Friday morning"Come on. We can go sign the paper and get the keys." I was bouncing up and down like a kid on Christmas morning. And hell, it practically was Christmas morning for me. Ms. Goldie had called, Willow's ring was ready. Then Scott called. The closing was this afternoon. My girl came out of the bathroom. Her hair was in a weird ball of knots on the top of her head. She glared at me. "Do you have any chocolate?"My eyes widened. Oh shit. I slowly shook my head.Her eyes narrowed down to slits. "We're stopping for chocolate on the way.""Sure, cupcake. Anything you say." She nodded at me, walked to the suitcase. She lifted up everything she'd brought. Even some of the clothes she'd already worn. She threw everything back in it after a short minute and loosed a loud snarl. "Give me some pants."I looked at her suitcase. "Which ones do you want?"Her eyes got really wide, went damp. "Some of yours."I jumped to my bag. Ripped some sleep pants out of the botto
The party was stunning. This year's theme was Gold. The fiftieth anniversary of the Chase Foundation. I bit back the rage that wanted to fire from my mouth. It wasn't quite time. Ryker scooted out of the limo, turned and helped me out. Paparazzi and the media were everywhere. The blinding glare of their flashes caused me to grip Ryker's hand so I could walk when I couldn't see where I was going. A long line of party waiters stood between the guests and the cameras."Willow Chase! How many years has it been since you've been to your parents' gala?" someone shouted."Willow! Who are you wearing?" a shrill female voice asked."Willow, where have you been hiding?""Ryker, do you have any comment on the police presence at Penn Towers?""Willow, where's your ex-husband?"I clenched my hand in Ryker's as the last question landed. These vultures were only interested in eliciting a reaction. I was bound and determined that the only reactions they'd be getting from me was triumph
I stuck my head out the door, looked both directions. When it was clear, I pulled her from the depths. I smiled. She was the absolute best thing that had ever happened to me. If I didn't hate the bastard with a fiery passion in my soul, I'd probably thank Ethan Errington. But that was beyond my ability. Escorting the sexiest woman back to the party, we ran into Jessa and Nico and Nik and Turo as they came in. I glanced at my watch. Raised my brows at Nico.He rolled his eyes. "Women."Willow snorted. "Men," she said it with the exact same inflection. Jessa and Nik laughed. "You'd think it was our fault, but he had to change his tux twice so it would be the same undertone' as Jessa's dress," Nik said. She made air quotes around the appropriate words. Turo nodded. "It's disgusting. He has more clothes than most women."Nico stuck his nose in the air. "Can I get a drink now, please?"I looked over the people I'd claimed as my family. Jessa and Nico were a striking couple
I swallowed as I blinked against the glaring lights. "Hi. I'm Willow." She gave a little wave. The crowd chuckled. Called out, "Hi Willow" like we were on some kind of ridiculous Saturday morning kids' show. She chuckled. "Winslow and Beverly are correct. I've a new man, and, boy, do we have some news to share. Buckle your seatbelts."The lights dimmed dramatically. "As Winslow stated, I was married to Ethan Errington. Winslow and Beverly actually set us up."The crowd gave a joint ah.' Fuckers. My smile was brittle. "What I recently found out was that they paid him ten million dollars to do it."The crowd didn't laugh or give any cutesy little audience participation lines. "Willow, what in heaven's name are you talking about?" Beverly said, motherly shame sharp in her voice. I smiled out at the crowd. That was Nik's cue. The screen behind me went live. I blocked out the sound of Ethan's voice as he himself declared that my creation donors had paid him. Turo
My chest swelled with pride as Willow, Jessa, and Tali all gathered on the stage. "Taylor Pankoswki, age fourteen," Willow said, her voice strong. A picture showed on the screen behind us. A young girl who had seen too much life in her years. Her blue eyes were hazy, her brown hair hung in straggles down her face.A woman in the crowd screamed. "That's my baby. That monster had my baby?""Born January 14, 2006. Died -"The woman shouted and wailed.Tali's fists clenched. "Died June 28, 2019.""Cause of death: traumatic blood loss," Jessa said. The woman collapsed into tears and grief. Several around her either moved to help comfort her or stepped away. Their gazes lowered, their shoulders hunched. The guilty would out themselves by the time this was done. The next picture was displayed. The group of gathered monsters and innocents sucked in a collective breath. "Marigold Lightfoot, age fifty-five." Willow didn't take her gaze off the crowd. Blue eyes, red hair, ro
Two days laterI hugged Daphne. "Are you sure you don't want to stay any longer? I know Corrie would like you to," I said with an eyebrow wiggle.Daphne laughed. "That girl would sit at Massimo's feet for the rest of their natural lives. No, we're leaving. She has to get back to school on Monday, just like the normal girl she's trying to be."I smiled. "Well, tell her I tried." Daphne smiled. "I'll do that." She looked around the two-story foyer of our new home. "You know, I never really thought about Ryker living anywhere other than in the Towers." She turned back to me. "But this suits him. Suits both of you."I smiled. "And I can't thank you enough for wrangling the team of movers. That was a huge blessing that I'll never be able to repay you for."Her smile went soft. "You give him the love, support, protection, and care that I could never find within myself. If there is someone who can't repay a blessing, it's me to you. I hope I'm doing better with Corrie, but I know
Next weekend"Archie, you look so handsome," Grams said as she came into the room on Baxter's arm. Baxter helped her to a chair. "That's Ryker, Alda. He's your grandson."My heart ached for a moment. I'd been hoping she would have a good day. A day she'd never forget. I guess it had been a bit of a pipe dream. Dementia didn't discriminate on stealing memories. It eventually stole them all and it was a greedy bitch. Grams' face clouded for a second. Then her green eyes brightened. "I know my own boy, Baxie. Stop fussing. Go away now." She slapped at the man's arm. "I need to impart some wisdom on him."I nodded at Baxter. He walked back to the door, but didn't leave. "What's up, Grams?"She looked up at me. "I can see that you're happy. Which is good. But you need to know that marriage is more than just the happy. It's the boring, the normal, the sad, the horrible."I squatted down, took her hand. "I know that, you old bird. I thought you were going to tell me something
I smiled as one of the best men I knew married one of the strongest women I'd ever met. Grams stood up with Ryker and Baxter and fulfilled her best man duties with a style and panache I could only hope I still had at her age. Tali and Momma stood with Willow. All three women were radiant in the late afternoon sun. Thankfully the new digs Ryker and Willow had just bought came with a fully heated patio section off the pool area. The open scenery of their lake and the setting sun were the perfect backdrop. Turo wiggled beside me. "Ah, an actual smile today. Imagining yourself in a white dress, a young man across from you while you exchange promises?" he asked softly.I looked at him. "What are we doing, Arturo?" I asked him bluntly but quietly. He jolted. "I'm asking you a question, cricket."I ground my teeth at the nickname. "I've asked you repeatedly to stop calling me that."His smile was all teeth and potent sexuality. "Then I guess you need to simply get accustomed to