CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Saylor
I ’m staring down at the headstone and wonder how things could’ve been different.
If I’d made a better decision, or didn’t approach the sexy man at the bar that night.
I think I’ll always wonder now but I have to move on and promise that, from here on out, I’ll live each day to the fullest without any regret.
One thing I’ve learned from all of this is that you’re not guaranteed tomorrow, so live today as if it’s your last.
Dad’s trial had come to an end last week and I’m thankful that I’ll never have to experience something like that ever again.
Having the Thorne name helped push it along quickly, and his defense didn’t put up much of a fight and asked for a speedy trial.
Taking the stand was the hardest feat I’ve ever had to endure.
Knowing that I was giving testimony that would put my dad behind bars was hard.
No, it was horrible. A nightmare. His attorney tried to blame PTSD for the cause, and I hate that they tried to use a scapegoat to get him off.
Mine and Levi’s entire relationship was put under a microscope.
“Mrs. Thorne, can you please describe the time of your mother’s death?” Mr. Russell, dad’s lead attorney, asks.
I sit there for a second, never wanting to revisit that part of my life.
“It was not a good environment for anyone, much less a child, to live through.”
“Was there any type of abuse in the household?”
“I don’t see how that is relevant to this case,” I snap at him.
“Mrs. Thorne, you going through that horrible time just further proves that my client was trying to not let that situation ever happen again.”
“I’m not sure how losing a parent to cancer would be trying to justify his actions; by bringing up my past is the worst possible thing he could do. He did this on his own and he was in his right mind when he followed through with it. No one could formulate a plan so calculated and not be sane.”
“Mrs. Thorne, did your husband ever try to manhandle you or do something to you that you protested or didn’t like?”
“Never.” There is no way I’m going to let what happened to my dad’s twin sister have any weight in his actions regarding what he plotted and planned.
“Is it true that your husband publicly humiliated you in a crowded restaurant and declared he wanted a divorce?”
“What does that have to do with the price of beans?”
“Objection!” The prosecution yells, stopping me from answering.
The trial is closed to the public but I still don’t want our private life out there for others to scrutinize. It’s really none of their business and it has nothing to do with this trial.
It only took the jury three hours to decide that he was guilty, but the kicker was that they bought some of the PTSD.
They sentenced him to life in a mental hospital that is run by the state.
He killed two people and he’s now getting to stay in a place where he’ll get unlimited TV and bingo nights, while the others are buried and are never going to see another day.
At least he has no communication with the outside world.
It’s not fair but then again life isn’t either.
“Saylor? You ready to head back?” Ryan asks, coming up from the car.
“Sure.” I place the flowers in the vase beside the headstone and kiss my fingers, then place them on the top.
“I’m getting married today. I know that you’re probably turning over down there because of it, but I hope that you’d be happy for me.
He’s a good man and loves me with his whole heart and has from the moment he saw me.
You’ll always hold a special place in my heart, even though I’m mad as hell at you.
” I think back to the first time we met and smile.
I can’t believe I’m getting married today. This is my second time, or is it my third since I had the paperwork to show that Brody and I married, even though it was fake?
Anyway, after the shooting and the speedy trial, I was the one who pushed for it.
As I said, life is too short not to live each day to the fullest and I didn’t want to waste any more time in being happy.
This is the right choice for me and Halo.
She’s super excited because she gets to wear a beautiful dress.
Pulling up to the small ranch, I feel a calmness rein over me.
We decided that we wanted to stay close to Los Angeles but find a place with some land, so that Halo could continue to have her animals to feed and play with.
After the trial, I couldn’t get out of the city quick enough.
We found a beautiful twenty-acre lot with a gorgeous house already on it, ready to move in.
It belonged to a Senator who was looking to down size after losing an election.
“There she is!” I hear Everly yell down from the upstairs.
The house is huge and has plenty of room for our growing family.
Six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, game room, gym, theater, and an awesome library.
The kitchen is amazing and Tina has practically lived in there since we moved in.
I’m so glad she is here to help me through everything.
