20
Vivi
Everything terrifies me. Prescott is the only thing that stabilizes me. He wraps me in his arms and makes everything better again.
But isn't that messed up? I can't go through life running to him every time I get frightened. I lie in bed thinking about this as his larger than life body cocoons me.
In the morning, I tell him I need to get help. "I thought about it during the night. I have to gain my independence again."
He smiles. "Vivi, I'm glad to hear that. But this happened on Wednesday. It's Saturday. You're still recovering. It's not like you've waited three or four months."
"No, I just want to get a jump on it. I can't stand feeling terrified all the time and the thought of stepping foot outside this apartment freaks the hell out of me. Like really bad." My voice rises involuntarily on the last sentence.
He gestures with his hands as if he's pushing down the air. "Okay, I get it. The attorneys I've hired to handle this case are supposed to send over a list of recommended therapists. As soon as they do, we'll make the calls until we find someone you gel with. Sound good to you?"
"Attorneys you hired?"
"Yeah, we are going to get this guy. And if you try to argue with me, I can assure you it will fall on deaf ears."
"Well, then. I guess I won't argue then. But I was going to thank you and also add that I don't know how I can repay you."
"There will be no repayment."
When I go to speak, his hand flies up. "Stop. We'll be using a firm the company keeps on retainer. They have an entire department that handles criminal cases and will do the prosecuting."
"Won't the state do that? Since I was a victim?"
"Yes, but we're going to do everything we can to make sure he goes to prison. The district attorney will have some assistance from us, you might say."
"Oh, I didn't know you could do that."
"Technically, you usually don't. My firm has connections. The DA is close to one of the partners, so information will be shared."
"Is that legal?"
"Yes, because it's evidence. We're not doing anything illegal. Not to change the subject, but would you feel comfortable staying here alone? I was going to run out and pick up something for breakfast."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just make sure you lock the door."
"I will. Don't forget, there's security in the lobby too."
After he leaves, the mirror beckons me. Ever since I woke up in the hospital and peeked at myself, I've avoided looking again. But an urge strikes and I have to see what the damage is. I want to do it while Prescott's not here.
His bathroom is massive and the mirrors over the sinks are too. They were hard to avoid when I was in here bathing, but I kept my head averted. Now, I lift it and stare. The image is every bit as ugly as it was in the hospital. I thought maybe the swelling had gotten better, but I've turned a hideous shade of purple, and my cheeks are still distorted even though some of the swelling has gone down. Reminding myself it could've been worse, like my skull could've been smashed in or I might have died, I steel myself and leave. I'm not sure when I want to see this face again.
This is only part of my worries. What the hell am I going to do about work? I can't possibly wait tables with a broken arm. Or tend bar, for that matter. Fuck my life. But I learned long ago that self-pity only makes it worse. Focusing on the bright side is what I need to do.
Positive thought number one: I survived the attack.
Grabbing the remote, I search for something to watch on TV. Prescott has been more than generous to me and I must find a way to thank him, only I'm afraid it will have to wait a while. I'm basically helpless at the moment.
I'm dozing off when the noise of the door opening wakes me.
"It's only me," Prescott's calls out. He walks in with his arms full, followed by one of the bellmen from the lobby. "Vivi, this is Kaz. He's usually on duty during the weekends. I told him if you needed anything he should help."
"Oh, thank you and nice to meet you, Kaz." Kaz is an older gentleman, perhaps in his late fifties, with wiry gray hair. His kind smile puts me at ease.
"A pleasure, miss." He gives a slight bow of his head and then says, "Will there be anything else, Mr. Beckham?"
"No, let's unload the cart and you can take it back down with you."
"Yes, sir."
Cart? Sitting up, I crane my neck and see they brought a cart up with a bunch of bags on it, but before I can see exactly what it holds, Prescott blocks my view. Then he reaches in his pocket and pulls out his wallet to tip Kaz.
After Kaz leaves, Prescott hands me something he's holding behind his back. "I brought you a surprise."
"Please don't. You've done so much already."
"Not really." He moves one arm so I can see what he has and I laugh. He holds a stuffed wolf with a makeshift sling on its front leg. He has it rigged so it looks like the wolf is sitting with his front leg folded over.
"He's so cute."
"It's a she. Her name is Vivacious. After you. When you get your arm out of that cast, you can take Vivacious's off."
"Vivacious. Clever."
"I'm going to call her Viv. Oh, here." He hands me one long-stemmed red rose. "There is perfection in a rose. The petals are velvet and delicate, yet made to weather any storm-and the scent can't be imitated. Even though the best perfumeries have tried, none can quite get it right. You are a rose, Vivi."
Tapping a loose fist against my heart, I try to hold it together. I will not cry. I will not cry.
"Hey, it's all cool, Vivi."
That does it. Tears tumble freely. This big lug, this asshole, just turned me into mush. Again.
Strong arms support me as I sag against him. And he smells so fucking good. How can I even notice this through snot, tears, and a swollen face?
"Thank you. A million times over," I mumble into his neck. "You're so kind."
He rumbles with a laugh. "Not many people would agree. And I can remember a time … " his voice trails off.
"Yahhhh, I was wrong, okay?" I pull away and spear him with my gaze. "You … I don't know what I'd do without your help. Prescott, thank you." I reach for his cheek, but he moves away and takes my hand instead.
"Vivi." The emotion in his voice is punctuated by his raw gaze. "I, uh, I'm not very good at this, so bear with me. I'm here for you as long as you need me. And I meant every word. You have strength in you that I don't think you understand. Your backbone is filled with titanium. After everything you've been through, most women-hell, most men-would've curled up and crawled into a hole, but not you. You're still here, fighting. And no, you're not at your best right now, but you will be. One day, you'll look back on this day and remember what I said."