Chapter Twenty-Two
“I’M SORRY I CAUSEDyour husband harm.” Zoey sighed over a cappuccino with her cousin at Kennedy’s beachfront mansion three days later. They sat at a cozy little table upstairs in Zoey’s arts-and-crafts room where the ocean glimmered in never-ending glory beyond the window. Yes, she’d finally opened up her heart to Kennedy enough to open up this room and let her glimpse a part of Zoey’s inner being. She eyed the tapestry with the fragile birdling on someone’s palm. She’d been that bird for a while—even Barrett had been that bird, dangling off the cliff, his life resting in her hand.
Thank You, Lord, for saving Barrett.
It could’ve ended so much worse, but that didn’t lessen the guilt still pressing on her chest. While she and Kennedy had spent a lot of time in the hospital with her dad and Barrett hung around though he didn’t have to any longer, her father insisted on her and Kennedy taking the afternoon off today. To think about it, he had a mischievous smile when he’d done so.
Hopefully, that meant he was doing much better. His doctors said he was.
Kennedy dismissed her with a wave of an elegant hand, and flakes drifted from the pastry she held. “Come on. It’s not your fault. I’m just glad the police found him in Naomi King’s basement. Austin had a nasty gash on his head, but thankfully, no concussion. The doctor already gave him a clean bill of health. He’s basking in all the attention from me, his family, and his clients, including the furry ones. You wouldn’t believe how many gift baskets he received. Most of them are signed with the names of his clients and pets. Cats turned out to be the most generous givers. Who knew?”
“Austin deserves all the affection.” So did Barrett, but Zoey kept her comment to herself for now. She picked up a profiterole. “And your baby?” She’d asked before and was told the baby was fine. But she blurted the question out again.
“The doctors say the baby is totally fine.” Kennedy studied her. “Austin and I want you and Barrett to be godparents.”
Zoey gasped and nearly dropped her decadent treat. “Are you serious? I... I’m so honored. And thrilled.”
“Is that a yes?” Kennedy stroked her stomach. She wasn’t showing yet, but she already had that amazing glow. Her blonde hair was shiny, and her gray eyes were luminous.
“Many times yes!” Grateful tears filled Zoey’s eyes, and she let one slip into her coffee cup.
“Awesome. I can’t wait for the little one to arrive. Austin’s fostered so many pets—he’ll make a wonderful people daddy, too.” Love softened Kennedy’s gaze. “Anyway, apparently, you’re not the only na?ve and trusting person in the family. But that’s one of the many things I love about Austin. Now he says he can’t believe he trusted Naomi.”
Zoey resisted the urge to grind her teeth and sank those teeth into another bite of the profiterole instead. “The victim’s sister. The person whom I thought was owed justice. Who was in a way a victim herself. It turned out Naomi King staged it all.”
Kennedy finished her mini strudel and selected an éclair from the silver serving tray. “Naomi called him and begged him to check on her St. Bernard. She cried that it was an emergency, that the dog couldn’t move, and that she couldn’t move him to bring him to the vet clinic. That people she knew couldn’t help her. That other vets refused a house call. That he was her only hope.”
“So Naomi struck him from behind when he turned his back in her house, right?” Zoey shuddered down a sip of coffee.
“Yes. He says he’s grateful she didn’t kill him while using him as bait. Optimistic, as always. I didn’t tell him that was probably coming.” Kennedy paled, then visibly swallowed, and placed the éclair back on her plate. “On the bright side, Uncle is doing much better after the huge scare. He should be released in two days.”
Zoey breathed a little easier but still pinned her cousin with a stare. “Why didn’t you tell me you flew him to another state for a consultation with a medical specialist, not for a business meeting? I could’ve helped you.”
Kennedy didn’t look away. Instead, she lifted her elegant cup in an even more elegant gesture. “We didn’t want you to worry. Besides, you had your hands full already.”
“Next time, please keep me informed.” Zoey could play the stare-down game with the best of them.
“Your being here helps his recovery.”
Zoey’s lips curved up, and she let the staring contest go. “I can say the same about you. You’re the daughter I could never be.” It didn’t bother her now. God created different people for different purposes, and she was glad Kennedy was by Zoey’s father’s side when Zoey couldn’t be. Just as she was glad Kennedy was eager to work in his business and continue his legacy when Zoey had no interest in it.
“Nobody can replace you. Uncle loves you, and so do I.” Kennedy’s gaze softened, and she nibbled the éclair again.
Zoey believed Kennedy’s words now. In the last days by Dad’s hospital bedside, Zoey had bonded with Kennedy, and as she got to know her cousin, Zoey saw the kind heart Kennedy rarely showed other people. They were more than cousins now. They were like sisters. “And he’s also excited about becoming a grandfather.” It didn’t matter that Kennedy was his niece and not his daughter. As far as everyone was concerned, this was going to be his grandchild.
Zoey smiled about another thing to be happy about. “I’m glad Dad and Gerald reconciled. They are playing chess every day now and discussing flying to New York for a new art exhibition. Not just to visit it, but to organize it. Imagine that.”
