Page 117 of Saving His Heart

“They know she’s with me,” Julia says.

“What the fuck does that mean?” Seth barks.

“I … I don’t know,” she admits. “There isn’t anything else? It looks like it’s torn in half. There isn’t another piece?”

“No, we searched everywhere,” he says, running a hand through his unruly dark hair.

“Seth?” my mother asks gently, snapping him out of it.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Westbrook?” At least he has manners when he chooses to use them.

“How many men do you have on this right now?”

“Ashton hired six. I couldn’t get any from the agency because they have him—”

“We have a lot of men on it, Mom. Why do you ask?” Ashton cuts in.

“I’m wondering when the last time either of you slept? Or ate?”

They glance at each other, and know they are about to be mom’d hard.

“That’s what I thought. Seth, you have ten minutes to give orders to the other men. Then we will all sit and celebrate this Christmas together. After that, we will all work around the clock to make sure you have everything you need to bring our Loki home.”

“But time—”

“Time is of the essence. Yes, I know. I also know my Loki better than you think. Unless there is some reason the people you have hired are incapable of taking over for two hours, you will both join us.” She doesn’t wait for a response—she just turns and heads back into the kitchen.

“You heard her, Ash. I wouldn’t fuck with her today. It’s been a rough few months for her, too,” I say quietly.

“Okay. Come on, Seth. When she says ten minutes, she means ten minutes.”

Like two little boys, they scramble down the hall.

Chapter 48

Emory

Itake my seat next to Preston at the table. Sylvie sits to my left, and I can feel her worries weighing her down. That’s why I’m so caught off guard when she clinks her wine glass with a small spoon.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” She clears her throat. Staring at the empty seats at the end of the table, she finally returns her attention to Preston. “I know that we are missing a few key members of our ever-growing family, but I feel strongly that we cannot let that keep us from celebrating the ones we have with us.

“Emory, my dear girl.”

Shit.I feel the tears start, and I don’t even know where this is going.

“You came to us in the most unconventional of ways, but now that you’re here, we will never let you go. You held my son’s heart in your hands, and you kept him alive. That alone will keep you in my heart forever, but it isn’t the only thing. You not only held his heart, but you also captured it for eternity. We are all here tonight because of you.

“My late husband always said I was the glue that held our family together, but I know he would have felt the same had he been able to meet you. I always wanted a daughter, and God gave me you. Thank you for saving my son. For saving my family, and for helping Preston find his true self.”

She reaches beneath the table and hands me a small box. Tears are flowing uncontrollably down my face, so Preston hands me a napkin. Even after wiping my eyes, everything is still blurry, but I finally get the box open with some help.

Inside is a delicate heart necklace encrusted with every dazzling jewel under the sun. I stare at it for a minute. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, but I feel like I’m missing something. Tearing my eyes from it, I’m shocked to see everyone staring at me with their own tears forming.

“You see, I have a feeling you’re still trying to figure out how your new life makes sense. We all had this made to show you. Each tiny jewel is the birthstone of someone in this crazy little loud family you have inherited. Everyone from handsome little Tate to GG in Vermont right back to me. The center stone was the diamond Preston’s dad proposed to me with. You see, I spent a long time being the center of the family, but we would have been broken without you. I hope every time you wear this, you’ll be reminded that you’re the very center of this family you’re still trying to figure out. We will always have your back, and we will always love you.”

I’m so choked up, I don’t notice that Preston has risen and is holding the necklace up in front of me. Holding my hair to the side, he fastens it, and I watch as it falls into place. It’s beautiful, but it’s the sentiment that has me breaking down.

“Th-Thank you, Sylvie. I-I don’t know what to say.”