Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
A fter a few more moves on the dance floor, the party starts to wind down. Ransom and I step over to the dessert table and partake in just about everything—the lava cake never stood a chance. And once we’re through, he pulls me in, slightly out of breath, but looking recklessly handsome nonetheless.
He dots a kiss on my lips. “You stole the show tonight.”
I laugh at the thought. “I think your shirtless performance might have had something to do with the mob of ravenous women screaming their heads off.”
“Hey, I just follow orders,” he teases, rubbing the scruff on this cheek over mine. “But seriously, are you okay? That was pretty intense out there. And I’m still not sure what happened as far as that whole levitation thing.”
My shoulders rise a notch. “Let’s just say Beatrice Fiddlefae wasn’t too thrilled to learn that she’d been murdered. But when you think of all the possibilities of what could have happened, a little arial suspension is the least of it. Hetty is no worse for wear. Or should I say, Lucy?”
He nods. “I found out about the identity switch myself tonight.”
“You did?” I give his ribs a tweak. “What happened?”
“I had the labs run prints for Hetty, Jennifer, and Amber. Quinn helped me collect them from the glasses they were using one night at dinner. I shipped it to the mainland a few days back, when we got to port. Imagine how surprised I was to have picked up Lucy Taylor’s prints long after her body left the ship. I did a little digging and found out about her time at Big Bite Burger and that?—”
“She embezzled from them.”
He nods. “You’re good, Troublefield.”
“Soon-to-be Baxter,” I muse, then a thought hits me. “Oh no. I’m not going to be a Troublefield?” I shake my head. “I mean, I don’t want anything to do with Stanton. But the kids…” A whole river of words bubbles up in my throat, and suddenly I feel very conflicted about losing a surname that’s been mine for a quarter of a century.
“Keep it,” he says, and there’s a sincerity in his eyes that lets me know he wouldn’t mind one bit.
“But I want you and everything that comes along with you.” The words strain from me as if they were crushing my vocal cords because no truer words have ever passed them. “And I mean it with every cell in my body.”
“I would never ask you to erase any part of yourself. Besides, I’ve always thought that Trixie Troublefield has a nice ring to it.”
A hard sigh expels from me, then another thought hits me. “How about Trixie Troublefield Baxter ?” I cringe a bit because I feel as if I’m on shaky ground.
“I think it has an even better ring to it.” He lands a soft kiss to my cheek. “I’m in full support of your decision.”
Tears come to my eyes. “Thank you for that.”
“Excuse me,” a light female voice chimes and I look to my right and it’s Jennifer.
“Hey.” I head over and offer her a firm embrace. “Are you okay? I didn’t see you in the room when I got back.”
“I went out to get some air and saw them arresting Hetty.” She shakes her head. “I just wanted to apologize for everything. My friends, the craziness—it’s been a lot. But you handled it all so well. Thank you. And thank you for helping track down Lucy’s killer. I just never thought… I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” I tell her. “It’s been a wild ride for all of us. Are you okay?”
“I’m going to be fine. It’s supposed to be a happy time for us, for both of us.” She offers Ransom a mournful smile. “On behalf of Lucy, thank you both for all that you’ve done.”
“Jennifer,” I lean in a notch, “I’m sorry to bring this up, but I heard certain things about Marcus. I just want to make sure you’re going into this with your eyes wide open.”
“This again?” She gives a little laugh. “Please don’t worry about me, Trixie.”
I’m about to respond when I notice a familiar figure in a ballcap, along with a wrinkled suit, lurking near the edge of the room. It’s the same man who’s been spying on us for the entire cruise.
“Excuse me for a second, Jennifer.” My instincts kick in, and I turn to Ransom. “That man has been practically stalking Jennifer and her friends this whole cruise. Maybe it’s innocent, but I’m tired, and I don’t think his creepy behavior is appropriate. Can you please go and speak to him?”
Ransom straightens immediately, ready to confront the man, but before he can, Jennifer turns and gasps.
“Marcus?” Her face contorts with an entire range of emotions.
The man in the ballcap hesitates for a moment before stepping out of the shadows and giving a sheepish wave as he heads this way.
“Yeah, it’s me.” He gives Jennifer a cheesy wink. “Surprise, babe.” He holds out his hands as if he were a prize.
Jennifer’s eyes widen in shock. “What are you doing here? Have you been following me?”
Marcus shifts from foot to foot. “I just needed to make sure my girl wasn’t doing things she wasn’t supposed to do.”
Jennifer’s expression hardens. “Oh, for goodness’ sake.” She tosses her hands in the air. “If you two will excuse us, I’ve got a fiancé to question, and more importantly, school.”
She leads Marcus away, and as I watch them go, I can’t help but feel both concerned and relieved.
The lights flicker in the lounge and the ship gives a soft bounce as the storm outside seems to grow with intensity.
“And on that note,” I say. “I think it’s time we call it a night.”
As we leave the lounge, I glance back at the party and actually feel a sense of closure. The mystery is solved, justice is served, and now it’s time to look forward to the future.
With Ransom by my side, I know that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together—and probably with Quinn Riddle breathing down our necks.
I give Ransom’s hand a squeeze. “Thanks for always having my back.”
He smiles, pulling me closer. “Always, Trixie. I will have your back forever.”
And I know this much is true.