“Of course you did.” She kissed my forehead. “Shower. Hair. Dress. That order. I’ll keep the family from burning the house down.”
She left with both twins. I stood in my bedroom and listened to the sounds of my family filling up my house, voices and laughter and the distant clatter of someone dropping something in the kitchen and Fury’s voice saying “I’ve got it” which meant he definitely did not have it, and felt the fullness of it press against my ribs until I had to sit down.
Not happiness exactly. Happiness was too small a word.
Fullness.
My life was full.
Fury cameup to me on the porch an hour before the ceremony.
I was dressed, finally, after Maggie and Aspen had spent forty-five minutes arguing about my hair, and sitting in one of the rocking chairs with a glass of water, watching the caterers set up the reception tent in the south pasture. The ceremony would be in the field behind the barn, with the mountains as backdrop and the horses watching from the pasture fence. Graham’s idea. I’d cried when he suggested it.
Fury sat in the chair beside me. He was wearing a suit, charcoal, well-fitted, and he looked handsome and uncomfortable and exactly like himself.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“Graham’s a lucky man.”
“I know.”
He was quiet for a moment. Fury didn’t do quiet well. He was always the loud one, the impulsive one.
“I was wrong about him,” Fury said.
I looked over.
“When I drove up and threatened to destroy his career.” Fury rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought he was just some famous guy using my sister for content. I thought he’d blow through your life and leave wreckage and I’d be the one picking up the pieces. Again.”
“Again?”
“I’ve been picking up pieces since we were kids, Rose.” His voice was gentle, a tone he rarely used, reserved for the moments that actually mattered. “After Mom and Dad. After you moved to Colorado and stopped calling for three months because you were ‘fine.’” He made air quotes. “I’m your big brother. Picking up pieces is the job.”
My eyes burned. “I’m sorry I stopped calling.”
“Don’t apologize. Just don’t do it again.” He reached over and took my hand. His palm was warm, familiar in the way that only family is. “I’m proud of you. For the interview. For standing up. For letting Graham in, even though it scared you.” He paused. “And for building this. Again. After everything.”
I squeezed his hand. “I had help.”
“You had Graham.” Fury’s jaw tightened with emotion. “He went on camera and told the world he was the reason you lost everything. Took the blame for a crime that wasn’t his. Then he bought your horses back, found this ranch, and put your name on it without knowing if you’d ever speak to him again.” He shook his head. “That’s love. More than love, actually. And this family is ridiculous about love.”
I laughed. It came out wet.
Fury leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out. “Oh, and I almost forgot. Denise took a plea deal last month.”
I looked at him. “You didn’t almost forget.”
“No, I didn’t. I’ve been saving it.” He smiled, the smile Fury wore when someone who’d wronged his family got exactly what was coming. “Eighteen months federal. Fraud, embezzlement, wire charges. The forensic accountants traced over a hundred and twenty thousand across three separate victims. You were her biggest score, Rose. Glad you were the one who caught her.”
I knew about the other victims. Just not the numbers.
“And Taylor?”
“Probation. Three years. Had to pay restitution. His lawyer argued he was the fall guy, which, honestly, he was. Doesn’t make him innocent, just makes him stupid.” Fury shrugged. “Last I heard he’s back in Nevada working for his uncle’s landscaping company. So that’s something.”
“You’re keeping tabs.”
