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“I did go. The only one who got hurt was Zach, but he’ll be fine. Given his medical track record, I think the man needs to find a new line of work.” Dana moved to Molly’s chair. “Hey, sleepyhead. We need to get you home, okay? Time for bed.”
Mumbling incoherently, Molly stumbled to her feet, her eyes half-open.
“I think I’d better hang on to you, or you’re going to hit the floor.”
Vivian rested her hand on Ben’s arm, then rose stiffly to her feet. “I suppose it’s okay to go. The nurses said he’d sleep for hours, yet.”
“You need a good night’s sleep too, Mom.”
They both helped ease Molly into the back seat of the SUV next to Alex, where she almost immediately closed her eyes again. Suddenly her eyes flew open. “Alex? Katie?”
“Shh,” Dana warned. “Katie’s asleep. We can talk later.”
Molly awkwardly gave Alex a hug. “I’m so glad you’re back! What happened? Did that guy get you, too? Did you ambush him?”
Ducking his head to hide his reddened cheeks, Alex pulled away. “Later,” he mumbled, gesturing toward Katie.
Vivian sat up in front. “You didn’t tell me—is that awful man in custody?” she whispered as Dana eased the car out of its parking space.
“His real name was Alvarez, and he’s dead.” A knot of guilt coiled in Dana’s stomach at the thought.
Once again, she saw herself lifting her rifle and taking rapid aim. She’d been so terrified for Zach and the kids. Would another split second have made the difference in her aim? Could she have stopped Alvarez with just a bullet wound, instead of sending him to the morgue?
Waves of guilt and regret washed through her over what she’d done. No matter how evil the man had been, she’d killed him. With sudden, horrible clarity, she knew she’d never be able to forget that moment or forgive herself for what she had done.
Frowning, Vivian reached over and laid a hand on Dana’s arm. “It must have been awful, dear. Did the kids see what happened?”
“I don’t think so. It was dark. Katie was on the ground and Alex was tied up in the car.”
“Those poor children. Poor, poor children.”
“But it’s over. Alvarez will never be able to threaten them again.”
And now I’ll have to live with the fact that I took someone’s life.
“We owe Zach a lot, Dana.” Vivian fluttered her hand in dismissal. “Oh, I know you figure none of this would have happened if he hadn’t come back, but he still really came through for us.”
Another surprise. “This is quite a switch, Mom. You had nothing good to say about him for years.”
“People change.” Vivian fell silent, pensively staring out the window as they drove the last few blocks to her duplex on Third Avenue. After Dana pulled to a stop, Vivian started to open the door, then paused. “If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?”
“After tonight, that would be my kids, as always. Having them safe forever.”
“For yourself, Dana. If you could do anything, be anything you chose.”
Dana frowned. “There’s no question. I’ve got the clinic to run, a ranch to keep afloat. Kids to raise.”
“Think about it.” Vivian gave her a sad smile. “Sometimes we aren’t as trapped by our choices as we think we are.”
“Trapped? I see it as taking responsibility. Following through. Being accountable. It’s what adults do.”
“And that was my legacy to you, when I chose to stay here after your father died. It was a hard life when he was alive, and afterward?” Vivian looked down at her gnarled hands. “If I’d opted for joy, I might have taken a job I loved in a much larger town and given you a better childhood, instead of resenting my life every blessed day. Sometimes...that bitterness made me do things I regret even now.”
Dana released her seat belt and slid over a few inches from behind the wheel to give her a hug. “I couldn’t ask for anything to have changed. You were a great mom, honest.”
“I’m not asking for thanks,” Vivian insisted. “I see you working yourself to the bone, day after day after day. Pulled in a dozen different directions. Worrying about money. Dreams are a powerful thing, honey, but if we don’t figure them out soon enough, it’s too late.”
Dreams? Who had time for that? Maybe when the kids were grown. When the clinic debt was clear. When the mortgage on the ranch was paid off. Maybe.
