More Than Scars (27 page)

“Do you have someone there with you? Can you call Ian back?” Al sounded concerned.

Screaming.
There was screaming. It was in my head, not coming out of my mouth. It was my Father’s screams. “Liam,” I called. My limbs felt weak, rubbery.

“
Rissa,” Al called through the phone.

“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I’ll be okay.” I got to my feet and felt the World spin around me. “I just I just need…” It was red against the snow…scarlet and flowing and seeping and taking with it the life. I cried out now. I couldn’t move because everything was spinning.

“Get in bed Riss…I’m calling Mom…the Dr. Riss? Are you listening to me?”

I felt the tears on my cheeks. I didn’t want to break down. I wanted to be strong! I drew in a breath, closed my eyes and willed myself to calm. I lifted the phone to my ear. “Don’t call the Doctor,” I whispered. “I’m okay Al, just had a moment.” I opened my eyes and the World had righted itself. I was also thankful Liam was still in his office downstairs. He may have come when I called. That would have been embarrassing! “I’m okay.”

Al heard the relief in my voice. He sighed relief himself.

“I’m…it’s passed. It passed really quickly.” I felt control in my limbs.

“Take a shower. Relax and go to sleep. I will keep you posted. Don’t worry over this! You are safe there with Liam…and I’ve got eyes out here. This has to turn out to be nothing!”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“Love you!”

“Love you too.” I hit end and went to obey my big brother. The shower worked wonders and when I slipped into bed, I was more than ready to sleep. I prayed the dreams would stay away after an attack like that. And thankfully…for tonight….they did.

Chapter 14
The Perfect Gift

“This is ridiculous Liam! No…No, you don’t have a say in this!” Ian slammed his hand against the steering wheel. “I don’t give a damn! I…
Nerissa needed to go to an appointment I am taking her there. Mary is watching the girls….Yes, I understand it is Thursday and not Sunday!”

I covered my face and sighed. I knew this had been a bad idea. With the issue having come up on Tuesday with the threat I knew leaving the premises would be an issue.
Even if I was with Ian.

“We will be home in an hour! She needs your permission now?”

I groaned.

“No, I haven’t heard what is going on.” Ian glanced my way. “No, don’t tell me. I want to hear this from
Nerissa.”

I shrugged and gave him a helpless look.

“I will have her home in an hour Liam. She is safe with me. We just have something we need to get done.”

He was indicating the appointment with his photographer friend. This had been the only opening that we could get before Liam’s birthday. It was now or never. We had our ride yesterday and had some beautiful shots with the girls in the stable and on the trail. Ian had managed to get a few more shots in his time with Liam and the girls later that evening! I was very excited and anxious over this!

“She can’t reschedule. Just know she’s safe. See you in a bit. No...fine, brother, whatever…do what you think is necessary…”

Ian turned to me as soon as he ended the call. “Okay friend…dish!”

“Ian…”

“No…dish
Rissa. What the hell? I’ve never heard Liam so crazed. What has him so scared to have you off the property? And I know it’s not me!”

He focused his gaze on the road but his jaw was ticking with annoyance so I knew he was serious.

I drew in a breath. “I needed to get out of the house Ian. I don’t want to talk about this!”

“I just hung up on my brother. The guy may beat the crap out of me when I get home, make it worth my while, friend.” He cleared his throat.

“I almost had a panic attack the other day over it and I’m just barely holding on. This may or may not be anything Ian. I’m just trying to stay calm!”

“Panic attack? So this has to do with what happen to your Dad?” He gave a nod. “Did new evidence come up?” He gave me a sideways glance. “But why would this have Liam freaking out?”

I stared down at my hands and closed my eyes.

“
Rissa?”

“Liam got a threatening letter from someone claiming to be my Dad’s murderer. He wants money. My brother says there is an investigation. They think it is just someone trying to extort the situation. They don’t think it’s him.” I drew in a breath and trembled, not opening my eyes. Saying it out loud was hard. “Al must have told Liam I know since he didn’t argue when you said you wanted to hear it from me.”

“Oh hell,” Ian breathed. He pulled in at a small shop and put the car into park. “I’m sorry.”

I pulled in another breath.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I find it easier to push things away. I can deal with it if I’m distracted.”

Ian tilted my face toward him. His too blue eyes softened. “That’s not dealing with them darlin’. That’s avoiding them. It just builds. That is why you had your last episode…isn’t it? It had been a long time since you’d talked about it.”

I blinked tears. “Can we just go in and get this over with?”

He frowned. “I’d rather know you are going to be okay.”

“I will, I promise!”

“You need to talk to someone about this.”

“I did that for years,” I argued. “It never did anything.

“It didn’t?”

I glanced out the window.

“How many episodes did you have when you were going to someone?”

I shrugged. “I’ve only had a few since…”

“The one you had when we were out was bad Rissa,” he whispered. “That was a total break. It’s not good for you.”

“I bounced back quickly.” I lifted my eyes to his and smiled. “I’ve learned how to cope Ian.”

