34. Laurene
CHAPTER 34
Laurene
MONTHS LATER…
A low hum of conversation, punctuated by laughter and the clinking of champagne flutes, filled the gallery. The surrounding walls were adorned with pieces from local artists mixed with the masterpieces.
“Laurene King,” a voice called from behind me. I turned to see an older woman, dressed impeccably in a tailored black suit, her cane hitting the floor steadily. “You’ve truly outdone yourself this time.”
“It’s Laurene Ashbourne now, Mrs. Fontaine,” I said. “Thank you for coming. How is the Lush Chronicles doing?”
She raised her glass. “Perfect! I have great things to write. You are just what we needed here in Lush. Your grandfather Benjamin would be proud.”
I let myself take it all in—the crowd, the art, the strange mix of pride and vulnerability tightening in my chest. This wasn’t just an exhibit; it was a declaration. A way of saying, I’m still here .
Then I saw him.
Reese stood near the back of the room.
He wasn’t in a tuxedo like the others. Reese wore a black blazer and crisp, unbuttoned white shirt, showing skin. The slight shine on his polished black leather boots caught the light, and I thought again about how sexy my husband was.
He stood there like he owned the space, one hand casually tucked in his pocket, the other holding a drink he hardly touched. His eyes were on a painting in front of him.
I calmly walked over, despite feeling a jumble of emotions.
“Where have you been hiding?”
“The exhibit is amazing, baby.” He turned, his green eyes locking on to mine.
His gaze softened, and without a word, his hand slid around my waist, pulling me in flushed against him. The air between us thickened as his other hand cupped my face, his fingers brushing against my skin like he was claiming it.
Then, he kissed me—slow, deliberate, and almost too soft at first, as if he were savoring every second. I melted against him, the heat of his body seeping into mine. The kiss deepened, and for a moment, nothing else mattered. But as much as I wanted to stay, I pulled away, the air between us now crackling with something far too dangerous to ignore.
“Careful, Reese,” I whispered, looking at his chest. He was still healing.
“I’m fine,” he murmured, his thumb wiping some of my gloss of his lips. “Just needed that.”
Gigi shrieked, and when I looked, she was glaring at Erik. Noelle, standing close by, was trying not to laugh.
“We need more wine! Greedy-ass Erik drained it all.” Gigi stormed past, holding an empty glass.
Jennie and David stood before a large abstract canvas nearby. Jennie held Faith close, her peaceful face nestled against Jennie’s chest, tiny fists curled up adorably.
Reese and I strolled toward a massive bronze sculpture, the smooth, soulful sounds of live jazz filling the air.
“I hope you know I just made a sizeable donation,” Reese said as he tilted his head, looking at the sculpture .
I lifted a brow. “Oh really? And to what cause, Mr. Ashbourne?”
Reese glanced at me, a smile on his lips. “The gallery, obviously. You’ve been busting your ass to make this exhibit happen, and I wanna support the arts and my wife.”
I felt a smile pull at the corners of my own lips, but I fought it back, crossing my arms and keeping my cool. “I see,” I said slowly. “And I have to thank you in some kinda way.”
A wicked glint filled his eyes.
“Hmm… There are some ways. Preferably with you naked. But I care about you—what matters to you.”
I laughed, hugging him tighter but being mindful of his wound.
Nina was in jail for blackmailing, stalking, and almost killing Jennie, Faith, Reese, and me. She’d likely never see the outside world again.
I glanced around the room and found Pauline standing near the far corner, a little boy beside her, about eight years old, holding her hand. His hair was dark brown, tousled in that playful way, and his face carried a mix of both his parents—Conrad’s strong jawline and Nina’s features, but his eyes were exactly like Reese’s.
Green and full of life.
That was why Nina had demanded the money.
She’d been raising Alex in that cabin, homeschooling him, and no one had ever known. A DNA test had confirmed it: Alex was indeed related and Conrad’s son. Pauline had adopted him, and hopefully when Harold was done with treatment, he’d get to meet his oldest grandchild.
My heart ached for Alex; he had been caught in the crossfire of his mother’s choices. But Jennie and Reese were helping raise him, my family would help too, and he would never experience what his father had felt.
“Laurene.” I turned to see the mayor approach.
“Dante,” I greeted him. “It’s good to see you. ”
Dante had helped in ways I hadn’t expected. I still didn’t fully trust him, but he’d been an ally. Just like he’d said from the beginning. Something was brewing, and I figured it was best to keep him close.
“Congratulations on the exhibit,” he said, his gaze flicking around the room. “Impressive work. Tourism is up in town. You sure I can’t pull you away from Arthur and have you run our tourism department?”
“No, but thank you.”
“It was nice seeing both of you.” He nodded at Reese, who, to my surprise, nodded back. “Looking forward to working with you again .”
The “again” hung in the air between us.
As he turned and walked away, my thoughts briefly shifted to the guilt that always seemed to follow me when I thought about the ten million I’d originally taken from Dante. I’d given it back, of course, but the weight of it lingered—especially since I knew it could have gone against my mother. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d walked too close to a dangerous line.
On the other hand, thanks to Daddy, I’d been able to receive my inheritance no strings attached and even more.
Arthur had even surprised me. I’d gotten a bonus during my recent employee evaluation—a substantial bonus. Money was soaring again, and I had more than enough to start my gallery.
“Did you ever think we’d have this?” he said, motioning to our family across the room.
