Page 25 of Dancing With Redemption

“June, before you go, can you call her friend Wendy and tell her what’s going on? I’m sure she’s worrying. She’ll want to know Roxie is okay,” Lincoln called out as softly as he could.

“Sure, Lincoln. See you later.” June waved as she walked out of the door and left Lincoln alone with the only woman he’d ever loved as a part of himself. “I’m never going to let this happen ever again, Chl…Roxie.”

He’d almost called her by her old name. But that wasn’t who she was anymore. She was Roxie and always would be, from now on.

She’d earned that name after years of hardship and this shit today. She was like a rock, strong, breakable, but able to make something new out of the pieces that were left. She’d emerge from this as something new, Lincoln knew that, but it would be something that he’d love just as much as he loved her now.

“Lincoln?” Another voice came from the doorway and Lincoln turned to look at the owner.

“Hi, Matteo. How are you?” Lincoln stood up to usher the man out, but Matteo walked in.

“My wife said she’d kill me if I didn’t check on her cousin. Marie’s stubborn like that, and I believe her when she tells me I’ll die.” Matteo smiled the smile of men destined to obey their wives on certain whims. “How’s Roxie?”

“She’s getting there, I guess. The doctor hasn’t been in to explain anything yet, and the nurse left soon after I came in. Her vitals look okay, though.” Lincoln pointed at the machine and Matteo nodded.

“I won’t trouble you too much then. I just wanted you to know we took care of that trouble with my Aunt Celeste. And the two men that worked with her are being handled as we speak,” Matteo paused, his face dark and troubled. “I know this doesn’t mean much, but she took me from my parents when I was young. Wanted me to take her place when the time came. I knew she was fucked up but had no clue it would get this bad. She’s been trying to kill my wife and she went into hiding. I thought she’d run off to Italy and would leave us all alone. If I’d known this would happen, I’d have taken care of her long before today.”

“It’s not your fault, man. She was unstable, obviously,” Lincoln said, still not sure what exactly tied Roxie to Matteo or that woman.

“I suppose you don’t know the story. I didn’t tell you. It seems my wife’s mother was Roxie’s aunt. He used to send them money, her father. Marie was my aunt’s husband’s lover.” Matteo looked befuddled for a moment and then nodded. “Yeah, that’s right. He wasn’t my uncle except by marriage. Anyway, there was bad blood between my aunt and Roxie’s family. She wanted me to take over my uncle’s family and it made her blow a fuse when I wouldn’t end Marie’s life. She tried on her own, but, well, we ended up here.”

“That sounds like a story you’ll need to explain with more detail later, but I know you want to get back to your wife. Thanks for filling me in.” Lincoln sat back down in his chair and Matteo took the one beside him, to Lincoln’s surprise.

“My, uh, my wife had a question for you, for Roxie when she wakes up.” Matteo started but waited for Lincoln to nod before he continued. “She’d like to meet her, meet Roxie that is. They’re second cousins, you see? And Marie’s family doesn’t have a lot to do with her, because of her mother, and she’d like to get to know Roxie.”

“I’m sure Roxie will be happy to meet up with any family that she might have, once she’s healed up,” Lincoln said, not sure that was true, she could be prickly sometimes, but that was a defense mechanism. “I’d like our daughter to have some kind of family too, so we’ll arrange something, alright?”

“Yep. That’s good. You have my number if you need anything.” Matteo stood up with a curt nod of his head. “Take care. I’m sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, but I’m glad it’s all over.”

“Same here. You go take care of your wife. I’ll get in touch soon.” Lincoln held his hand out and Matteo shook it with a firm shake before he left.

Well, this day was seriously fucked up, but it was almost over now. And he’d done the one thing he set out to do. He’d brought Roxie home for Lily. And for himself too, he had to admit that, or he’d be a liar. He needed Roxie in his life, needed her like he’d never needed anyone before.

He could admit that now. He’d known it before he thought she was missing but he’d gone about getting her back in his life the wrong way. Maybe saving her from a torturous early death wasn’t the best way either, but he hoped she’d listen to him, once she woke up and had time to recover.

“What’s going on?” Her sleepy voice had him looking up instantly. He hadn’t realized his head had fallen, her hand once again in his.

“You’re in the Bennet’s hospital, Roxie. Everything is okay.” He spoke with calm, hoping to relay the best information first.

“Everything?” She asked, pulling her hand away from his to look at the bandages. “How can they still fucking hurt so much?”

“Shit, sorry. I didn’t even think about your nail beds.” He felt his cheeks flush and guilt gnawed at him.

“No, I think it’s the bandages. They feel like they’re throbbing.” Her voice grew faint, and her eyes closed again. “And that woman?”

He’d thought she was falling back asleep, but her question disproved that. “That woman is dead, honey.”

“Good.” She gave a short nod before her eyes opened again, slightly out of focus but present. “I’m glad that’s over with then. Will I have to answer a bunch of questions?”

“No, we’re in the Bennet’s hospital. There aren’t any police involved.” Lincoln looked around but couldn’t see anyone. It might be his family’s hospital, but that didn’t mean they could speak freely forever. “We still need to keep some of this stuff to ourselves until you’re out of here, honey.”

“That’s fine with me. If I don’t ever have to think about any of it again, that’ll be just fine.” Her eyes closed again, and she took a deep breath. “And has the doctor told you anything, Lincoln?”

“About the baby you mean?” He asked tentatively, worried she’d be upset that he knew. He knew she was when she made a sour face at his question. “He didn’t, June did before the doctor could.”

“For fuck’s sake. Yes. I wanted to tell you. I wanted to be the one who told you this time.” She paused, tears filling her eyes. “Shit happened.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what June said. You mean I happened. I’m sorry about all of that, by the way. I won’t be ripping your daughter away from you. I shouldn’t have been such a dick to you, even if I was pissed. This is probably something I should save for later, but I promised myself I’d apologize to you as soon as I could. And I mean it, Rox. I’m really sorry about everything.”

“We can talk about it all later, Lincoln. I just want to close my eyes for now, okay? I don’t hate you, I’m just so tired.” She looked incredibly sad, and he had to wonder if she was saying more than she wanted to right now.

“Sure, yeah. Later’s good.” He nodded like an idiot, completely terrified now that later would bring a heartache unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

“Thanks, Lincoln. For saving me, for understanding. For everything.” Her eyes closed then and he wanted to beg her to stay awake but that would just be selfish. She needed to rest. Later she could break his heart, if that’s the choice she’d made after all of this. And who could blame her if she had? He deserved it, really.