Unraveled (Love in Salem, book 2) (23 page)

Her face had a big red circle around it that had also been
X’d out.

In.  Every.  Single.  Picture.

She checked the postage on the wrapping.  It had been sent from California.  Had Randall come here and taken the pictures then traveled back to California to mail them?  It didn’t make any sense. 

There was no note.  Nothing to tie the package to Randall.  Atayla knew he had sent it though.  The ominous warning practically seeped from the pictures like poison – “You are going to pay for this!”

The phone rang, and Atayla screamed.  She had been so absorbed in the moment, so overtaken by fear that the unexpected noise pushed her over the edge.  She jumped back from the desk, knocking over her chair.  Her back hit the wall with a thud just as Bill had come charging in the room.

“What the hell is going on?  Are you okay?”

Atayla didn’t respond.  She couldn’t.  Her head began to spin, and everything faded to black.

The next time she became aware of her surroundings, she was sitting on the floor with Ashley murmuring comforting words.  Mandi ran a cool cloth over her forehead.  Bill was pacing back and forth while on the phone, making demands to whoever was on the other end.

Bill’s eyes met hers, saw that awareness had returned and asked gruffly, “Do you know who sent this?”  He gestured towards the box of pictures.

Atayla blinked once – twice, and then finally got her brain to fire.

“Randall.”  She whispered.

He didn’t seem surprised by that information.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.  “There was no note, no name.  Only a return address to a PO box in California, but I know it was him.”

Bill said something else to the person on the other end of the line then hung up.  He crouched down in front of her and lifted her chin with his forefinger.

“Why are you so sure it’s him?”  He looked at her suspiciously.

A violent shiver engulfed her body.

“He called me about a week ago.  Demanded I come back to California.”

Bill pinched the bridge of his nose.

“So you get a phone call from your ex and then your car is vandalized, and you don’t see a connection between the two?”  He demanded.

“Yes, Bill.  I considered that.  But the writing on my car was feminine.  Besides, Randall had called from California, not Nevada.”

“And you didn’t consider the fact that he could have traveled here?  He obviously has since there is a box full of pictures sitting on your desk.  It’s a threat, Atayla.  Each and every picture is a threat.  He may not have put it in writing, but he didn’t have to.  Crossing out your face got the message through load and clear!”  Bill was shouting by the end.  Atayla had never seen him so mad.

“Does Aidan know about any of this?”

She shook her head, not saying a word for fear he would self-destruct.

“Tell him, Atayla, or I swear to God I will.  How do you think he will take hearing it from me instead of you?”

Bill stormed out of the room, not waiting for her response.

The police arrived a few minutes later and collected the package.  The lead officer stated that they would send the evidence in to be fingerprinted, but Atayla knew there wouldn’t be any.

Randall had been very careful to make sure the pictures wouldn’t lead back to him.  No way would he have screwed up and left fingerprints.

Once the circus was over she collected her things and left for the day.  Bill didn’t say anything else to her, but he did watch from the door as she crossed the lot to her car.  Once she was safely inside and driving away, he turned his back and shut the door.

She picked up her phone and called Aidan.

“Hey, I'm done for the day.  How much longer are you going to be at the shop?”

“Another couple of hours.  Why?  Do you need me for something?”

“We need to talk, but it can wait until you’re done.” 

“Okay – I'm not real sure how to take that, Atayla.  Is it serious?”

“You could say that.”

Silence.

“Should I be worried?”

“I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have said anything on the phone.  Look, I’m on my way to your house.  We’ll talk after the party this evening, okay?”

“Alright.  I’ll see you soon.  I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Chapter Twenty-two

Paxton’s house was a busy place that evening.  With every person of the Aiello troop here as well as the O’Reilly’s, it was almost standing room only.  Clint and Eddie were there.  So were a few of the girls from the other family owned businesses.

Atayla didn’t know their names but recognized them from her time spent at the shop.  They loved to come over to Skinz on their breaks and flirt with the guys.  She didn’t blame them.  These men were seriously sexy.

Bridger and Nick arrived together.  It was amazing how different they acted together when they were in a private setting versus a public one.  They didn’t cling to each other and act all girly, but they were undeniably more affectionate with each other in a gruff, masculine sort of way.

No one even batted a lash when Nick playfully popped Bridger on the ass and kissed the side of his head while he had him in a headlock.  The easy camaraderie between them was accepted by the entire family.

It was Hayden, though, who had everyone’s attention.  He was still dragging around that gigantic teddy bear he had in the hospital, but eyed the stack of presents as though it may contain a new favorite toy.

He wore a big smile, comfortable in his surroundings, soaking up all the hugs and kisses he received.  Here he was king, and he knew it.

He got a little nervous, however, every time someone knocked on the door.  Atayla watched as he cast worried glances at the door when it opened, like he was afraid someone was going to come and try to take him away.

Perhaps he was still too young yet to understand that this was his permanent home now.  Or maybe he just hadn’t had time to let it sink in yet.  Either way, Atayla wanted to soothe him and tell him everything would be alright.

A squeal permeated the air as Jase scooped Hayden up and tossed him up on his shoulders.  Hayden laughed and clapped his hands as Jase trotted around the room.  There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t adore this child. 

It made her wonder if Cassie ever showed her son any affection.

Doubtful.

As much as she hated her childhood, at least she never had to worry about her safety or whether or not she would have her next meal.  The boarding school she grew up in took care of all of that.

