Page 414 of The Romance Adventure

My parents exchange a knowing smile as if they won’t expose the old folks’ involvement, but that’s as much of a confirmation as I need.

Mostly, they want to hear about our lives. We hardly sleep, and when I finally get cellphone service, I call Emmie.

“You sound wrecked. Everything alright?” she asks.

“More than alright.” This is the kind of news I’d like to deliver in person, so I say, “You’re going to want to come home for Thanksgiving next week.”

“I already told Magnus and Lally that I probably can’t make it to the wedding. Work.” She sounds genuinely disappointed.

“Chip’s work?” I ask, knowing what he left for her to do.

“No, work work. I can definitely make it for New Year’s, but Thanksgiving would be a push.”

“You really, really want to come home as soon as possible. Do whatever is necessary, even if you have to scale mountains.”

“I’ll try, but I’ll definitely be there for New Year’s.”

When we get off the phone, I say, “Being together again is perfect, except Emmie isn’t here.”

“Not yet, but she will be,” Mom says with the kind of confidence that suggests she never gave up on us coming to rescue them.

“We’ve waited this long, what’s another month or so?” Dad adds.

“I always knew the treasure would lead to you guys.”

“Thanks for not giving up.” Mom’s eyes fill with tears.

“We’re grateful you came to our rescue. Now, let’s hope Jerkovic is behind bars for a long time.”

“He will be,” I say. But I only hope that the woman who put him there will be home when I return.

Jolie

CHAPTER 21

I pack and then unpack my bag. Shoes in, shoes out.

Who am I kidding? I can’t go through with it. I don’t want to. This is my home with my husband. I love him. I want a life together.

My stomach hasn’t stopped churning since they left in the Big Boat. I did my part, making sure they had backup, because I had more than enough evidence against Von Dräger to put him away for life.

I’d waited because I thought I wanted revenge. I thought I wanted affirmation. I thought I wanted justice.

I have all of that and more, but what I needed was family, someone to love and be loved by.

The nerves in my stomach decrease by half when I put my shoes back in the closet where they belong. I’m where I belong and where I want to be.

But I’m still a mess because I don’t know the status of what went down with Von Dräger. If CJ and the others are okay. If their parents are still alive.

I pace, worried. Now I get why old homes along windswept coastlines have widow’s walks. But the sun shines high overhead, spilling diamonds across the sea.

Instead of remaining home, alone, I do something very unlike me. Pulling out my phone, I call Isla.

In case she thinks it’s weird that I’m reaching out, I’ll remind her she wanted fashion tips, not that she needs them—she’s adorable. All the McGregor wives are beautiful in their own ways. The thing is, I’ve never had close friendships with women. For one, my mother didn’t set a very good example, so I had a general distrust from the get-go. For two, because of my profession, I made a rule not to get too close to anyone, period.

“Hello? Is everything okay?” Isla asks, bypassing greetings.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.”