“You and Liam need to talk about this…both of you…share your experiences. I’m thinking there may be a little healing in it.” He frowned. “I worry for you.”

I forced a smile. “I’m okay…
see? I can still smile. Today is going to be a good day.”

He shook his head. “You are so concerned about my brother hiding behind his scars…you hide behind your smiles.” His brow creased and he pushed his way out of the car.

I frowned after him, and moved to follow him. I paused to check my purse for the memory card for my camera. It would not do to get to this appointment and not have the most important piece. I sighed with relief. It was there. And then I smiled. There was also a single white rose lying carefully on a piece of tissue paper among the mess. It was a nice gesture, but unnecessary. It reminded me that I had yet to thank Ian for the first rose. I carefully wrapped it and followed him to the shop.

His photographer friend was brilliant and she was very much in love with him! She was adorable and creative and I thought later I should plant a bug in his ear.

We pulled the photos up on her computer and went over several ideas. She promised to send me some samples in a few days that I could choose from. I was more than delighted. I would never have been able to do what she was proposing.

As we went through the photos, I couldn’t believe the shots Ian had gotten. He had completely respected his brother and many of the shots were from the back, or the side…his hands, a smile. They were beautiful.

The photographer, who I learned to be named Wendy, made a copy of my card and gave me back the original. Later I would go through the photos more carefully. I was liking her ideas though and felt she would do the photos service.

For the hour we were there I did forget my worries. It was how I liked it. I put myself into another’s service and nothing in my own life mattered.

The second Ian and I got back in the car, it all came rushing back to me.

“Liam and I are not speaking so I don’t know how this is going to work,” I said softly.

“He will have to get over himself. This is serious,” Ian growled.

“I don’t want to talk about it Ian,” I whispered.

“You will have to get over it too.”

I wanted to curl up in a ball right there on the passenger seat.

“I’m your friend and I am always going to tell you how it is. I want your best! I want my brothers! You both have issues and you have to deal with them head on! You understand?”

I nodded.

“Nerissa…it’s going to be okay.”

We arrived at the gates, which opened almost immediately for us. I remembered the last time I left and Liam was under direst. He had met us right in the front yard. He was not in the front yard. The front light was on. He was not in the foyer…Stewart was. He greeted us with a nod.

“Mr. Byrne would like to see you Ian.”

Ian frowned. “What about
Nerissa?”

Stewart smiled kindly. “The children are in the theatre watching a movie if you would like to join them?”

“Nerissa needs to see him as well.”

Stewart looked to him sternly. “He asked to see you Ian. Not Miss Meadows.”

I touched Ian’s arm. “It’s okay. You see him first. I…I’m okay. If he needs me tonight…I’m not going anywhere.”

The blue eyes flashed with annoyance. He knew I was relieved to dodge this bullet.
“Fine! I will come see you in the theatre,” he growled. “We aren’t done talking tonight!”

I nodded. I knew I wasn’t going to get off that easy with Ian Byrne. He was stubborn like his brother.

I handed my coat to one of the servants and moved for the theatre.

Mary was sitting with the girls who were sharing a bowl of popcorn.

I joined them, earning Amelia in my lap.

“I missed you,” she sang and cuddled in. I held her close, glad for her comfort, and for the fact that she was safe here in this little theatre. It was a
fraction, I’m sure, of what Liam felt for them when they were out of sight.

We finished up the movie and Ian had not yet showed up. It had me a bit worried but I shook it off and we went back up to the bedroom to prepare for bed.

“Bubble bath,” Amelia insisted.

I rolled my eyes.
“As long as the bubbles stay in the tub this time!”

I was able to bathe them dress them and read to them before their Uncle actually showed up. He knocked on the door and got a chorus of “Come in!”

He gave the girls their attention and helped me tuck them in.

“Your Dad will be up in a bit,” he promised. “I’m stealing
Rissa.”

Brianne frowned. “You steal her all the time Uncle Ian!”

“And I always bring her back,” he teased, pushing me through the door.

“What’s going on?” I asked as we headed for the back stair. I was sure Liam would be coming up the front to say goodnight to his little ones. I felt relief we weren’t heading in the direction of his office.

“What did you guys talk about?” I tried to catch his eye.

“So, you got your wish.”

I lifted my brow and started down the stairs with him.

“You don’t have to talk to Liam…today. They got word…”

I stopped as we reached the bottom of the stairs. “Word on what?”

He reached for my hand and tugged me into the sitting room. “Right after Liam got off the phone with me, Al called.”

My heart rate went up.

“The letter led to someone alright but it wasn’t…him.”

I blew out the breath I was holding and made it to the nearby sofa and sank down on it. I rested my head in my hands. I felt the trembling start.

He sat next to me.

“I got my wish,” I mocked him, and started sobbing.

“
Rissa!” He hugged me close.

“I was so scared that I was going to have to face that person again! Forget talking about it or reliving it again! I never want to hear that man again or see his shadow on the ground!” I held onto him and let the tears flow. “I don’t want to remember Ian…but I can’t forget!”