No, she just spent her childhood wondering why she was so inherently unlovable.   Her parents never had anything to do with her.  Only during the summer had she been allowed to come home. 

Was it any wonder she swooned for Randall, allowed him to walk all over her and abuse her?  He didn’t ruin her self-respect.  She never had any to begin with.

How could she when she was taught from an early age that she was disposable?

Is that how Hayden felt when he was with his mother?

Thinking of the past put her in a melancholy mood.  She looked around at all the kind and caring people that were here to show their support to Hayden.  She didn’t belong with her own family so what made her think she belonged here either?

“I recognize that look on your face.”

Atayla turned her head to look at Colleen.

“You see this crazy family and the chaos that results, and you wonder:  Is there a place for me here anywhere?”  She smiled compassionately.

“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a part of something bigger than myself.  It’s just never been in the cards for me.”

Colleen threw her arm around Atayla’s shoulder and hugged her tight.

“I know how Aidan feels about you and I know that you fell the same way.  So as we celebrate getting my beloved grandbaby home consider this a welcome to you, too.”  She kissed Atayla’s cheek.  “Welcome to the family Atayla.  I think you will fit in just fine.”

“I don’t know about that, Colleen.  I think I pretty well proved I don’t do well in family situations after the way I acted at your house.  I'm surprised I haven’t run out the door screaming like a lunatic yet.”

Colleen laughed.  “Give yourself some credit.  You just need some practice.”

“Well, in that case, thank you.  I really like your family.”

“Me, too.”  She winked. 

Atayla felt something crash into the backs of her legs.  She turned around in time to see Jordyn crash onto her diapered bottom.  The little girl trilled out a laugh and clapped her hands, obviously happy with herself.

Camille came running up and scooped the little girl off of the floor, smoothing down the back of her dress.

“Sorry about that.  One day she took a few steps and the next day she was running.  I'm having a hard time keeping up with her.”

Atayla smiled as Jordyn held her chubby little hands out to her grandma.  “That’s alright.  She sure is a doll.  She looks a lot like you.”

She did, too.  With curly blonde hair, soft angles, and creamy skin.  All the women in the family were the complete opposite of the men’s dark masculine looks.  But they all had the same deep blue eyes.  Except this little girl who had bright green.

“Yeah, she does.  But she has her dad’s eyes and his dimples.  Lord, his dimples are deep enough to lose yourself in.”

Coleen scoffed.  “I don’t know how you can still be enamored with him after he left you to deal with a baby all by yourself.”

“I already told you, mom.  He left before I found out I was pregnant.  I know he would have taken responsibility for her if he had known.”

Camille looked at Atayla and explained.  “It’s a point of contention within the family.  When I was in college, my friend Macy introduced me to her cousin.  Macy’s mother and Owen’s mother were twin sisters, so they were raised together and were more like siblings than cousins.  Owen and I got pretty serious.  Then one day Macy was killed by a drunk driver on her way home from the library.  Owen was devastated and he didn’t deal with her death very well.  One night he just up and moved away.” She shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal, but Atayla saw the sadness she couldn’t hide.  “He left a message on my phone saying that he was sorry, but he had to leave.  He didn’t say where he was going, and I haven’t been able to find him to tell him about Jordyn.”

“Have you had a professional search for him?”

Camille cocked her head questioningly.  “You mean like a private investigator?”

“Yes.  It could work.  They have resources that most people don’t.”

“I’ve never thought about it.  I will now, though.”

“If you decide to go through with it and need some help let me know.  There are a few PI’s I use through my work when information is hard to come by.”

Camille smiled.  “Thank you.  I will.”

“Hey Cami, can you bring Jordyn in here and make her a plate?  I’m not sure what all she will eat.”  Aidan asked as he walked up and kissed his mother on the cheek, then Atayla.

Aidan wrapped his arms around Atayla from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder.

“Jase and Jaiden went and bought fried chicken with all the fixings.  I know how you feel about fried foods, so I asked Jaiden to get you a rotisserie breast.”

Atayla turned around and gave him a kiss.  “You’re always doing nice things for me.  Thank you.” She kissed him again.

He tucked her hair behind her ear.  “I’ll always look out for you.”

The way he said it made Atayla think he knew more than he let on, but maybe it was just her guilty conscience. 

It was ten o’clock before they returned home that night.  The party had been a blast.  After the kids had tuckered out for the night, Paxton broke open a bottle of wine so the adults could toast his victory.

But victory was bittersweet since it had come at Hayden’s expense.

Things would change now.  Hayden would have structure and routine in his life.  It wouldn’t be all sunshine and rainbows as Hayden adjusted to living with Paxton, Atayla knew.  After never having rules to abide by, Hayden wouldn’t welcome them now.

Paxton’s world would be turned upside down as well.

She went to the bedroom and kicked off her shoes.  Her feet were sore from the heels she wore all day and a foot massage sounded wonderful.  Maybe she could talk Aidan in to rubbing her feet later.

She quickly undressed and put on lounge pants and a tank top.  Even though she was usually self-conscious about showing off her upper arms, she felt confident enough with Aidan’s attraction to her that comfort won out over shame.

She had gotten better about the way she viewed her body.  It was still hard when it came to baring all in front of him, but she had no problems prancing around in front of him in skimpy clothes.  It was a good thing too since he kept buying skimpy little items for her prance around in.