Page 72 of Third Time is the Charm (Passion and Perseverance #3)

“Oh my God, Beth!” Jane’s concerned voice picked up the phone. “Are you ok? I’ve been waiting for you to call.”

“Hey,” Beth answered hoarsely. Her throat overworked from the emotional events of the past day. “Sorry I couldn’t talk last night; I’m ok, just trying to wrap my head around everything. How’s Charles?”

Jane sighed. “Hurt and upset, but not surprised. He just got back; he’s been at his parents all morning.

I think they’d come to terms with the fact that they haven’t really known Caroline for a while now; it was hard to accept, but it was the truth.

She is still their daughter, and Charles’ sister, so I think that at this point, they are just hoping she will get the help that she needs; maybe someday, she will be better… ”

Oh, Jane. The ever-hopeful one.

Beth felt tears coming to her eyes at the thought of her sister. Soon they would be back in the same city, together again, figuring out life and marriage together. She couldn’t help the wave of anticipation that ran through her at the prospect; she missed her sister so much.

“Are you sure you’re ok? I mean, I know Darcy said that you weren’t injured.”

“Yeah,” Beth answered thickly. “I wasn’t hurt. Darcy was the one who was actually grazed by one of the bullets, but he’s fine. Just emotionally, it was a lot last night.”

“I can imagine,” Jane empathized.

“Truthfully, yes, I was in shock that she actually tried to shoot… tried to kill me. But, afterward, I think what was hardest to believe was that it was all finally over.” Beth let out an ironic laugh, still wondering how being shot at wasn’t the most unbelievable thing to her.

“I don’t know how to explain it. Caroline, and this whole thing, has just been plaguing us for so long – tormenting us for so long – and to think that it’s finally done; she’s finally gone for good… ”

“I can’t imagine…” Jane said softly.

“When Darcy came up here and we began to work things out between us, I think mentally I just prepared myself to have to deal with her games forever. I think I prepared myself for all of these obstacles that in one night – with one shot – were eliminated.” Beth toyed with the remaining pieces of fruit on her plate from the breakfast that Darcy had ordered them.

He’d suggested they eat first and then went to shower while she called Jane.

“I know things haven’t been easy for the two of you; I feel like so many extrinsic influences were working to keep you apart that you couldn’t focus any energy on what you had between the two of you.

I’m glad that those complications are gone.

” Beth could hear the tears that were surely falling from her sister’s eyes.

“I just want you to be happy, Beth and, while I saw how mad and upset he makes you, I also saw how happy you were with Darcy.”

“I feel like now, we finally get to be happy…” Beth agreed softly, hearing the shower water turn off.

“I miss you,” her sister said. “Do you think you both will come down to visit soon? Dad and mom seemed to think you would. Especially mom – it was kind of weird…”

She hadn’t told Jane about the conversation with her mother. Another story for another day.

“Well, that’s another reason why I was calling you…” Beth cleared the residual sadness from her throat. “We’re moving back to New York.”

“What?!” Jane exclaimed. “I don’t understand. What about your job?”

“We’re coming home. Darcy donated the funds for Pat and Colin to expand the Center into New York, and Colin offered me the position to head up the office there if I wanted.”

“Oh my God, Beth! That’s amazing! I’m crying –” Jane broke off and Beth heard the small sobs of happiness from the other end of the line. Jane’s excitement reignited her own, tears beginning to stream down her face just as Darcy walked into the room, concern immediately overwhelming his face.

“Are you ok?” he asked softly coming over to her side.

“Yeah,” she murmured. “Jane’s crying… because we’re… coming home...” Her words came out thick over her own emotion, but her explanation relieved Darcy, who kissed the top of her head before walking back into the bedroom to put some clothes on.

“I’m sorry, Beth…” Jane choked out. “I’m just so happy.”

Beth laughed through their waterworks. “It’s ok, but I haven’t even told you everything yet.”

“There’s more?!”

“We’re engaged.” The news effectively putting a pause in their coherent conversation for a few minutes as they cried and laughed in happiness together.

“Oh, Beth. I’m so happy for you… so happy. After everything that has happened, I just… I’m just so happy.”

“Me too,” she agreed. “And I have you to thank, you know. You opened my eyes to the idea that there was another side of the story that I needed to hear. Without you, I don’t know that any of this would have happened… I don’t know if I would have truly gotten my happy ending.”

Jane’s choked sobs resonated through the line again at Beth’s words.

They were the truth though. She wanted to hate Darcy, she’d wanted to think of him as he was and remember what he had done…

she’d wanted to think that she’d been the only one affected.

But that hadn’t been the truth. Jane encouraged her to set her hurt and pride aside, move past her prejudiced preconception about what she thought had happened, and find out the truth – not just for Darcy, but for herself.

“I love you, sis,” she said softly as Jane’s tears finally subsided.

“I’m always here for you, Beth. I love you.”

“Ok, I should probably get going. Darcy and I are spending the day together celebrating. I think we’ll probably come back next weekend to see everyone and give them the good news, so don’t say anything to mom or dad yet.” Beth implored her sister.

“Of course,” Jane assured her. “That will be so wonderful. The whole family will be here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, mom just told me that Lydia is coming in for the weekend… I’m not sure why. I guess just to visit.”

And tell everyone that she was leaving George.

At least Beth would be there now to provide support – and a distraction for their mother.

“I guess…”

Darcy came back into the room then, dressed and ready to go, his eyebrow raised at her in question.

“Ok, I gotta run!”

“Congratulations, Beth. Charles and I are so happy for the both of you. We love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Beth ended the forty-five-minute call with a deep sigh. So many emotions filled her, but they were all good ones; they all had her looking forward to the future – a future that she hadn’t thought possible.

“How long until you’re ready, gorgeous?” Darcy asked with a smile.

Beth sighed in happiness, standing from her chair and walking over to him to plant a deep, long kiss on his mouth. “I love you.”

One arm came around her, his hand grabbing her ass. “Keep that up and we’ll celebrate in here all day…”

Beth moaned, capturing his lower lip between her teeth and sucking it into her mouth with a devious smile. “Just give me a minute to get dressed…”

“You have one minute, Mrs . Intolerable,” he growled. “Or I’ll be keeping you in a permanent state of undress for the rest of the weekend.”

She smiled again at the nickname. “I mean… we aren’t in a rush, are we?” She asked seductively, her eyes darkening with desire. “I think I’d like to celebrate here for a little first.” Her words dropped off as she pulled his lips back down onto hers, their kiss now molten with passion.

His hoarse groan caressed the sensitive skin of her mouth as he hoisted her up against him, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carried her back into the bedroom, kicking the door shut behind them. “Anything for you, gorgeous.”

The End.