“You know it’s your exhibition they’re discussing, right?” Kennedy’s palm flew to her mouth. “And if you don’t, please don’t tell them I told you.”
Whoa. Was that true? After a gasp, Zoey mimed sealing her lips. “Wow. Thank you. I’m stunned. Beyond stunned.”
“In other news, did you hear Todd and Sofia broke up? Sofia’s crying videos are getting lots of views and compassionate comments. Todd deleted his social media altogether. There are more crying videos of her complaining about being falsely accused of falsely accusing a waiter of stealing her jewelry. But my sources say she paid him handsomely to drop the matter. I’m so glad Barrett cleared the guy’s name.”
“Barrett is awesome.” Pride for him swelled Zoey’s chest, and she finished her sweet profiterole. Then she did her best to feel sorry for Todd but didn’t succeed much. “What does that mean for the upcoming movie, though? Will it still be filmed here? And does my question make me sound cruel?”
“Not at all.” Kennedy smiled like a cat who got the canary. “There’s going to be a different actress, and another producer stepped in. They are filming here next summer. Well, it looks like the worst is behind us. In many senses. Though I still have difficulty wrapping my mind around the fact that Naomi killed her sister.”
Zoey grimaced, and a sourness even cappuccino and pastry couldn’t mask flooded her mouth. “I still don’t know all the details of the investigation. But, just like Gerald and his brother, they had a bitter sibling rivalry. Zachary Reed’s son-in-law whom Nora dated? Well, Naomi wanted to date him first. As they were the same size, Nora often stole Naomi’s clothes. Not to mention jewelry and shoes. She’d return them in a condition that left a lot to be desired. At least, according to Naomi. So Naomi decided to steal someone’s clothes and have her sister take the blame for it when Nora ‘borrowed’ them.
“But when Nora broke up with her boyfriend to go after yet another guy Naomi liked, Naomi said something snapped in her. And once she realized whom the clothes and jewelry she’d stolen belonged to, she concocted a plan. If Nora’s murder happened on its own, Naomi could become one of the suspects. But if everyone thought I was the intended victim and Nora was killed because she was mistaken for me, then Naomi might get off the hook. After all, I was a new heiress in town. I was bound to ruffle some feathers, right? Lots of people could have a motive to murder me. To make it more obvious I was the intended target, she attempted to run me over with a truck. Then sent me threats from a burner phone.”
“And it all would’ve worked if Barrett didn’t start suspecting her.”
Zoey’s chest swelled again. “He says the story about how Gerald’s brother tried to throw suspicion on him helped him think about the sibling-rivalry angle and brought back Nora’s story. By the way, about sibling rivalry? Gerald was right. The police found the disguise and the stolen initial ring at his brother’s apartment. His brother confessed to trying to poison me, as well as stalking me to the penthouse when Sofia screamed about the theft. He denies wrongdoing in any other accidents that helped Gerald in his projects. Anyway, I wasn’t the real target for either one of them.” She grimaced. “I was just a pawn in their games.”
“No. You’re the queen. And not just because I consider myself royalty and you’re my cousin.” Then Kennedy grinned. “Enough talk about those people. Let’s talk about you and Barrett. I take it he’s the reason you’re not going back to Lazoria? Your dad and I are extra grateful to Barrett. Oh, and this house is yours if you want it. Unless someone has a different idea. And I already transferred the car’s title to your name. Or we can go shopping for another one. Or two. Or”—she winked—“a motorcycle.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Zoey picked up her dainty coffee cup. Good thing the coffee’s strong scent grounded her, or she’d wonder how much of this moment or these last days had been real or a dream. “I’ll pay you back. And one car is more than enough.”
“You already paid me by being here. Your presence is the best gift. And I’m just offering because Uncle said you didn’t cash his check yet. And I’m the one who should be grateful to you for stepping away from the corporation. My apologies for Mason’s behavior. He was misguided by his loyalty to me, but still, it’s no excuse.”
“I’m just so relieved it all ended well.”
“Me, too. But now... you and Barrett will have some fascinating stories to tell your future children.” Kennedy patted her stomach. “Like Austin and I will have fascinating stories to tell ours.”
A warmth having nothing to do with her drink rose inside Zoey. “There’s no prospect of our children. He didn’t even propose.”
Though why hadn’t he? She sipped more of her black coffee. Barrett seemed to spend every spare minute with her and was caring and attentive, but... no fairytale ending for her yet. Maybe she was moving too fast. She had no experience in this department, either.
Kennedy blinked. “Oh. Right.”
A knock on the window startled Zoey. She sprang to her feet and pivoted toward the window behind her. She was supposed to be out of the woods now, out of danger. Did someone else want to make her a pawn in their games? Or had a bird accidentally flown into the glass pane?
Her jaw nearly dropped. Barrett hovered outside the window, waving a tulip bouquet. “What are you doing there?” Of course, he couldn’t hear her with the window closed, so she turned to Kennedy. “What is he doing there?”
Kennedy beamed as she stood. “I guess someone is getting their fairytale ending, after all.” Then she added as Zoey was still frozen in place, staring, “You might want to open that window, you know?”