“I didn’t,” I admitted, my heart swelling with warmth. “But look at us now. A happy ending.”
Reese’s new line, Rebel Spirits, was doing amazing. His infused liquor flowed freely at the party, and I watched as the guests enjoyed their drinks. It was going to be successful.
I grinned, reaching up to kiss him.
Arthur appeared. “Laurene, it’s time for your speech.”
“You got this, baby.” Reese kissed me again .
I slipped my hand from his and made my way to the small stage at the front of the room.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” I began. “Thank you all for being here today. This exhibit is incredibly special to me, not just because of the talent behind the works, but because of the stories they tell.”
As I spoke, I let my gaze wander over the paintings, taking in the faces, the art, the life that filled the gallery. This was my sanctuary, my place of strength.
“These pieces are more than just art. This collection is a testament to the power of art to heal, to inspire, and to connect us in ways that words often cannot. Each piece on these walls represents a journey. These artists have created something truly remarkable for us to experience today.”
I glanced over at Reese, finding him in the crowd. His presence gave me strength, grounding me in the moment. I continued, feeling more confident as I spoke.
“As a curator, my role is to bring these stories together, to create a space where they can resonate with each of you. Today, I hope that you find something in these works that speaks to you, something that challenges you, or even something that heals you.”
My voice remained steady as I spoke. I could hear someone’s heels clicking on the floor. I looked over to the entrance.
Mama was standing in the doorway.
The sight of her in that moment caught me off guard. My heart pounded, but I continued speaking.
“I have one more thing I want to share with you all.” I cleared my throat. “It is with great honor that I announce today that the gallery has become the second major donor to the King Foundation for Change. After nearly six years, my family’s foundation will be reinstated in honor of my grandfather, Ben.”
The crowd clapped, and I glanced over at my parents. My mother’s expression shifted, a quick, visceral change. Noelle, my sisters, Erik, and Reese’s family cheered .
I’d changed my mind. Lush was my home. Lush was in me. That meant I was going to make it a better place like all the Kings before me. It might be better. With Daddy’s blessing, in addition to my job at the gallery, I would be the president of the nonprofit.
Also, I liked working with Arthur and the team. My own gallery could wait for now.
“I also want to thank my family for their unwavering support in everything I do, especially my husband, Reese, the love of my life.”
A warm, genuine smile spread across Reese’s face.
“And to all of you here today, thank you for being a part of this moment. It’s your presence and your belief in what we’re doing that makes it all possible.”
With that, I stepped back slightly, giving a nod to Arthur and the gallery team. The room applauded, and I felt a surge of pride. Reese instantly swept me into his arms once I stepped off the stage.
“You were perfect,” he whispered, making me blush.
But I looked back over my shoulder at Mama, who had turned and was staring at the Unequal Marriage by Vasili Pukirev.
I patted Reese’s shoulders. “Excuse me.”
I walked slowly. Mama’s back was to me, her posture still stiff. I stopped a few feet away from her. A long silence hung between us. I studied the painting in front of me and I wondered if that’s what she saw when she looked at me—her finest artwork.
“You did a good job,” she said finally. Clipped.
I nodded. “Thanks.”
For a moment, she stood there, quiet. Slowly, she turned to me, her expression unreadable.
Then, as if the dam had finally broken, her face relaxed.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice raw in a way I hadn’t heard in years. “For everything. For pushing you to be perfect all the time. For not seeing you as a person, as my daughter, but as some…some pawn in this game I was playing.”
Her words came out in a rush, and I stayed silent, letting her speak.
“I didn’t handle Grandpa Ben’s sickness, his death, the way I should’ve,” she continued. “I was scared. I was hurt. And all I could think about was keeping our family together—keeping us on our throne. But I pushed everyone away in the process, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“I’ve been so damn wrong, Laurene,” she said, her voice thick now. “It feels overwhelming right now. Choosing where to start to fix things. I know I have to apologize to everyone at some point.”
I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to speak. She was finally admitting it, but I had so much more to say.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, the words almost like a prayer. “You’re the best woman I could’ve ever hoped you grow into. You did it all on your own. You’ve made our legacy proud.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight, and a tear escaped my eye.
“I don’t know about therapy… I’m considering it. Right now I’m meditating, speaking with somebody informally . No therapists yet. When I’m ready I’ll go.”
“As long as you make the change,” I said, and then Mama stepped closer, and before I could say anything, she pulled me into a hug.
I froze, every muscle in my body locking up. The shock hit me like a punch to the gut. This was the last thing I expected. The last thing I ever thought she’d do.
My mind screamed to pull away, but my body didn’t move. I just stood there, my heart pounding in my chest.
You know what to do , my conscience said.
Slowly I lifted my arms, and hugged her back .
I don’t know how long we stood there, but when we released one another, I saw a tear fall from her face.
“Excuse me,” Mama said, wiping it quickly. She brushed past me and I watched her go, disappearing into the crowd and around a corner.
I felt Reese’s arms around me. “Everything okay?”
“Perfect,” I nodded, my brain reeling.
“Since you are the curator, I think I need a VIP tour of the collection, beginning in your office.”
I couldn’t help but laugh softly, rolling my eyes. “You really can’t resist, can you?”
He leaned down and I kissed him again. “Let’s start in my office, but I may have to end it early if you make a lot of noise.”
“I’ll be quiet.” He grinned.
I was home.
Finally, where I belonged.
With him.