Chapter 30
Fleur
Danny.
He’d weighed heavily on my thoughts since returning to New Orleans.
I’d wanted to head to Stowe after leaving New York, but Montgomery had reminded me that his cleanup crews were still ensuring neither his nor my life were still in danger.
With both Pakhans dead, and Zane tucked behind bars with his world crumbling, in the few days since our return, the events had led to a feeding frenzy on the news.
Montgomery had been required to attend to business, which had left me alone to fend for myself in making arrangements for Danny’s funeral. While my brother might consider his home in New York, I knew his spirit would be happier resting in Stowe.
“Do you think I’m being selfish?” I asked as I stood in my little kitchen, studying the suncatchers in the window, the light of the early morning creating prisms of color.
I felt more a sense of loss than anything else.
I’d decided to leave my little world and join Montgomery’s in New Orleans.
I laughed to myself, thinking about the word he’d tossed out on numerous occasions.
His world was nothing that I’d expected.
In fact, his everyday activities, other than cleaning up the mess created by the Russians, were completely normal.
“Nothing about you is selfish. You have your memories in Vermont.” Montgomery’s tone was soothing, his presence everything I needed.
“But he doesn’t. Danny’s entire world was wrapped up in New York. He didn’t even get a chance to see my store.”
“I know, but as my grandmother would say, he is right there over your shoulder.” He inched closer, brushing hair over my shoulder for emphasis.
I tipped my head in response. “I feel him. Just wishful thinking.” I glanced down at the Ouija board on my kitchen table.
As strange as it seemed, I didn’t need it any longer.
Even with the continued grief, I’d found my way through muck and mud, allowing karma to guide me where she’d wanted. Straight into Montgomery’s arms.
How strange that I could seem so fulfilled yet so empty at the same time.
We’d returned to Stowe the night before, arriving at almost two in the morning. While I was much happier in my life, Montgomery everything in a man I’d ever wanted, there were several pieces of business that needed to be handled.
Including attending Danny’s funeral. I’d made a few phone calls, but until I formally identified his body, the morgue wouldn’t release him to the funeral home. A chore I didn’t want to do but had to be done.
After that, I honestly wasn’t certain what I wanted to do with Sunlight and Sparkles.
In truth, one day I hoped to open a sister shop in New Orleans, a promise Montgomery had made.
At least his sister Emmeline had offered to sell my goods at the Indulgence gift shop while I decided what I wanted to do.
Right now, one thing at a time.
The hardest thing would come first. Perhaps the toughest thing I’d ever had to do. I’d been so young when our parents were killed.
“Come on, baby. I’ll be right with you.” He took my hand, pulling my fingers to his lips. The soft brush of them against my knuckles was exactly what I needed.
I remained numb even as he helped load me into the rental car. Jesus. I had to think about the house and my little truck as well. So many details.
“Do you have the keys to the new Blazer for Walt?” I asked.
“Relax. They’re in my pocket. You’re not going to sell your little house.”
“We’re not?”
“You’re not,” he corrected before sliding onto the driver’s seat. “Keep it. We’ll use it as a vacation spot, or you can use it for a seasonal rental option. A lady entrepreneur.”
“Not a bad idea. I’ll think about it.”
He laughed and started the engine. “Why don’t we head to Tilly’s for a quick bite afterwards?”
“You like Tilly’s food?”
“Well, I have it under advisement that the fire chief usually has lunch there.” He held up the set of keys, dangling them as if bait.
Laughing, I squeezed his arm. “Is the new Blazer all decked out with every option?”
“With every option.”
I realized when he snorted that we made the same cute sound. Call it kismet.
We were meant to be together.
We sat in silence as the town came into view. All my favorite places.
Eastwood Hardware.
Great Foods Grocery.
Wildwood Bar.
I shifted in my seat thinking about the bar. At least I had amazing memories. Maybe he was right. I’d keep the house. Why not?
As we rolled past Tilly’s I noticed Bekka coming out the door. When I waved, I could tell it took her a few seconds to recognize me. I’d slunk into town without letting anyone know, fearful the pain of leaving once again would be too much.
Montgomery continued driving. We had an appointment to keep.
We were already in the parking lot of the medical examiner’s office when my burner phone rang. We’d yet to make the simplest of changes.
“Bekka.”
“What are you doing back in Stowe? You didn’t call me to tell me you were coming!” Bekka admonished.
