Page 60 of Intoxicating Pursuit

The Big Day

SAMMY

“ M eghan, can you help with the zipper?”

“Of course, Mom.”

I had tried to secure the gown myself, but the bulky splint on my hand was not built for fine motor skill.

Asking for help had never been my strong suit, and I was eager for the injury to fully heal.

As the weeks passed, the blackened bruise had faded to violet, then slowly bled out to amber.

The latest x-ray showed the bones had begun to straighten and mend as the swelling decreased.

The doctors felt optimistic I could use my hand again soon.

When Meghan finished with the zipper, I stepped in front of the tall, antique mirror in the corner of my room. The pale silk gown skimmed my body from head to toe—the most elegant garment to ever touch my skin.

Meghan looked me over wistfully. “You look sooo beautiful.”

“You do, too, sweetheart.”

She grinned and spun dramatically, swishing the airy fabric of her fluttering dress.

When she finally stilled, I pulled her to me and hugged her hard. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Mom. Really.”

I stepped back, holding her hands gently.

Her smile was still warm, if a bit more guarded.

Her limbs were healthy—unharmed and uninjured.

Physically, she had bounced back with just fluids and Band-Aids.

Emotionally, I’m sure there would be scars, but so far, she seemed remarkably steady given what we had endured together.

She was tough. Always had been. I gripped her hands in mine, overwhelmed with gratitude for the simple truth of her heart fluttering in her chest, her warm pink skin, the breath flowing in and out of her lungs.

She had her life—and that was everything.

I marveled at the irony of it all. Just a few months ago, I had been so sure that if I kept everyone close to me, I could protect them from the world. However, being near me had gotten her kidnapped and nearly much worse.

In some ways, that horrible truth had released some of my heaviest burdens.

It was so painfully obvious that I couldn’t control the future she faced.

I couldn’t control sociopaths. I couldn’t prevent aneurysms, or viruses, or acts of God.

I couldn’t stop the cruelty of human beings or random injuries and illness.

But, I could help Meghan grow into a strong, independent, educated, young woman. I could love and support her.

And I would.

Together, we gathered a few finishing touches—delicate earrings, a spritz of perfume—then we walked down the stairs carefully, our hems nearly touching the wooden treads.

At the base of the steps, we found our most precious people gathered in the family room.

Tina’s boys wore tiny tuxedos, her youngest tugging uncomfortably at his bow tie and collar.

Mom looked radiant in a green, A-line dress, and Stan Rosen smiled proudly by her side.

Tina sat near Gabe on the couch. She still wasn’t accustomed to his company, and her smile was as wide as the sky.

Gabe stood when I entered the room and put a hand to his heart. “You look incredible.” He crossed the carpet to me and kissed me gently on the lips, sending tingles of heat through my body, just like always. His hands cradled my face, and his fingers were light in my hair.

He leaned forward to touch his forehead to mine, whispering just loud enough for my ears. “You’re coming to Europe with me, aren’t you?”

“For at least a little bit,” I whispered back. “I promise.”

Meghan was right on my heels. “Um, I can hear you, you know.”

When Gabe shot her a smile, she spun to show off her dress.

"Well, you , my dear, look lovely. You’ll break hearts wandering around like that."

Meghan grinned with pride, a blush creeping into her freckled cheeks.

“Come on, lovebirds,” Mom said. “The church is a few blocks away. You know Marco and Ian won’t forgive us if we’re late.”

She was right, of course. It was their big day, and we had best not mess it up.

The road to reconciliation with the two of them had been short.

Their anger at being accused of fraud and extortion vanished when they realized Marco’s failure to run a background check on Bobby nearly cost us our lives.

The incident convinced Marco to hire an HR director and an operations lead as well.

With our expanded scope, he needed to take some things off his plate, so terrible errors didn’t happen, and to reduce his stress, for all our sakes.

I was hopeful that after today, he might be back to his normal, charming, only mildly cranky self.

As for Bobby, Gabe had explained there was never any plan for him to leave the runway. The jet had been loaded with FBI agents, waiting to place him in custody. When he managed to get a shot off, they had taken him down with bullets to the head and heart. He would never hurt anyone again.

I drank in the scene with gratitude, so thankful for the people in my life, and I wondered how the day could be any better.

Mom was flushed with happiness and new romance.

Tina was going through a painful transition, but she deserved so much better than she’d had the last several years.

I knew if anyone could transform the wreckage of a failed marriage into a bigger, better life, it was her.

Meghan had been moving past her angst and was getting ready to apply to colleges.

She was eyeing Pepperdine in particular, and I guessed the handsome blond boy she talked to so often had more than a little to do with it.

And Gabe was my dream man—creative, kind, outrageously handsome, and forever my hero.

Truly, there was only one person missing, and I had an idea. “I know we have to go, but can you guys wait a second?”

Mom glanced at her watch. “Make it quick, Sammy.”

I lifted the hem of my gown and raced up the stairs.

My father had given me a locket for my sixteenth birthday, and it never left my neck until the week he died. I’d taken it off in a fit of grief, feeling like such a failure, so undeserving of his love. I reached the doorway to my room and took a deep breath.

His death was not my fault.

I had always known, but something had shifted. I felt the acceptance deep in my bones now, and the precious necklace deserved to be worn. Dad would want to be part of this happiness, to know we had eventually landed on our feet.

I sorted through the chains and pendants in my jewelry chest but didn’t find the locket. Actually, I didn’t see my other favorite piece either, an emerald set on a gold cable chain. How odd. I knew Meghan sometimes snooped in my room, but she didn’t usually borrow the real stuff without asking.

I tried to recall when I’d touched the locket last, and a memory surfaced. I saw myself crying in bed three years ago, before taking off the necklace and tossing it in my nightstand.

Relieved, I sat on my bed and eased the drawer open. With my good hand, I fumbled through the flotsam of sleepless nights until I found the thin chain. After dusting off a scattering of lint, I held it up to the light. Somehow, it still shimmered despite neglect and mistreatment.

A shiver passed over me, and I held the locket close.

I love you so much, Dad . I miss you.

He had always shown me steadfast love, had instilled compassion and fairness in me. I was so thankful for the confidence and dogged determination he’d taught me.

And I would need it.

Because the truth was, I might never be the same.

Maybe I’d never handle crisis as well as I used to.

Or perhaps, eventually, I'd come out of this better equipped than most for managing the worst twists of fate.

But either way, avoiding my fears wouldn't change the outcomes of our lives—at least not in a predictable way. Not necessarily in a good way.

Meanwhile, the world refused to wait. Marco and Ian certainly wouldn't.

A subtle knock echoed behind me.

"Doing okay up here?" Gabe leaned in the room. "Need a hand?"

"Quite literally." I held up the necklace. The splint would make unclasping it impossible.

Gabe sat beside me on the bed and wrangled the tiny mechanics of the jewelry, until the familiar weight of the locket found its place over my heart.

He gave my shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Ready?"

"Yes." In fact, I felt more ready than I had in a long time. "Let's do this."

We dashed down the stairs into the warm embrace of my people and headed into the world together—to support Ian and Marco, to celebrate and dance on a gorgeous September day, and to forge our way through the lush wilderness of our mysterious, unknowable tomorrows.