A Tiara Under the Tree

Dominic didn’t budge. Waverly didn’t expect him to. With Dominic’s suggestion that a stalker created the memes, the police chief interrogated Waverly about everyone she’d come across recently. The story of her being kicked out of the last pageant held in Savannah had been brought up, thanks to her mother.

“You show up now?” Dominic adjusted his arms across his chest.

“Yeah, I did, considering this was the place I saw Waverly,” said Johnny.

“Relax, Dominic.” Waverly tugged the hem of Dominic’s black jacket. “I told you all before, he’s okay.”

“The stalker thing?” Johnny asked. “It’s real?”

“Of course it’s real,” Dominic barked. “What do you know?”

“Nothing other than my lawyer mentioning it to me,” said Johnny. “The cops wanted to talk to me about you. You really have a stalker.”

“Yes,” said Dominic.

Waverly stood up and shook her head. Dominic didn’t budge to let her by. “It appears someone has been watching my moves and posting them to the web. You look...great, Johnny.” Waverly said. Dominic moved just enough to give her a questioning glance.

“Actually I don’t look anything like a biker in my real job. I’m forced to wear a suit and tie every day.” Johnny laughed. “When I learned you’d be here for a pageant, I knew your mom would be around. I just wanted to irk her.”

Muscles visibly relaxing, Dominic extended his hand for Johnny to shake. “Dominic Crowne.”

“Pleased to meet you, Dominic.”

“So, what brings you to Savannah?” Waverly asked. “Surely you’re not here just for the pageant,” She stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Dominic underneath his jacket.

“Half-right,” he said. “I live in Jacksonville, but I thought I’d drive up for this and see how you’re doing. And from what I can tell, you’re doing just fine.” Johnny extended his hand again to Dominic. “Congratulations to you.”

“For?” Dominic asked.

“You have a beautiful queen here,” Johnny said with a wink at Waverly. “When we dated, she never allowed me backstage in her dressing room. That speaks volumes to me. Take care of her.”

“Yeah, thanks.” Dominic cleared his throat and almost turned toward Waverly. His light brown eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’ll tell you what. I’ve got to go meet up with my frat brother. You keep Waverly company until it’s curtain time. I trust you won’t let anything happen to her.”

Johnny saluted Dominic, and Waverly shook her head and smiled. Damn, she loved that man.

* * *

“And so you left her alone with her ex?” Will Ravens turned in his theater seat and shook his head. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m good,” Dominic answered truthfully. He was glad his brother flew in with his fiancée. And why wouldn’t he? According to the fraternity newsletter, Will had been able to get his family’s company back in order, and the person he had to thank was seated with them. Zoe and Will were expected to marry soon. Dominic touched his top pocket just above his heart. He loved Waverly and knew she was the woman for him. Though Waverly had fought her feelings for him in the beginning, she and Dominic had built a strong foundation based on friendship. Dominic smiled to himself. Even without putting a ring on Waverly’s finger anytime soon, he’d surpassed his fears of ending up in life like his father. If Johnny Del Whatever wanted to talk to Waverly alone, Dominic was cool with it. Dominic didn’t believe Johnny was the stalker. But someone out there was.

Will’s presence offered a brief moment of normalcy but nothing about this situation made Dominic comfortable. Waverly didn’t take it seriously and wanted to continue as if things were okay. It irritated Dominic to know the tiara meant more to her than her safety.

Dominic’s eyes scanned the auditorium. Crowds were filling up the rows. People from all the Southern counties were here to cheer on their beauty queens. He chuckled to himself, thinking they all wasted their time. He’d passed a few of the open doors down the hall backstage and none of the other contestants had anything on Waverly.

Zoe leaned forward and tapped Dominic on the knee. “If it’s the same guy who passed me in the hall,” Zoe began with a deep breath, “you’re a confident man.”

“I trust Waverly,” Dominic explained and laughed to himself at the questioning look Will shot her.

A cell phone rang somewhere by them. Dominic continued to talk to Will and Zoe about their future plans. Dominic had missed the whole engagement due to his father’s illness. The cell phone continued to ring. The whole situation reminded Dominic of the last time one went off when he was watching Waverly—just this time he was getting ready to watch her.

“I believe your phone is ringing,” Will said, nodded his head toward Dominic’s lap.

“My cell’s here.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket to double-check his phone.

“I gave you your phone in Waverly’s dressing room.”

Suddenly he remembered the object Zoe had given him. “Well, it’s not mine.” He leaned to the side and extracted the ringing device. The phone buzzed again and shut off. Dominic swiped the screen and noticed it wasn’t password protected. Easier to find the owner, he thought. The screen lit up the space between the now-curious duo of Will and Zoe, who leaned over to see, as well. Confused, Dominic shook his head. The screen saver popped on and it was none other than Waverly. This wasn’t her phone.