Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
PRESENT DAY
Josie
I do my best to shove aside my fears and focus on the way Garrett looks at Madeline as they stand on the beach and review their ceremony.
She’s not even in her wedding dress, and already his expression says he can’t believe he got so lucky.
I know I’m going to bawl my eyes out at the actual wedding tomorrow.
I don’t want to miss these moments because I’m worrying over the security guard and why he showed up here after all these years.
But still, I can’t seem to stop my heart from pounding and hands from shaking every time I think of the way he said, “We need to talk about what happened to Christopher.”
We finish the rehearsal, and everyone turns to head up the beach and back to the restaurant.
Ian reaches out his arm, and as I slide my hand into the crook of his elbow, electricity shoots through me.
His gaze flickers down to mine, and he gives me a smile like he can’t believe he got so lucky. I take a deep breath.
Everything is going to be okay.
Ian’s feelings for me are clear in every look, and it’s always been like that between us. The night we spent together was magical—better than I ever thought it would be. I know I can trust him, and I know he’ll understand when I tell him everything.
We head into the bar where the staff has set up a table along the wall of windows overlooking the water. Tomorrow, we’ll be in a larger banquet room, but tonight’s dinner is just for close family and friends.
After the food and drinks are served and Garrett stands up to thank everyone for being here, the guests go back to their conversations, and Madeline turns in my direction to slide a small black box in front of me. I recognize the logo of a local jewelry store on the lid.
“This is for you,” she says with a sly smile.
I pick up the box. “Aren’t you the one who’s supposed to be getting new jewelry this weekend?” I joke, referring to the wedding rings Ian picked up earlier today.
She laughs. “Yes, but this is a thank you for all you’ve done for me. You flew in when I needed you last year, and now you’ve been so supportive of me putting this wedding together.”
My eyes fill with tears. “You didn’t have to get me a gift. I’m so happy for you.”
She gives me a shrug. “It’s just something small.”
I slide the ribbon off the box and then flip it open. Something cold and dark pools in my chest. Is it…? Could it be…? “Where did you find this?” My hands begin to sweat as I run a finger over the delicate pendant.
Next to me, Madeline buzzes with excitement, oblivious to my distress.
She probably takes my pale face and stunned expression for surprise, but she has no idea.
“I know you lost yours right before we moved away from Sandy Harbor,” she says.
“I saw this in the jewelry shop when we went to look for wedding rings, and I knew I had to buy it for you.”
I stare at the small gold starfish, and slowly run my finger over each of the five points.
“It’s—” I can barely speak. I know my face is flushed, but I pray that Madeline thinks it’s because I’m overcome with emotion.
“I—I love it,” I finally choke out. I glance in Ian’s direction, but he’s talking to Garrett.
I never found the necklace I lost at the Langleys’ house.
After Ian left the dock to help his mother the day I went looking for it, I quickly searched under every couch cushion and table leg, but it seemed to have disappeared.
I had to go home without it and hope nobody ever found it as evidence against me.
I blow out a slow breath. That necklace is probably on a dune, buried in a foot of sand by now. Or it slipped between the floorboards of the dock and fell in the water. It’s gone. Everything that happened was a decade ago. Nobody came forward to accuse me, nothing ever came of it.
But then the security guard’s face comes into focus in my mind.
He knows who I am. He must know I was on the dock that day Christopher died. If he had proof that I killed Christopher, why didn’t he come forward a decade ago? Maybe he wants to blackmail me. He could be planning to threaten to tell the police.
Or to expose me to Ian.
I know I need to tell Ian the truth as soon as possible.
Tonight, after dinner. Because if I don’t, the security guard could get to him first. I just need to figure out how to say the words.
I lean over to give Madeline a hug. “Thank you. I can’t wait to wear it.
” I hope she won’t notice that my hands are shaking as I slip the box into my purse.
I force a smile. “I’m just going to run to the restroom to try it on. ”
I stand up and head across the bar, but before I get to the restrooms, I veer to the left toward the wide doorway that leads to a deck overlooking the water. I need air. I need to breathe, to think. I hurry toward the railing to lean over the side. The ocean waves crash on the shore beneath me.
I should have told Ian last night. I shouldn’t have let it come to this. What am I going to do?
Behind me, I hear a creak as a heavy footstep lands on the floorboard. I spin around, and there, in front of me, stands the security guard, blocking my exit.