Read First Sight (The Ivory Series, Book 1) Page 23

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  Taking a deep breath to reassure myself, my fingers rested on the door handle. Vaughan put his hand on my shoulder “It will be ok.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I’m here.”

  I could feel my heart pounding through my chest as I stepped inside. Mum looked up from the stove as she heard me approach. When she saw my face she dropped the wooden spoon in her hand and ran towards me. She studied my face, her mouth open to speak but words evading her. Her attention quickly turned to Vaughan and back to me. “Nicola! What happened? Are you alright?” her words came out in a whisper of shock.

  I knew I looked a sight. “I’m fine mum, it looks much worse than it actually is.”

  “Have you been to the hospital? Is your cheek broken? You need an x ray” her hands hovered shakily over my bruised eye and swollen lip.

  My hands were up defensively “I slipped in the bathroom and hit the vanity, I’m fine” this was the story Vaughan had fabricated for me. It was the most plausible.

  “Were you knocked out? Maybe you have a concussion, I’m taking you to the hospital” her arm curled around my shoulder and she tried to steer me to the front door.

  “No mum, I’m fine.” I said as I shrugged away from her. My chest tightened with pain, I hated lying to the people I cared for most.

  Mum stepped back and eyed Vaughan cautiously “Thank you for bringing her home Vaughan. I’ll take it from here” her voice slightly cooler than normal.

  “No” I protested “I want Vaughan to stay.”

  “It’s ok dear. I will take care of you” Mum hushed me.

  “Vaughan didn’t do this to me.”

  Mum looked taken aback, almost embarrassed “I didn’t say he had.”

  “But that’s what you’re thinking. Mum, I’m telling you, I slipped in the bathroom and hit the vanity.”

  “I really should be going” Vaughan broke in.

  “No, I want you to stay.”

  His voice was calm and soft as he looked into my face “It’s ok.”

  All my anger melted away and I nodded silently. He kissed me on the cheek and showed himself out. Mum’s eyes were still on me. “He didn’t do this” I whispered.

  “Ok. But you know, no man has any right to put his hands on you.”

  “I know that mum, but trust me when I say. Vaughan would never hurt me.”

  “Ok, ok. I don’t want you to get upset. Have you eaten?”

  “I’m not hungry” I started towards my room.

  “Nic” she stopped me when I was almost at the door “You know you can tell me anything.”

  I turned and smiled “I know mum” I felt a stabbing pain in my chest. I knew I could tell mum anything, but there were some things that were important to me. Things that weren’t mine to tell.