Page 77 of Ultimate Justice

Like that gerbil on the wheel, going around and around for the rest of its life, the anxious beast inside him could never stop moving. Even after taking down the camp, and take it down he would, there would always be another case and more missing kids to find. If Gracie wasn’t there, he’d keep searching for her.

He’d never stop wanting to be with Marlie again, but he couldn’t lead her on, either. He cleared his throat, raising his glass high. “To Deck and Tori.”

Shouts of “hear, hear” went around the room, followed by thunderous applause.

Deck bear-hugged Evan, then topped off Tori’s glass from a bottle someone had left on the table by her plate. Oddly, Deck refilled his own glass from a different bottle. “Dad,” he said, addressing Tori’s father, “as you know, Tori and I have been engaged for over ten months, so you shouldn’t have any lingering concerns about my intentions toward your daughter. Suffice to say, this is not a shotgun wedding, but…”

The other bottle. Tori wasn’t drinking champagne. It’s sparkling cider.

“We’re pregnant!” Deck held his glass higher, grinning from ear to ear.

As the room erupted in even louder clapping, Marlie’s face went ashen, and she rolled her lips inward. Noah grabbed her arm, giving her a gentle shake. Even he knew something was wrong. She leaned over and whispered something to Noah, then rushed for the door.

“Congratulations,” he said to Tori, clapping Deck on the back. Then he raced to catch up with Marlie.

He never should have taken her to the wedding. He’d needed to keep Noah safe, and with him, Brett, and Deck all here, it had seemed like a good idea at the time. Now he knew it had been a bad idea, a selfish one that had hit the fan in spectacular fashion.

…

The wonderful meal she’d just eaten soured in Marlie’s stomach. Her high heels clip-clopped on the gleaming marble floor as she searched for the nearest ladies room, in case she lost her lunch.

So much for progress.

Knowing Brett and Gemma were engaged had chipped away at some of her resolution. When they’d first arrived at the church, she’d again faltered, ready to run back to Evan’s house with her tail between her legs. Until he’d taken her hand and led her and Noah to seats at the front of the church normally reserved for family. That small touch had given her the courage to make it through the ceremony. Until the moment Deck had announced Tori was pregnant. All her hard-fought courage fled before her neurons could fire twice, and she’d nearly lost it right there in front of over two hundred people.

Through watery eyes, she’d caught the look of shock on Evan’s face. He hadn’t known about Deck’s announcement. She truly was happy for Tori and Deck, for all of Evan’s friends, but that didn’t stop her from wishing she were somewhere else. Anywhere else but here.

“Marlie!” A strong hand stopped her. Evan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. He stroked her hair, kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I only just found out the same way you and everyone else did. I know this is hard on you.”

A sob rose in the back of her throat, but she swallowed it down. “I feel so stupid, and so selfish,” she choked out. “I’m happy for them, I truly am. It’s just that…”

“Shh, I know.” He stroked the back of her head. “It hurts to be reminded of those we’ve lost. But you’ve got this. I promise. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.” He pulled back enough to tip up her chin with his forefinger. “You’ve come a long way. Your journey isn’t over. Don’t let this stop you.”

With a sigh, she nodded. Deep down, somewhere between the pain and anguish of what she’d lost and could never get back, she now knew she’d survive. Maybe even rise a step or two above the survival rung.

Noah ran down the hallway. “Are you okay?” Unexpectedly, he took her hand.

“I’m fine.” Or I will be.

Evan threaded his fingers with hers. She looked at their joined hands—Noah’s and Evan’s, and in a bright flash of clarity, saw what she wanted. Noah might go for it. Evan was a big fat question mark.

All her training and experience told her they were approaching a crossroad. The direction she’d take was becoming more apparent every day. Which way Evan would go was anyone’s guess. Just because she was living under his roof and they’d made love didn’t mean he was now or would ever be ready for the kind of life she wanted.

For the first time in years, she knew what that was. What she needed from herself, and from Noah and Evan. When the time was right, she’d tell them both.

Chapter Twenty-Three

After checking for a text message or voicemail from his boss about the flyover, Evan had made good on his promise to teach Noah how to play the piano.

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star,” Evan and Noah sang the words together as Noah pushed down on the piano keys. “How I wonder what you are.”

Blue sat next to the piano bench, his snout in the air, howling to the words and sounding like a foghorn.

“Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky…”

Over the piano, Evan caught Marlie watching them. She sat at the kitchen counter where she’d laid out the photo album and Foundation application papers. What remained of the early evening sun backlit her hair in a golden beam of light.

The moment they’d returned from the wedding reception, she’d kicked off the high-heel shoes Tori had loaned her, but still wore that damned purple dress.