Chapter 15
When Crystal collapsed on the couch at the main house several hours later, she looked over at Ashton, sadness in her gaze.
“I don’t know who I feel sorry for the most,” she began.
“Grandpa is absolutely devastated. Grandma is not happy to be found and is looking very much the worse for wear. I’m not sure which part is worse for her, Richard holding her overnight in jail or Richard talking about bringing her before a judge, asking for a psych eval.
We probably do need her tested, which might explain some of the stuff Grandma has pulled in recent years.
At least Sean is asleep in a comfy bed and is warm and full and hydrated for the moment, …
or should be asleep soon. The whole town appears to have just lost it over the news. ”
Ashton sat down beside her, adding, “Everybody is trying to figure out what happened and how they all missed it.”
“And what they missed is the same thing that we missed.”
Ashton shook his head. “Jenny’s betrayal hurt me, maybe more than Grandma’s because I never expected Jenny to turn on us like that.”
Crystal nodded. “Like Sean said, the ones you don’t see coming …”
“Plus,” Ashton pointed out, “Jenny was in love with Max, and none of us saw that either. How did that happen?” he asked Crystal.
“It seemed she was always here. She looked after the house, looked after Grandpa and Grandma, cooked all our meals, but she was apparently having a personal life too.” He shook his head.
“I’m glad she had a few years of happiness, but it’s so very sad that it turned ugly so quickly. ”
Just then Ashton’s phone rang, and Oliver was on the other end.
“Hey, wanted to thank you for going to bat for me and getting me out of jail.”
“You were pretty much in the clear, especially once we realized what really happened.”
“It’s shocking as hell to find out about Jenny,” Oliver said.
“I know my brother loved her, loved her dearly, but honestly, I never trusted her. It’s one of the reasons my brother and I fought toward the end, but he was happy, and I didn’t want people thinking it was jealousy on my part.
I just … I didn’t have the same rapport with her that he did.
Anyway, I’m exhausted, but I wanted to thank you for looking after the animals. ”
“You’re more than welcome,” Ashton replied. “Our family added chaos to your world that nobody needs. Give us a chance to sort out where things are at,” he said, “and I’ll get back to you about the deposit money. We’ve found it, and I think all of it is there, … but I can’t be sure just yet.”
“Yeah, that’s tomorrow’s problem,” Oliver noted, fatigue in his tone. “It’s a hard realization when you see just how much people are willing to do things … for all the wrong reasons.” And, with that, he disconnected.
Crystal looked over at Ashton and muttered, “That’s got to be rough.”
“It’s all rough,” he declared.
She nodded. “People break other people’s hearts, and yet there was no reason for it, particularly what Grandma did.” Crystal asked him, “Did you mean it? Are you here now to stay? Are you done gallivanting around the world, doing whatever you’ve been doing?”
He smiled at her, opened his arms, and tucked her up close. “Absolutely. You already know that.”
“Well, I’m hoping that I know it,” she clarified. “I just want what we have to be true and honest and that our communication is open and that we don’t worry about what other people say.”
He smiled. “I don’t really care what other people say to begin with, … especially when we know what we know,” he added, with a huge smile.
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “So, can we go to bed now? I’m exhausted.”
He laughed and said, “Absolutely. … Does that mean we are going to bed together or are you staying the night at your place?”
She looked at him and smiled. “After waiting six years? … Together, in your bed of course. Do you really think Jenny didn’t know about me and you?” she asked, as they climbed the stairs to his bedroom.
“I don’t know. I think she may have not wanted to know about us because that probably made it harder to deal with her own loss.
Sometimes happy people make it harder for those without someone.
And finding out more about Jenny at the end, she probably would not want either of us to end up being happy,” he suggested.
“I don’t know that she had the capacity at the end of her life to be happy for anybody. I know that sounds terrible and sad.”
“It does, but it also is probably quite true,” she said, as she followed him into his bedroom. “I presume the twins helped her?”
H nodded. “They’ve been picked up along with Grandma. I don’t know what the charges will look like but it’s not going to be a smack on the hand and get released at this point.”
“What about Sean?” She looked at him hesitantly. “Can he live in one of the dower houses? I think our family has put him through enough.”
He caught her up and warm hug and nodded. “I was thinking of offering that to him. Not sure whether he’ll accept or not, but I had thought to give him that option.” He groaned as he looked out the window and muttered, “Who would have ever thought it?”
“Apparently both of us. But that’s for tomorrow.” She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Tomorrow’s a whole new day. Let’s get some sleep.”
He twisted around to face her. “I don’t want to waste any more time.” And, with that, he nudged her backward until she fell onto the bed, laughing. “Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind.”
She just stared at him, her arms outstretched.
He smiled. “Good to know that you want me, that you still choose me,” he said. “I would have been pretty devastated if I’d come back and found you with somebody else.”
“And yet you kept making excuses,” she pointed out, “delaying your way back here.”
“Yeah, because, when I did come home, I had to be sure that I was coming home to you and only you. It wouldn’t have been the same if you had left, particularly if you’d left with one of those two idiots,” he muttered, with a groan.
She smiled and shook her head. “That would never happen.”
He chuckled softly, a sound that resonated with warmth and affection, as he bent down to meet her lips with his own. The kiss was tender yet filled with a longing that had been building for what felt like an eternity.
When he finally lifted his head, she gazed into his eyes, a playful smile dancing on her lips. “I’m pretty sure we’ve waited long enough.” Her words were a gentle reminder of the time they had spent apart.
With a graceful movement, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him down closer to her.
The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of them in their own private sanctuary.
Their first time together was rushed, heated, a whirlwind of emotions and sensations, yet it was also a moment of profound connection.
As he closed his eyes, he felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders, holding himself back just enough to savor the moment.
She whispered softly, her voice a soothing melody, “This is just for us now, nobody else.” Her words were a promise, a vow that this moment was theirs alone, untouched by the chaos of the outside world.
As he began to move, the rhythm of their past resonated with their future.
She rose and crested before him, her body responding to his with an intensity that took his breath away.
She held him tightly, as he finally surged above her, a wave of emotions crashing over him.
He collapsed back down, enveloped in her arms, feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment that he had never known before.
In that moment, they were a single entity, bound by their histories but building their tomorrows … together.
Crystal whispered, “Now we can sleep, and finally you’re home where you belong.”