The bell above the door rings, and Tabby trots into the store. “Five more orders from the website,” she calls. “André is killing it with his lunch specials. We’re going to have to hire a delivery guy!”
“One of those trick bicycle riders!” Ember says, and I give Tabby a wave. “Come take over the filming.”
“Where are you going?” Tabby frowns, taking the camera from me. “You’re the cinematographer!”
“Coco and I have some business. See you at the wedding.”
“The wedding’s at six o’clock!” Ember calls. “Coco’s a flower girl. Do you know what she’s supposed to wear?”
“I’ll drop her off at the church with Donna’s cousin. You’d better hurry up,” I tease, carrying the squealing preschooler over my shoulder out the door.
I’ve been carefully planning what happens after the wedding since I got back from the city.
* * *
Before I left, I’d gone to my father’s office to tell him everything. He’d sat behind his desk while I described how my senior partner had provided phony driver’s logs, lied to investigators, and obstructed justice.
I’d gone back to the firm to return my keys and access card only to find I was locked out. Assholes. Brice Wagner had made a point to meet me in the lobby for his final parting shots, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. I had to bite back a satisfied grin.
Brice stood there glowering at me. “You’ve been fired, Jack Lockwood. We stand by our reasons, and now it’s your word against mine.”
“Actually,” I’d said, holding out my things with the noise of approaching police cars growing louder outside. “It’s your own words against you. I made a copy of the files, Brice. Tiffany withdrew her police report, and Ian Carney has the original driver’s interview. You’re going to jail.”
Ian had walked through the large double doors with the media right behind him. Amidst cameras flashing, I’d found my redemption. My name was cleared publicly, and Brice was arrested.
As they dragged him out in handcuffs, I saw real fear in his cold blue eyes.
It made me smile.
Retelling the story, my father’s brow lowered, and he had the decency to act appalled at how I was treated.
“It’s been the top story for the last two days,” he said. “I know several law firms clamoring to add you to their rosters. You can take your pick of where you want to go.”
Shaking my head, I could only laugh at his refusal to listen. “I’m g
oing back to Oceanside. I’m going to ask Ember to marry me. We’ll live in the cottage and start a family—”
Smack! His palm slammed against his desk, cutting me off. “You insist on doing this!” It was just short of a growl. “After all this time, you insist. How can you?”
My back to the windows, I answered him truthfully. “It’s what I’ve always wanted. It’s the only thing I want.”
His eyes tightened, and he looked at me several long moments. “How can you choose to be with the daughter of the man who destroyed our family? Explain this to me.”
My throat tightened. I never expected him to say that. I was glad we were finally clearing the air, but I wished I’d had a moment to prepare. “Ember is innocent. She doesn’t even remember that night.”
“I will never forget. I will never forgive what they did.” He spoke as if to himself. “And she looks just like him.”
Taking a moment, I’d stepped back. Never is a long time, and I knew if I handled it right, healing could happen.
Speaking carefully, I tried to explain my heart. “Loving Ember isn’t a choice for me. It’s been in me since I pulled her out of that water. It grew when we were together in school. It solidified when I made her mine. Now it’s…” Looking out the glass at the horizon, I tried to find the words to explain something inexplicable. “She’s my other half, Dad. She knows me. We understand each other in a way that’s… elemental.”
He dismissed me, but when I said goodbye, I could see it in his eyes. The wall had been breached, if only by the smallest crack.
It was a start.
* * *
Donna’s beach wedding is nice, I guess. I’m not much of a judge when it comes to weddings, and to be honest, the only thing on my mind is what’s coming at the reception.