Page 26 of Dancing With Redemption

13

Roxie

The pain had receded, but the memories of that night were still too fresh. It had completely shaken Roxie that she’d set a trap for herself like that. That crazy bitch hadn’t had to do anything. Roxie, certain in her fierce independence and capabilities, had made herself a prize that could not be resisted, and that had shaken her belief in everything she thought she knew about herself.

They were all still in the Bennet children’s mansion, but Roxie was in her own room this time. She shared that room with Lily most nights, unwilling to let the child sleep in her own room. It wasn’t fair to Lily since Roxie often woke up from nightmares, but she did all she could to keep from waking her daughter. Lily didn’t know exactly what had happened, none of them had been quite willing to explain it in detail to the little girl, but she knew her mother had been in an accident and was recovering.

Roxie didn’t keep Lily in her room at night for moral support though, she kept her there to make sure she was safe. That crazy bitch, Celeste, Roxie now knew her name was, had threatened Lily next. And even though she’d seen the hole in the back of the woman’s head, even though Lincoln reassured her every day that the woman was nothing but ashes now, Roxie woke up every night reaching for Lily.

It was another morning in New York. Later in the day, Lincoln was taking Lily, Aunt Katie, and Roxie back to Myrtle Beach, but for now, Roxie had a meeting to get through. She looked at the faded bruises beneath her eye, the faint line of one of the splits in her lip, and decided makeup wasn’t worth bothering with.

She was about to meet a stranger. A distant cousin, but still a stranger. And apparently one of the reasons Celeste was so damned crazy. The child of Celeste’s dead husband and the woman who’d turned his head was on the way to visit her. They had more in common than that since Celeste had admitted to trying to kill Marie too.

Roxie had spoken with her on the phone but hadn’t met her yet.

“I think this is the one you wanted.” June came into Roxie’s room without a knock, the formality unnecessary between the two friends, especially when the door was already open. In her hands, June carried a box without a name, just a symbol.

The symbol didn’t matter. What was inside did. “Let me see?”

Roxie smiled at her friend and took the box once June had removed the gold lid. Inside was a wig, a blonde wig, a chin-length bob that was out of character for Roxie. It was girlish though, and fun. Something that Roxie needed more of, especially while her hair grew back, and her scalp recovered. It would be a long time before she could do anything but let her hair grow, and what had already started to creep out of her skill was blonde, so Roxie decided to keep up the trend with a blonde wig that June had gone out to the boutique to buy for her.

“Can you put it on?” June asked as Roxie lifted the wig out and started to lift it.

“I think so, I just have to watch these stitches. They’re coming out later, thank goodness.” Roxie grimaced a little as the wig touched a particularly sensitive stitch, but she clipped the hooks at the back without removing the wig.

“Let me see, I’ve watched some videos about these. And the owner of the boutique did some work on it to make it look realistic. We have to cut this netting here, and you can use glue to make sure it doesn’t move once the stitches are out and everything’s healed.” June twitched at the wig until it looked right to her, then picked up some nail scissors from the table. “Want me to do the cutting?”

“Please.” Roxie smiled up at her friend, glad to have one so eager to help her out in a matter so personal.

Hair was just hair, and that’s what she’d told herself as Celeste massacred her head, but now? Hair was a huge part of her identity and it stung that all that remained under the wig was stubble and scars. She couldn’t even look pretty now that her face had healed, not without the wig.

“There, what do you think about that? I added some baby hairs around your forehead, just to make it look more real.” June stepped back and Roxie looked in the mirror.

The hair was human hair, so it didn’t have the fake sheen of cheaper synthetic wigs, and it was styled perfectly. It was kind of hot on her head, but she’d have to get used to that. Maybe when more of her own hair grew out she’d be brave enough to walk outside without a wig on, but for now, she needed something to hide behind. Even if the wig was a short bob style. “It looks amazing. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, you know that.” June looked down at Roxie, her eyes noting what had healed, but she didn’t comment on anything. “When’s Marie coming?”

“She’ll be here in twenty minutes or so. Do you want to meet her?” Roxie didn’t mind if June did want to meet her newly-found cousin, she’d just like a private chat first.

“Sure, after you two talk, of course. I know there’s stuff you need to talk about.” June looked down at her pale hands, but then looked back up, as if forcing herself to let go of her girlish shyness. “I’d love to meet her, actually.”

“Cool. Then you shall, my friend. How’s Lily?” Roxie stood up and moved to put on the dress draped on the back of the chair she’d been sitting in. Up until now, she’d been wearing matching underwear and a silk robe. She slipped the robe off and pulled the black sweater dress on over her head. Her nail beds had healed enough that they didn’t hurt, but there were still no nails on her fingers.

Her toes were problematic because the nerves beneath the nails had been abused. Several nails had already fallen off so wearing socks or hose was next to impossible. Add in the vague pain that came with shoes and Roxie was limited in what she could put on her feet. Lincoln had bought her a pair of Uggs with a lot of width at the toes and that was about all she could wear at the moment. She’d always hated wearing socks, but this was actual pain that made even the thought of sliding them over her toes cringe-inducing. She slid on the black leather boots very carefully and turned to look in the mirror. June and the woman at the boutique had done such a fine job, even Roxie had a hard time telling the hair on her head was a wig. She twisted and turned her head, but the wig stayed in place, even when she shook her head vigorously.

“Lily’s fine, excited to go on a plane again,” June said once Roxie was changed and in her boots. “She’s also excited since I kind of promised I’d take her to Disneyland next summer.”

“You didn’t!? Roxie turned with a laugh, mock-glaring at Lily’s favorite, if only, aunt. “You’re all going to spoil her beyond belief.”

“That’s what we’re for, my love,” June said, looking down her nose with a grin. “We’re here to spoil her so she’ll know just how much we love her.”

“Love isn’t a present,” Roxie said, only half-kidding. She was glad Lily’s family wanted to spoil her, but she didn’t want the girl to think objects equaled love at all. “It’s wanting to give a present, it’s wanting to make someone’s wishes come true. That’s the part that’s real love, June.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” June’s cheeks turned red, and Roxie felt bad instantly.

“No, you’re right. Every now and then Lily should have something nice. I just don’t want her to come to expect it. I won’t raise a spoiled brat,” Roxie said, her hand going to her stomach. The baby was still there, safe and sound, despite the abuse Celeste had doled out to her. “Or two, as it so happens.”

“Everything okay, there?” June glanced at Roxie’s stomach but quickly looked away. “Any more bleeding?”