“I decided to come back on the spur of the moment. Don’t worry. I was going to call you.” I gave my hunky driver a look and he laughed. “Just here to finalize a few things.”
“That’s wonderful. Are you okay? Are you hurt? I heard about all the craziness. The press were here for days. Did you see Tilly had an interview? She only spoke wonderful things about you and about Montgomery.”
We’d tried to keep my name out of the press, but with almost all the players… dead, why bother? I wasn’t going to hide. Not any longer.
“I noticed. Fabulous,” I answered as I glared at the nondescript building with butterflies in my stomach. “Look, bestie. I’m getting ready to head into the morgue. Can I call you back?”
“The morgue?”
“I need to finish the chapter with Danny, but I promise you I’ll call you back in a few minutes. We’re heading to Tilly’s after that.”
“Fleur. I need to talk to you,” she insisted.
“We will. Maybe head back to Tilly’s. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Love ya, bestie.”
I ended the call before I lost my nerve. Tears I didn’t need.
“Are you okay?” he asked a full minute later.
Nodding, I turned my head. “I am. Closure will be good for me.”
“You know, when my dad died, I was completely numb as well. Not a single tear shed. I rolled back to work like his life didn’t mean anything, although that’s not the way I felt.
I just didn’t know how to handle grief. When I arrived in Stowe, I’d never felt so angry or betrayed in my life. I was an asshole.”
“Tell me about it.” I arched an eyebrow, able to grin.
“What a bad girl. I admit it. When I started hearing stories about my dad, I thought to myself, not a fucking chance. But I knew the stories are true. Somehow, I feel closer to my father by having come here. Everyone in town truly showed me how much family means. You’re very lucky to have such a closeknit, extended family. ”
After tugging off the seatbelt, I inched closer. The closeness was also something I desperately needed. “You’re a good man, Montgomery Prince.”
“Just good. Not great?”
“Watch it.”
The few moments I allowed were special. Just being together with no need to say anything.
Hearing the squeal of tires dragged our attention at the same time and as he’d done so many times before, he was ready to whip out his weapon.
“Relax, cowboy. That’s Bekka.” What in the hell could be so freaking urgent? She pulled up so close to my side of the SUV that I was fearful she’d scratch it.
Her frantic mime of rolling down the window and the crazy look in her eyes were almost frightening. But I lowered my window in case there was an emergency.
“What is going on?” I asked.
She was out of breath. “You need to come with me.”
“You know what I’m about to do.”
“No! Right now.” She jammed her finger on the panel of the driver’s door with enough force I feared she’d broken some bones.
“What is going on?” Montgomery asked.
“You’re coming too. You’re a part of this town now, Mr. Prince, whether you like it or not. Now come on.” She threw the gear into reverse until a dust cloud formed with the gravel she’d just exterminated.
We looked at each other and I knew I had my mouth open. “O-kay. Follow her.” What the hell was she doing?
For the few blocks, she drove as if there was a fire she was running to, not from. But she roared into a spot near Tilly’s.
I climbed out, scrunching my eyes as I stared at her. “Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Nope. Follow me.” Bekka was quick with her step as she headed for Tilly’s, making it inside long before we reached the door.
“Just go with it,” I told him. His response was to chuckle.
Once inside, we were greeted with cheers and applause. “Our resident hero!” Bart yelled.
“Two heroes now,” Walt threw out.
Montgomery immediately pulled out the keys. “I’m sorry about your baby, Walt. She kept us safe. I hope you like the replacement.”
Walt’s eyes lit up as he snatched the keys. “You’re alright. Just like your dad.”
Tilly had her fingers between her lips, whistling as if eager to win a contest. I don’t think Montgomery had shaken so many hands in his entire life.
Finally, after a full five minutes of treating us as if we were celebrities, the noise filtered into nothing but…
Silence.
Brutal silence.
“Okay. That’s it. What is going on?” My demand was harsh.
“If you’d called your bestie to let her know you were coming, we wouldn’t need to go through the damn dog and pony show, but here we are,” Bekka clipped.
“Spit it out.” I snapped my hands onto my hips.
“We didn’t know how to tell you. I mean, it’s only been a couple days, but when he showed up, we were trying to figure out how to tell you and, well…”
I slowly turned my head toward Tilly. She’d never been tongue-tied in her life. “Who are you talking about?”
The rustle of customers as they moved aside drew my attention. With the sunlight streaming in through the window, it took me a few seconds to figure out what I was seeing.
A rush of emotions flooded the gates, driving aside the numbness.