Chapter 38
Main Street has been shut off to cars today, and instead of traffic, it’s lined with cloth-covered tables. The good people of the town have brought a selection of baked dishes to share in a townwide Thanksgiving feast.
“Well, this is all a bit cute, isn’t it.” Cassie smiles at me. I didn’t see her arrive, but I run toward her.
“Cassie!” I wrap my arms around my beautiful friend, so grateful she came all this way to spend Thanksgiving with me.
“You got one of those for me?” asks Brandon.
I throw my arms around him as well. It feels like forever since I have seen them both. So much has changed. I have changed.
Brody comes to join us, never too far from my side. “Guys, this is Brody. Brody, this is Cassie and Brandon, my best friends from New York, I introduce them all.
I catch them up to speed and get them acquainted with all my new Deception Bay friends. Brandon hits it off with Noah instantly, and they go into deep discussion about the NFL.
“This is cool,” Cassie says, looking at the festivities going on around us.
“Apparently this is what they do every year. All the folks from around town bring a dish of food, and they all join here in the town square to share it. There is a parade and all. It’s a lot, but it’s adorable.” I smile, feeling like one of the locals.
She smiles back, and I can see she’s happy for me. “Are you okay?”
I know she’s referring to what happened last week. “I’m getting there. Still a little shaken up.” It’s been a week since the incident at the hotel, and while I’m starting to come to terms with what happened, I can’t help but look over my shoulder, especially when I’m alone. Which is rarely since Brody has taken to being my personal bodyguard. But today, I’m trying to put that behind me and be thankful for all the good I have found since coming to Deception Bay.
“I couldn’t believe it when you told me the story.” She shakes her head. “Here you were moving to a quiet little town in the hopes of a less eventful life, and this happens.”
“It was so unbelievable that even the police department was shocked. I’m told it’s the most action they’ve had to deal with since Mayor Harrington was caught up in some elaborate corruption scheme with a local underworld gang. And that was seventeen years ago.”
Her eyebrow lifts in surprise. “Hopefully now you can settle into your new life here and enjoy some time with your man. Can’t believe he offered to have us at his house for the weekend. He must really like you.”
“He does. Also, he’s not letting me out of his sight, so he kind of had no choice. Just wait till you see the ranch, it’s so beautiful.”
“Are you living out there now?” she asks more quietly so the boys won’t hear.
“Technically, I’m still living across the road in the blue house.” I point to it. “But I’ve stayed with him every night this week.” I smile, thinking about how amazing he’s been at taking care of me.
“Have you heard from your parents? Talk around town is Sarah got the lead in your father’s new production.”
“Good for her. She deserved it. I talked to my mom last week. She’s desperate for me to come home for Christmas, but my father is still being a stubborn asshole. I told her maybe next year.”
“That’s sad.”
I lean in. “I know, but it’s on him. What he doesn’t know is she’s booked a flight to come and see me in the new year. She’s dying to meet Brody. At least she’s happy for me and is trying to reconnect. She’s really surprised me.”
She smiles sympathetically. “Your dad will come around when he realizes how much of a massive ass he’s being.”
Emerson glances my way and smirks playfully. I have felt her eyes on me a lot this past week. I know she’s worried about me, and it’s nice to know I have so many people who care. “Em, this is Cassie, my friend from New York,” I introduce the two of them. “Em’s my boss and Brody’s sister.”
“Nice to finally meet you, Cassie, this one talks about you all the time. Your life in New York sounds so exciting.” Emerson moves her chair to come sit with us.
“It can be. Sounds like it’s you guys who have had all the excitement lately.”
“Isnt that the truth.” Em glances over her shoulder and leans in like she has a big, juicy secret to spill. “So, I’ve been doing some research. You know how we got that article rewritten, the nasty one about you and Brody? Well, I was curious as to why Hamilton didn’t get Annabelle Grace Turner to help us. Instead, he sent us to that intern Sophie Hilliar. Well, get this. Annabelle doesn’t exist.”
“Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent. I was dying to know who was leaking info to the paper from The Alexander. I mean, we can assume, right, Victor or Lana or even Mason, but I hate not knowing. I spent yesterday at the library going through all the birth records I could find. There is no one by that name. So, either she’s some sassy journalist who’s going under a pen name to keep her identity hidden, or it’s someone we know and they don’t want to be found out for all the secrets they’re spilling.”
“This town is juicy. Maybe I should move here with you.”
I flick my attention over to Cassie. “You so should.”
“I was joking. I kind of have a job I love in New York, but I will make a habit of visiting.” She laughs.
“Hmm,” I grumble at her for getting me all excited then turn my attention back to Em. “Who do you think it is?” I ask. The suspense is killing me.