“Oh, of course.”
He’d barely survived clinging to the cliffside. He shouldn’t be clinging to the outside of her window. What did he think, he could fly like a bird now?
Deliriously happy to hear him—though she’d prefer he’d remembered where the front door was—she hurried toward the window. “Why are you here?”
“I thought it would be romantic.” He balanced on a tall ladder. How had she not heard it clattering into place?
“Romantic?” Was he pretending she was Rapunzel again? “It’s dangerous! And I already do a good enough job getting you into dangerous situations, so you don’t need to help me. Let me pull you inside. Thankfully, I won’t need a rope or to, um, use my hair for it.”
“Wait! Hold on.” He drew in a deep breath. “Okay, okay. This was easier in my imagination. How is one supposed to hold flowers in their teeth and talk at the same time?”
“Um, I don’t think anyone is supposed to.”
Guitar chords and people chuckling reached her. She glanced down at the lawn, and her jaw slacked again. Laredo strummed his guitar while behind him the healed and very much alive Austin held his and Kennedy’s two dogs. Kai with a parrot on his shoulder was holding one leg of the ladder while Dallas supported the other. Their wives in bright dresses held flowers. The rest of the family, dressed in cowboy attire, stood with their golden retrievers. They—the family, not the retrievers, though technically dogs were family, as well—held turquoise and green balloons. Even her father was there, side by side with Gerald and his assistant, dressed in suits complete with felt hats.
“Dad is here?” She glanced back at Kennedy.
Her cousin shrugged. “They let him leave the hospital for a few hours just for this event.”
Zoey blinked and blinked again while she picked up her jaw from the floor. “What event?”
“It’s not exactly an orchestra at the charity gala, but I hope you’ll like it.” Barrett swallowed visibly.
“Hey, I’m doing my best!” Laredo yelled.
“And I appreciate it!” Barrett yelled back, then winked at her again. “Where were we? Oh, right. It was love at first sight for me. I didn’t want to admit it, especially after I became your bodyguard. But at some point, I couldn’t fight my feelings any longer. You’re more beautiful than the flowers in my hands. Well, they’ll be in my teeth now so I can get into my pocket, and I need my other hand to hold onto the ladder. I’m a little envious of an octopus right now.”
She chuckled. Was he going to... She didn’t want to get her hopes up. “Why don’t you just give me the tulips? They are for me, right?”
“Right. Of course.” He handed her favorite flowers to her. Then he continued. “When you speak, it’s like the song of the most talented bird. You’re gentler than a rare French cheese.” His tongue stumbled. “I think the one with the mold.”
“That’s not a good comparison!” Dallas yelled.
“I know!” Barrett shouted back. “I’m nervous!” Then he muttered under his breath, “Easy for him to say. He’s married already.”
Just how nervous was Barrett? She moved closer, wondering whether she should just pull him inside now. “Um, I do appreciate the romantic gesture, but maybe you should come inside?”
“I’m almost there. Zoey, you’re the sunrise in my soul. You’re the spring that awakened me from winter.”
“Much better!” Austin called up.
“I know it wasn’t love at first sight for you. But I hope I grew on you.”
She laughed. “Like mold on the cheese?”
He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “I walked into that one, didn’t I? Zoey, before I mess it up worse, I want to say I love you with all my heart. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you make me the happiest man alive? Will you ma—”
“Yes, I’ll marry you!” She hugged him and pulled him inside while their loved ones looking on from the lawn erupted in cheers.
Kennedy clapped behind her. She must’ve been in on this and made sure Zoey was in the right room. Zoey would hate for Barrett to get the ladder and knock at every room on the second floor.
Then euphoria filled her. Barrett wanted to marry her!
“I love you so much, my darling bride-to-be. Je t’aime.” He blushed. “I hope what I said was ‘I love you,’ and not something like ‘I love macaroni.’”
She laughed. “Close enough.”
He placed a ring on her finger. “Laredo and your cousin helped me choose it, but if you want something different, we—”
“I love it!” she interrupted him. “And I love you so much. Je t’aime.”
People outside chanted, “Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!”
He kissed her, and she felt like she was floating on the wings of the wind. Her dream came true. Much more than she could ever ask for.
When they came up for air, he brushed wisps of her hair back from her eyes and gazed deep into them. “You didn’t just say yes because you were afraid I was going to fall, did you?”
“I said yes because I’d already fallen. For you. I love you very much. But next time, please use the front door.” Her eyes widened then. “That sound—Is that fireworks, or am I hearing explosions because I kissed you?”
“Maybe both? Your dad and Gerald insisted on fireworks. I have a feeling those two are going to concoct some interesting plans together. I already overheard your dad asking Gerald to break him out of the hospital. And they asked my advice on motorcycles.”
“Oh boy. Our life is going to be even more interesting than I imagined.”
He grinned at her. “And I can’t wait for it. By the way, good job on the knot tying the rope to the car,” he whispered to her. “It took my brothers about fifty attempts to try to untie it. Each.”
She chuckled and met his gaze. “I had lots of practice. You didn’t think I always stayed behind the closed window, did you?”