Page 32 of Timeless Pages

I took one final, fortifying breath and then plastered a smile on my face.

I shook the Mayor's hand and then stepped up to the microphone.

"Thank you, Mayor, and thanks to all of you for coming out to help us celebrate the grand opening of the Jasmine Wilcox Haven.

I believe every man, woman, and child has the right to access a safe place to lay their head and receive three meals a day.

Unfortunately, for some, these basic needs are a luxury, not a standard. At Haven, it will be."

The crowd was hanging on to my every word, and just as the self-consciousness began to creep in, movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention.

I turned my head to see my guys had moved from behind me to the edge of the crowd.

I met their eyes one by one and took strength from the pride in them. I could do this. I would do this.

"But we're determined to do more than provide basic needs.

At Haven, we're committed to helping those in need with the assistance and skills they require to turn their lives around.

The true heart of a community is measured by how it treats its least fortunate members.

As a community, we will help them get back on their feet and onto the right track to reclaim their lives.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to bringing this project to fruition, as well as the volunteers who have committed to helping us reach our goals.

Without each and every one of you, this wouldn't be possible.

I am so excited for the future and all of the lives we will uplift and change. "

The crowd clapped in response, and as the noise died down, I asked, "Does anyone have any questions?"

Several reporters shouted out questions, but one woman's voice rose above the others. "What is your response to your father, Morris Wilcox's statement that you hired him to burn down the bookstore in order to obtain the insurance money to fund this project?"

Ahh, yes. Morris. Why did I think I could have this one thing without his interruption?

The trial was long, and his lawyers dragged it out as long as they could, but in the end, he was convicted on all charges and locked up without parole.

He wasn't given a life sentence, but he would be in his eighties when he finished serving his sentence.

His lawyers tried to discredit me and drag my name through the mud every chance they could, but the jury hadn't bought into their lies, especially when the evidence was so clear-cut.

True to my word, I hadn't attended a single day of trial. I hadn't needed to.

"I don't have a response," I replied. "I met with Morris the day after his arrest and promised myself that I would never see or speak to him again. Responding to his false allegations feels like engaging with him, so I'll have to ignore your question politely. Are there any other questions?"

I answered more of the basic questions regarding the services we would offer and how we expected to continue funding the place.

When I had answered the last question, the Mayor stepped forward with the council members and handed me a giant pair of scissors.

I waved Dave over as two high schoolers stretched a red ribbon out in front of us, and together we cut it, marking the official opening of Jasmine Wilcox Haven.

We held a small cocktail hour for everyone in attendance, during which I answered additional questions.

The reporter who asked about Morris tried again and was quickly escorted out by Daniel.

I doubted we would get a good article from them, but that was a sacrifice I was willing to make for the sake of my peace of mind.

Just as I was reaching the limit of my social meter, Dom slid between me and a reporter.

"I'm sorry, I'm going to have to steal Miss Wilcox now," he announced. “Any further questions can be directed toward her lawyer, Daniel Calvert.”

"That's right, folks," Daniel said from a few feet away. "If you have any final questions, I'll be happy to answer them." As the attention moved to him, Daniel met my eyes and winked and mouthed "Be happy."

I smiled in thanks and let Dom guide me from the Haven and into a car where Nate and Evan were already waiting.

"Oh, I'm glad that's over," I groaned as I lay my head against the soft leather and closed my eyes.

My ears were ringing from the absence of the noise from all those people talking at once.

The pop of a champagne cork had me cracking one eye open in interest.

Evan poured us each a glass, and I raised mine in a toast when he handed it to me. "To the Haven."

"To you," Nate corrected. "We're proud of you, Isa."

"And we have a surprise for you," Dom said excitedly.

"What kind of surprise?" I asked, looking out the window and noticing that we were headed into the mountains.

"You'll see," Evan replied.

I was dying to pepper them with questions, but managed to control myself.

Whatever it was, I would find out soon enough.

I did, however, keep my eyes peeled on where we were going.

The deeper into the forest we went, the more confused I became.

When the driver turned the car off the road and stopped a short way down, my confusion grew.

The clearing we were in held a replica of the campsite we had set up on our first and last camping trip.

"What's going on?" I asked hesitantly. I was prepared to be excited if my surprise was camping, but I was hoping it wasn't.

"What do you think?" Nate asked.

"Of what?"

"The area," Evan answered.

"It's nice?"

Dom chuckled. "Personally, I think it would be nicer with a cabin."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, finally understanding. "Did you buy this land?"

"We did," Nate replied. "There's just one little problem."

"What's that?" I wandered further from the car, wondering just how much of the surrounding forest was theirs.

The area was quite charming, and I hoped they would be able to preserve that feeling after the build.

When they didn't answer me, I turned back to them and gasped when I saw them down on one knee.

Nate was in the middle and held a box that was suspiciously ring-sized.

"We realized that we don't want to move forward with this project until we finalize a few things.

Mainly, making sure your name is on there, too," Nate said.

"You are perfect for us, Isa. For years, people have hounded us about settling down.

Until you, it wasn't something we wanted.

" My heart thundered in my chest. I knew we'd get here eventually.

Nate had been clear about their intentions the night Morris assaulted me.

Even so, I wasn't prepared for the emotions that would swell inside me when it happened.

You make us see a future we hadn't considered before," Dom continued, "and now, there isn't a future for us that doesn't include you.

" I felt the same. I didn't want a future that didn't include these three men.

Ironic considering how badly I wanted to kill them when they first set foot in Timeless Pages over a year ago.

"We love you, Isa," Evan said. "Every single part of you, scars and all.

There isn't a cell in your body that we would ever want to change.

Will you make three serial bachelors the happiest men in the world and do us the undeserved honor of becoming our wife?

" I was the undeserving one. I'd never understand how a broken girl managed to catch their attention, but I wasn't ever going to let them go.

"Yes!" I replied, tears threatening to fall. They surged to their feet and surrounded me. I felt Nate slide the ring on my finger, but I wasn't given the chance to look at it before I was swept up in heated kisses and embraces.

"I just have one question," I said when things had calmed and I was snuggled into the middle of a group hug.

"What's that?" Dom asked.

"Do we have to sleep here?"

"Fuck no!" Nate exclaimed.

We all laughed as he tossed me over his shoulder and carried me back to the car.

Happily ever afters weren't just for fairytales.