“Tom,” Lucy said quietly, her heart pounding as she could no longer contain the question that had stayed with her since their relationship had ended the year she’d left for college. “Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything,” Tom replied, turning to face her fully.
Lucy took a deep breath, gathering the courage she’d been building for forty years. “Why didn’t you fight for us? Why didn’tyou fight your parents and everyone else who tried to keep us apart?”
Tom was quiet for a long time, his jaw working as he stared out toward the ocean visible through the window.
“I did fight for you,” Tom said finally.
“What?” Lucy asked, confusion rushing through her. “You call dropping me and marrying Victoria fighting for me?” She was stunned by his reply.
Tom ran his hand through his hair, looking deeply uncomfortable. “My family and Victoria’s family had a lot of influence back then, Lucy. They made it very clear that I had two choices: end your career path or marry Victoria and unite our families.”
“I don’t understand,” Lucy said, her mind reeling.How did that even make sense?
“My father and Victoria’s father had connections at Harvard,” Tom explained, his voice heavy with old pain. “They were going to have your position pulled, your scholarship revoked. They had the power to do it.”
Lucy felt shockwaves course through her entire body. “You’re saying they threatened my future?”
“I was going to ask you to run away with me,” Tom continued, his eyes finally meeting hers. “I was going to tell you we could get you into another university, find another path. But the day I broke up with you...” He swallowed hard, his voice becoming rough with emotion. “You were so excited about your placement at Cambridge, being close to June and Lacey. You were glowing with happiness about your future.”
Understanding hit Lucy like a physical blow. “You broke up with me so I could have the future I’d planned,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Tom stepped toward her, taking her shoulders gently in his hands. “I loved you... No, let me correct that. I have always loved you, Lucy. More than my own happiness, more than my own dreams. It was always you, and it always will be you.”
“Tom,” Lucy breathed, overwhelmed by the magnitude of his sacrifice. Tears sprang to her eyes as she realized he had given up everything, his happiness, his chance to study forensics and become an FBI agent, but mostly his chance at true love. He’d sacrificed it all to protect her dreams.
Before her brain fog cleared or the world made sense again, Lucy wasn’t sure who moved toward whom, but the next moment, they were in each other’s arms. His lips crashed against hers with forty years of suppressed longing and love. The years melted away as if they’d never existed, and Lucy felt like she was twenty years old again, completely in love and utterly cherished.
When they finally broke apart, Lucy looked up at him with tears streaming down her face. “I love you too, Tom. I never stopped loving you.”
His head lowered, and his lips found hers again, but this time the kiss was interrupted by the shrill ringing of Lucy’s phone.
Dazed and breathless, Lucy fumbled for her phone and saw June’s name on the display.
“Lucy, we need you,” June’s voice was shaky and urgent. “It’s Lacey. There’s been an accident.”
“What?” Lucy’s blood turned to ice. “What kind of accident?”
“Her truck skidded off the road and went over the embankment near Miller’s Creek,” June said, her words coming in a rush. “The emergency vehicles just left for the scene...”
“I’m on my way,” Lucy managed to say, her hands already shaking as she ended the call.
22
HOLT
Holt was still agitated by Victoria Morrison. He’d never liked that woman. She’d once started a rumor that they had dated when they were fourteen. Holt knew it was so long ago that he should just let it go, but he couldn’t. The audacity of Victoria Morrison always astounded him. He sighed and turned back to the case he’d offered to help with. A case that he was beginning to believe more and more was connected to the tragic fire of ten years ago.
A knock at his door had him glancing up. Terry from the front desk was standing there with a cup of coffee and a turkey rye sandwich from the Teacups coffee shop and bakery.
“Margo sent over some coffee and a late lunch,” Terry told him. “These are for you.”
“Oh, thank you,” Holt said gratefully as his stomach did a low growl seeing the food. “I’ll stop by Margo’s later and thank her.”
“Margo is great. One of the town’s true treasures,” Terry told him, placing the items on his desk. “If you need help with thecase, please let me know. Chief Morrison told me I could help you if you need it.”
“Thank you, Terry,” Holt told her. “I may take you up on that.” He glanced at the door. “Is Rad in yet?”
