Chapter 8
Harmony
Afull moon hangs in the night sky, casting a soft glow over Serenity’s front yard and our surrounding area.
A blanket of snow covers everything. She and I amble out of the SUV, and I glance over at her condo.
Her front porch light flickers. I’m finally home.
If only mom were still here … Then it would be complete.
And I wouldn’t have to worry about Serenity being so lonely when I head back to the city.
I hope that my life won’t be how it was earlier when we stopped in Connecticut—that people will forget about me as time goes on. But I’ll never get over the fact that random people want to take pictures with me.
Fat snowflakes fall around us, coating my hair and seeping into my scalp. Shivering, I wrap my arms around my torso, but it does nothing against the icy air.
“That was a fast trip,” Serenity says, pulling me from my thoughts. She’s balancing Summer on one hip and rubbing her eyes with the other. A strand of her curly red hair falls into her face, and she blows at it.
I force a laugh, wincing as the sound comes out too high-pitched. “That’s because you slept through the last half.”
She shoots me a sheepish smile, hopefully too tired to pick up on my mood. “Sorry. When Summer fell asleep, I couldn’t resist.” Adjusting her daughter, she finishes, “Let’s go. I think we’re all ready for bed.”
The flattened snow crunches beneath our feet, and the wetness seeps in through my thin sneakers. I wiggle my toes, and they instantly feel like they’ll freeze off.
As we’re about to reach the front door, Elias places a hand on my arm, and I pause. My skin warms beneath his touch. He pulls back and says, “Sorry, I want to give you my number, so you can call me when you’re ready.”
Great. The last thing I need right now is the temptation of having his number.
But I don’t argue. I pull my phone out and hand it to him. He swipes his fingers over the screen and hands it back. I look down at the contact, and it reads, Hunky Bodyguard. I roll my eyes and immediately edit it to Annoying and Overbearing Bodyguard.
He cocks an eyebrow, and a soft smile graces his lips. “Don’t you think that name is a little long?”
“I thought it sounded better than Wedding Crasher.”
His smile immediately falls. Huh … Interesting. Is he jealous? No, that can’t be. He’s probably been over me for years. My hand itches to reach out and soothe him, but I don’t move an inch.
“I’ll see you later,” he murmurs. Then he turns and heads back down the walkway toward the idling vehicle.
Why did his mood suddenly change? He was playful moments before. Almost like the guy I fell in love with. Almost.
I follow Serenity inside, and she flips on the light in her two-floor condo. It’s as if I can breathe a little easier. Now that I’m here, I want to close that last chapter of my life, but I won’t be able to until I know we’re safe.
The moment I plop down on Serenity’s faux leather couch, Summer rushes at me. She must be feeling more like herself now that we’re in the security of her home.
“Auntie!” It sounds more like “outie.” “That was all so scary.”
Stretching out my arms for my niece, she surges in for a hug, nestling into me. I rest my chin on her head and hold her tightly, a little more strength entering my body and mind.
“I’m sorry about everything that happened,” I whisper into her hair.
Her little arms try to snake around the waist of my dress, but they don’t even make it halfway. “It’s okay.”
I hold her tighter to me, and she giggles. “Your hugs always make me feel better.”
Serenity’s concerned eyes watch us. “Do you want to talk about anything?”
All I want is peace and quiet, but Serenity is already questioning me. I sigh. “What’s there to talk about?”
“How are you feeling after everything?”
I shrug. I don’t want to give my sister any extra added worry. After everything she just witnessed, I’m sure she’s already about to burst with anxiety. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”
Serenity takes a step back like I just slapped her. “Fine? Those men tried to kill you. How are you fine?”
“Can we drop it for now?”
A beat of silence passes before she says, “Okay. But if you need to talk, I’m always here. I hope now you can get back to real life. Maybe you could find a job here with your new business degree. Summer and I would love to have you with us.”
“Real life?” I take a calming breath. The NDA I signed with Everlasting Love prevents me from telling Serenity anything of importance about my time on the show, but even if it were allowed, I don’t want to. “I know I was on reality TV, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t real life.”
She waves her hand. “Oh, you know what I mean.”
I bite my tongue. There’s no use arguing with her, especially if I want her to be amenable to Elias’s plan.
“How do you feel about seeing Elias again?” Serenity asks as if she can read my mind.
I’d rather talk about the show than get into a conversation about him.
A little warning from Sully would’ve been nice, but he was always an action-first, talking-second type of guy.
Not to mention Elias’s hot and cold attitude switches.