Tina has always mothered me and she treats me more like a daughter than employer.
The property also has several living quarters and three barns.
Glammy and Granddad sold their LA home and built a small house here on the property, and so did Grandma and Grandpa.
They are neighbors and share a driveway from the main house.
Everly and Linc bought the ten acres next door and are officially moving in two months.
“I’m here, I’m here,” I say as I walk my happy self over to the kitchen, where Tina is killing it in there preparing the meal for later. I told her that I’d have the small reception catered but she wouldn’t hear of it.
My stomach roars, announcing me, and Tina immediately opens the fridge to hand me cup of salsa, as I already have a bowl of chips in hand. This little one wants nothing but salt. With Halo, I wanted nothing but sweets; it’s crazy how one pregnancy can be completely different from another.
“Are you ready for this evening, Saylor?” Tina asks as she pulls out some food from the oven.
“More than ready. I don’t think I’m as nervous as I was when I got married the first time.”
“Really? How so?”
“Well, marrying LA’s Golden Boy was a lot of pressure and I felt like one wrong move and I was going to be crucified. Now, I’m just me and everything seems more laid back. No pressure at all.” I smile as I chomp down several chips at once.
“Have you heard from my groom?” I ask, once I’ve eaten half the jar of salsa and rub my five-month pregnant belly.
Glammy strides into the room and gives me a look I know all too well.
“I know you’re not happy about this decision, but I really know what I want; I wouldn’t have proposed to him otherwise.”
“It’s not that I’m not happy, just cautious. You’ve been through a lot over the last few years, and I want you to do what is right for you but also make sure you’ve had time to heal. There’s no rush,” Glammy tells me.
“I understand where you’re coming from and love you for it.
Thank you for being amazing these past few months.
” I do appreciate and value her opinion, but I know I’m making the right decision.
She and Granddad have had a hard time dealing with my dad’s insane decisions over the last few years.
They keep blaming themselves, but I won’t hear of it.
Everyone is responsible for their own actions, as well as the consequences.
“I only want the best for you and to see you succeed in whatever it is you want, even if it’s rushing into marrying that man today,” she says and we both burst out in giggles. “We are just glad that we get to be part of it this time.”
“Hey, I need the bride to do her hair up there. Halo is trying to put bows on the dogs and paint their nails. Zeus is not having it and going crazy trying to escape,” Everly says, coming in the kitchen and swiping a cookie from the plate by the oven.
She eats three in rapid succession then rubs her pregnant belly.
They found out right in the middle of the trial that she was pregnant and we love that our babies are going to be so close in age.
“I’m coming.” I hop down from the stool and start to walk that way.
“We only have two hours before the wedding starts and we have so much to do,” Everly stresses.
“Can’t we just wear pajamas? And my hair up in a bun?” I whine at having to get all dolled up.
“Have you lost your mind? Saylor you only get married once…” She pauses and then clamps her mouth shut. “I mean twice?” She pauses again, only for us to bust a gut laughing.
Once we get our fits of laughter under control, the beauty squad does their magic and works me over.
Shortly after that, Halo comes in wearing her beautiful white, lace tea length dress. She has a pair of brown cowboy boots on, with her hair up in a curly ponytail and a matching headband. She looks adorable and is the most beautiful flower girl ever.
As I put on my matching lace dress, Halo and I look like twins. The groom left me a perfect pair of baby blue earrings, with diamonds around the outside. They match the bottoms of my heels that are the same color, but were specially made and dipped in baby blue glitter.
Halo loves having our picture taken together and I think we have a little ham on our hands. After we take a million photos, Everly comes in all dressed with Glammy behind her.
“Oh Saylor, you look so beautiful,” Glammy gushes.
“Picture perfect,” Everly interjects.
“You sure?” I turn back to the full-length mirror and place my hand on my protruding belly.
“Absolutely,” they both say and we make our way carefully down the stairs with the help of Ryan.
“You can turn back now. I’ve got a getaway car ready and we can have the jet ready to go with one phone call,” Everly says as she stops me from opening the back door to head out to our ceremony.