I needed to be the love of someone’s life, like Mom was for Steve. They’d both waited a long time, Mom after a short marriage that ended in heartbreak, Steve after a long, loveless marriage that ended with his wife dying of a heart attack two years before he met Mom. I hoped I didn’t have to wait as long as Mom but I also knew down deep in my soul I needed to wait for that special person who felt that way for me, just me and only me so I could feel safe giving that feeling back to him.
Max was silent through my thoughts then, before he made the next turn, he asked, “You still thinkin’ about your Dad?”
“No,” I replied truthfully this time. My father was the last thing on my mind, which was the only fortunate thing that came from the vicious twists and turns of my day.
“That Niles guy?” Max pressed.
“No,” I replied, again truthfully.
Max was silent again while he made the next turn and he noted, “Somethin’ else is eatin’ you, babe,” but before I could comment, he pulled in a sharp breath.
I looked at him then followed his eyes. Then I pulled in a sharp breath too.
Firstly, there was a Subaru parked in front of the A-Frame. Mindy and a tall man, the sun shining on their hair and both of them were leaning their backs against the Subaru’s hatchback. Secondly, there was my rental car at the edge of Max’s front clearing, obviously, and quite liberally, having been vandalized.
“What the f**k?” Max clipped as he turned into the lane, drove down it and parked behind the rental.
He didn’t glance at me when he got out. I followed him, my eyes also glued to the rental.
It had been nearly covered in spray paint including the windows. The brake lights had been busted out, their plastic shards in the gravel of Max’s drive. The tires were flat, all four of them. The wing mirrors were hanging drunkenly by wires, the mirrors shattered.
“Appears you got an enemy,” the tall man said, he and Mindy walking up to us.
I glanced at him. He had dark red-brown hair, somewhat familiar blue eyes and tanned skin. He was nearly as handsome as Max and, now that I was becoming somewhat of an expert at identifying them, I noted he was also total Mountain Man wearing a thermal under a jeans jacket, faded jeans and boots. His eyes were attached to me.
“I –” I began.
“I’m so sorry, Neens,” Mindy interrupted me, coming to his side, she was biting her lip, looking worried, her eyes appeared red rimmed as if she’d been crying.
It was the red-rimmed eyes that took my attention therefore I forgot about my unknown new acquaintance and asked, “Are you okay?”
She shook her head and announced, “Damon did this.”
“Did what?” I asked stupidly, feeling my heart start beating faster and my palms start itching.
“Your car, honey,” Max answered and I looked to him.
“My car?” I repeated, my mind stuck on thoughts of Damon getting to Mindy in town, doing something to make her cry and wondering where Max kept his gun.
He tipped his head to the rental and his arm slid around my shoulders. “Damon, he did that to your car.”
I glanced at my car then my gaze went back to Mindy.
“Did you see him do this?” I asked.
“No,” she answered.
My voice was softer when I went on, “Have you seen him at all, darling?”
“No,” she replied.
“Did he call you?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know he did it?”
“That’s just,” she flicked a hand to the rental, her breath hitched then she pulled in a deep one to cover it before she went on, “what he’d do.” Then tears gathered in her eyes and she concluded, “I’m so sorry, Neens.”