“You don’t have to worry about me. It’s been years. I’m over him.”
Serenity raises a brow. “If you say so.”
I nod. Now, how do I bring up that I am going to live with him? She’s already worried about me seeing him again…
She eyes me for another moment before she disappears upstairs, saying, “I’ll be right back.”
I stand to follow Serenity and dodge Summer’s scattered toys—including plushies from her favorite TV show, Bluey—but pause when I spot the handmade throw blanket that our mother made for Serenity a month before Summer’s birth. I pick it up and wrap it around me tightly.
I wish you were here, Mom. Your hug would make everything seem better.
I’ve only been home for a few minutes, and I’m already missing her …
I can’t wait for all of this to go away so I can get out of here.
But will it? My pulse quickens at that thought.
Or will they continue to hunt me until I’m dead?
Summer grabs my attention as she runs around the living room like she had ice cream and candy for dinner. Then she leaps into my arms from a few feet away and tackles me back onto the couch. I fall sideways, and we land in a heap, giggling. The pureness of her joy pulls me out of my misery.
“Auntie!” she screams as I tickle her side. “Okay, okay, I stop!”
Serenity shows up a second later with a handful of clothing and rolls her eyes. “I can’t leave you alone for two minutes, huh?”
I accept the outfit with an apologetic smile. “Thank you.” When I unfold the clothes, I find an old pair of pink, floral pajamas. They are a little worn out, but the material is soft. “Did you get these from Mom’s?”
“Yes. I found all your old clothes in our room.”
Seeing all my old stuff from her house, I can’t stop the words that tumble out of my mouth. “I still miss Mom. If she were here, she’d wrap me in a hug until I didn’t feel so numb.”
Serenity bristles and looks away. What was that look on her face just now? She turned too fast for me to catch it, but it looked like … guilt?
She glances back at me with tears in her eyes.
“I do, too. But don’t worry. We have each other.
” She reaches out, grabs my hand, and pulls me in for the embrace I crave.
We never talk about our mother. Serenity always avoids the topic, and I guess today is no exception.
After a minute, she pulls back. “Come on. You can bunk with Summer as usual.”
When Serenity motions for me to follow her upstairs, I dig my heels into the floor.
She turns to me and raises an eyebrow, but not before I catch sight of the jagged scar on the back of her left shoulder.
My blood boils at the thought that I’ll never be able to tell her piece of shit husband what I think about him now that he’s dead.
If not for him, she wouldn’t have been attacked by loan sharks, and she wouldn’t have the pile of debt that she can’t dig out of.
Behind her, about twenty pictures of Serenity, Paul, and Summer line the staircase wall—a constant reminder that he existed.
Since I didn’t marry Victor on Everlasting Love, I didn’t win the bonus money. I had earned money weekly, but for the hours they made us work, it was well below minimum wage, and it wouldn’t be enough to pay off everything Paul owed. Not even close.
I wish he were here so he could explain himself.
All I want is to help her, but instead, I brought another threat to her home.
No matter how much Elias makes me angry, he’s right.
I have to tell her. I saw firsthand what would happen, no matter if a child is in the home, if I continue to be around them.
Motioning around the living room, I say, “I can’t stay here.”
Serenity waves a hand. “Yes, you can. I know it might be a little cramped in Summer’s room, but if you live here long term, I can make some space in my room for her, and you’ll have hers all to yourself.”
I close my eyes and try to take a deep, calming breath. My hands start to shake.
How on earth can I tell her this? While I was gone, she called me any spare moment she had, even if it was during her drive to pick up Summer from daycare. I don’t want to break her heart, especially after Paul’s betrayal put her through so much. But I cannot stay here.
I word vomit everything about the plan I made with Elias and then move to her side. Holding her hand, I wait as she soaks everything in.
“I-I finally got you back, and now you have to leave me again.” She speaks through her tears. “Shit. I knew Elias was your bodyguard without you telling me after everything that happened, but I was expecting you to stay with me. Please tell me he won’t have you locked up in some dungeon.”
I huff out a weak laugh. “Hopefully no dungeon. I’ll see you as much as I can. I assume I’ll be able to visit you, and we’ll just have a frustrating and overbearing bodyguard.”
“He was insufferable in all his broodiness after you left. I can only imagine how he’ll be now.”
A dark figure moves outside the living room window, catching my attention. I jump to my feet. Serenity moves to follow me, but I push her toward the staircase. “Take Summer and hide.”
As I head toward the back door, Serenity yells, “I’ll put Summer upstairs, and then I’ll go get my shotgun.”
Her what?