“That’s just it. I can’t work it out. My first thought was one of the Prescotts. There are three of them; Hamilton you met, but he has a younger brother and sister as well. I was thinking maybe they’re covering their tracks by using the pen name. But my gut tells me it’s not.”
I glance down the long table, seeing a sea of familiar faces. Could it be one of the people sitting at this table with us right now? I know Emerson’s thinking the same thing. It has to be someone that knows us all well enough to know our juicy secrets. Either that or Prescott Media has an informant of sorts who’s feeding them information.
Detective McAllister approaches the table, his face serious, but that’s nothing new. Every time I have met with him in the last week, that was his same expression. He’s so different from his brothers who always seem to be happy. “Can I talk to you both for a second?” he asks Brody and me.
I glance at Brody, unease settling in my stomach, wondering what this could be about. We walk around the corner of a building away from the crowd.
“What’s going on, Kane? They making you work through Thanksgiving?”
“Crime doesn’t take a day off,” he grumbles, unimpressed.
Brody raises a brow like he doesn’t believe him.
“Well, it’s pretty uneventful around here normally, but this case has had us all working overtime,” he admits. “Mason got desperate and contacted Jake. We traced him to a small farmhouse about an hour away. We picked him up this morning.”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, relief washes over me, and the sick feeling I have been stuck with for a week washes away. “Thank you.” I hug Detective McAllister, so grateful for his help. He promised me he wouldn’t stop until he found him, and he stayed true to his word.
“He won’t be getting released on bail. He’s listed as too dangerous. What we found on his property was quite disturbing.”
“Should we ask?” Brody says, his hand gripping mine for comfort.
He shakes his head. “Couldn’t tell you if you did. But let’s just say I’m glad we caught him and he was locked up before he could do any more damage.” He looks at me when he says the words, and I already know whatever they found has something to do with me. The thought is incredibly disturbing.
“So, I’m safe? He can’t come for me again?” I ask, needing to hear him say it.
“You’re safe.” He offers me a genuine smile. “Go enjoy your Thanksgiving. And maybe name your firstborn after me.” He winks, trying to break the intense tension hanging in the air.
I can’t help but smile back at him. There is a little of Elliot’s charm in there after all. He wanders off to find his brother, leaving us alone to celebrate the good news.
Brody takes my face in his hands, and I stare up at him, feeling so grateful and lucky to have found such an amazing man. My life has changed so much this year, and I can truly say I’ve found myself. I know what I want from my life now. He kisses me. “You’re safe,” he whispers like he’s still trying to convince himself.
“I’m safe.” I wrap an arm around his waist and snuggle into him as we wander back to the rest of them. We huddle at the back, sipping our drinks, while keeping an eye on our friends. I feel so lucky to have them all in my life now. Cassie looks like she’s joined in with Paisley, Emerson, and Mae’s conversation. I knew she would get along with these girls. She smirks at me like she knows something, and I wonder what gossip they’re telling her.
Brody’s arm snakes around my waist, and he pulls me into him, kissing my cheek. “You and Cassie are so close. Are you sure you want to stay here?” he asks, looking in her direction.
“I have a job here I enjoy, friends I have so much fun with, and you. I might have grown up in New York, and that might be where my blood relatives are, but my family is here. I love this group of people. And when I want to see Cassie, I can have a trip away.” I smile back at him.
“Even after what happened?” he asks more seriously. I can see it’s all still playing on his mind. It’s on mine too. I’m sure it will be until well after Mason and Lana’s trials. The thought that I could have pegged him so wrong really gets to me. I know Paisley feels guilty she ever tried to set us up, and Jake came and apologized to us personally last week. He was mortified that his best friend had it in him to kidnap and threaten lives. He had no idea how much of a psycho he was. Hes really shaken up about it.
“What happened last week could have happened anywhere. If anything, more likely in New York. I’m not running away anymore; this is where I want to stay.” I kiss his lips, showing him just how much. I couldn’t even consider leaving now. Not now that I have found him.
He laces his hand with mine. “I wouldn’t have let you go anyway.”
“So controlling.” I laugh lightheartedly.
“I’m serious, Gigi, you’re my girl, and before much longer, you’re going to be my wife living with me at the ranch.”
I freeze and look up at him in disbelief. Did he just say what I think he did? He wants to marry me? “Hold your horses. When did all this get decided?”
“Hold your horses?” He chuckles. “You have officially become one of us.”
“Probably.” I smirk, liking the idea. “But seriously, what are you talking about?”
With so much love in his eyes, he gently brushes my hair away from my face, and it fills me with warmth. No one has ever adored me like he does, and it feels so nice to know I’m so special to him. “I want forever with you, Gisele. I’m totally in love with you. I want marriage, babies, it all. If that’s what you want as well?”
“You have no idea how much.” I kiss him. “I love you too, Brody Alexander.” I really am the lucky one.