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“It’s a miracle.” Savannah’s attention was caught by genuine laughter ringing out from her sister.
Jess clapped her hands together and gestured for everyone’s attention. “I’d like to thank all of you for standing with me. It was a hard few months, but this will be the best Christmas I’ve ever had.” She nodded toward her son, whose joyous grin was brighter than the Christmas tree.
Jess picked up an armful of packages. “I have a little gift for you.” She moved through the crowd handing out presents. Professors Hinkle and Guzman accepted their gifts with a solemn thank-you, and she moved on to Oscar Pickwick, the elderly guard who put his Pokémon Go game away long enough to tear into the wrapping.
When Jess came toward Savannah and Hez with their little entourage, her eyes misted. “Thank you all for never giving up, for digging into the truth. I’ll never forget what you did for me and for the school. I have a chance to save TGU now, and I’ll make sure the university is around for a long time.”
Savannah left Hez’s side long enough to hug her sister. Jess returned the embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered in Savannah’s ear. “I love you, you know.”
“I know. I love you too.” Savannah blinked back tears and unwrapped her gift to reveal an antique framed map of TGU’s streets. “It’s beautiful.” She held it to her chest.
When Jess went back to gather another armful of gifts, Savannah took Hez’s hand, and they moved to a quiet spot on the other side of the big tree. “She seems so much better, Hez. She told me she loved me.”
“Who could not love you?” He reached out and pulled her close enough she could feel his heart beating against her ear. “This is a new beginning for all of us, babe. I intend to grasp my second chance with both hands and never let go,” he whispered against her hair.
She lifted her head to stare up at him. Promises, commitment, and love were a steady light in his eyes, and she sent the same wordless message back to him. It didn’t matter if they settled here or moved wherever God took them. They had time to figure out all the nuances of when they’d remarry and where they’d go from here. The past five months had wrought a miracle in their lives, and she was grateful, so grateful.
He smiled down at her. “Let’s take a walk on the beach when this is over. I want to kiss you without an audience.”
And there was nothing she’d like better. She tucked her hand into his arm. “I think we can duck out in about an hour.”
Epilogue
I open the door slowly, taking care that the hinges don’t squeak. Simon lies on his side, facing me. He’s fast asleep, exhausted by the excitement of the party. Shafts of moonlight from his windows bathe his face in silver-white light. He looks like an alabaster angel.
I close the door with a soft click and stand in the dark hallway, unsure what to do. It’s past midnight and my body yearns for bed, but thoughts whir around my head like electric hummingbirds, and I know I won’t be able to sleep.
I go downstairs to the now-empty living room. A few lingering embers glow in the back of the fireplace. The scents of woodsmoke, pine needles, and cinnamon mingle in the air—the smell of Christmas. The room is silent, but I can almost hear the echoes of the laughter and conversation from a few hours ago. I stand alone in the middle of the shadow-filled room, and I smile.
It was the perfect party—and the perfect lie. Every moment of the evening was genuine, but the event was deeply fake. This was not the celebration of a fresh new beginning for TGU, but the last note of its swan song. I almost expected a hand to appear in the middle of the party and write “Mene mene tekel upharsin” on my living room wall. Yesterday’s secrets have grown into today’s lies, and tomorrow’s verdict is coming fast.
It’s bittersweet to know this was the last Christmas party I will hold in this house. A year from now, I’ll be gone and so will the university. It’s almost completely hollowed out now, a decayed facade ready to collapse when touched by a breath of wind. And the wind that’s coming will be a hurricane. My family has been waiting for this for generations, and nothing can stop it now.
Will Savannah get caught in the storm? I hope not. I engineered Tony Guzman’s hiring and did everything I could to maneuver Savannah out of tenure contention—and if she doesn’t get tenure, she’ll basically have to leave at the end of the school year. And I no longer need to worry about Beckett trying to keep her here.
The thought of our former provost makes me chuckle. He pictured himself as the dashing mastermind behind everything and had no idea of the real game I was playing. My partners will make sure he keeps his mouth shut. He planned to marry a Legare woman to smooth his path into the university president’s office. From there, he wanted to run for senator or governor, his campaign paid for by our smuggling profits. When I turned him down flat, he set his sights on Savannah—but I knew my sister would eventually see what a malevolent buffoon he is.
Still, Beckett was more cunning than I realized. He almost got away with framing me for two murders. If it hadn’t been for Hez, I’d still be behind bars and Beckett would be the one enjoying the afterglow of a grand holiday party.
I’m grateful to Hez, but I’m not thrilled that he’ll be staying. My former and future brother-in-law is too clever for his own good or anyone else’s. With Beckett and his puppet, Deke Willard, behind bars, everyone will assume our little operation has been wrapped up with a Christmas bow—and Beckett and Deke are smart enough not to say otherwise. But Hez is sharp enough to see the loose ends on that bow and start pulling on them. Hez needs to leave as soon as possible, and he needs to take Savannah with him.
I frown at the thought of Hez taking my sister away from me. He’s always been an intruder in our relationship, and he hurt her badly the last time they were together. If he does it again . . .
No, I won’t worry about that. Not tonight.
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, forcing my muscles to relax one by one. Today is a good day. I can’t lose sight of that. I am in a good place now—much better than I had any right to expect a month ago. I am free. Beckett is in jail. Erik is gone, so I can finally have Simon with me. Even that old grifter Ellison Abernathy is gone. I can rebuild the TGU side of the operation entirely on my own terms. Our friend in the police department is a bit of a wild card but one that can be managed.
I yawn and discover that I am finally tired. I go back upstairs to read myself to sleep. I curl up in bed and pick up an old favorite I’ve read a dozen times: Death Is a Lonely Business.
