“Sorry. So many thoughts. I know. Why we are here. Or is that so you can get your chocolate and coffee fix, all in one?” Once again, Emily was on the receiving end of a slight bump. How she’d missed her best friend. Had Abby been here, perhaps things would have happened differently. Or maybe if she hadn’t had her vacation planned, she could have been in California with her.
They were selfish thoughts. Emily held the door open for her best friend. While she knew they were selfish, she couldn’t help but think them. As they slowly made their way towards an open booth, all heads turned to watch them. For some, they had seen Emily’s picture in the newspaper or online about her arrest. To others, seeing Abby was nearly akin to seeing a celebrity.
It was as if Abby didn’t notice. Or was it she chose to ignore the attention. Neither Sam nor Abby wanted attention. Not that a majority of people wanted this kind of attention. The two sat and the waitress immediately was over to take their order. They both ordered mocha lattes, along with a chicken salad. After the waitress left, they sat in silence. Emily wanted so desperately for Abby to be the one to speak. But knew it would not happen. Already too many emotional changes for her friend.
“I don’t know how much Melissa has told you…” Abby’s emerald eyes twinkled. Emily knew that even if the matriarch had told her best friend everything, Abby would force her to tell her everything. “I’m not going into great detail. Just know that the man I thought was my father passed away. Mother was poisoning him. She died of cervical cancer before I could come to terms with everything she told me. The woman she hired, Lena, to slowly poison Lucas, is actually a madwoman probably working for some mob out to get you and Sam. And my birth father was shot protecting me and is in the hospital, about to be released. I spent time in jail trying to find out who’s the major player behind it all.”
“You forgot the most important thing of all.” Abby sat back, waiting for Emily to realize what she was referring to. “It’s the thing I’ve learned over the years. Horrible things happen. But instead of focusing on them, you have to focus on the positive. In this case that means we have to focus on the fact that you are finally going to be an honest woman. That you’ve forged a strong family unit. So, now we just have to plan the bachelorette party.” There was a smug look upon the nurse’s face.
“That’s true. Or the fact I was the one who rescued Tabby myself.” Abby leaned forward. There was now concern in those emerald eyes. “I’m all right. I used needles with sedatives in them to incapacitate everyone. Including Lena. And that terrifies me. Because she had a gun in her hand. Was I really that good? Or was it a setup? Just like in the prison. I took out how many women. And didn’t even blink an eye.”
Emily’s gaze was on her latte. She wasn’t in the mood for it or the chicken salad anymore. It wasn’t rescuing Tabby. That was something the therapist was actually proud of. There had been minimal violence and yet she had gotten away with her soulmate. And she had a new little rascal who was already getting into everything at the bed and breakfast. Melissa had commented how Midnight would fit right in with her lot.
It was her time in prison. It wasn’t merely being confined that haunted her, though it had caused her to be slightly claustrophobic. It was the violence. It was how she had, not even wanting to, become the head of the prison. While she knew violence was a part of everyone, why had it come out in full force with her? It was as if love was her light, what shown through. But war and hate were bubbling beneath the surface. Not a feeling she much cared for.
Before Abby could respond, their lunch had been delivered. She watched as Emily picked at her food. “I’m proud of you.” Emily’s head whipped up. While there were reasons to be proud of her, what she had done while in prison was not one of them. “Did you kill anyone?” Azure eyes blinked several times before a head managed to shake indicating the negative. “Even when you were most likely outnumbered in prison and could have used deadly force, you never did. Let me guess. When you disarmed Lena, you threw the gun away.”
Emily placed her latte back on the table. She was ready for a refill. It wasn’t the flavor. It could have been a regular coffee. For Emily, it was the caffeine. With everything she had been through and attempting to comfort both her son and soulmate, sleep was not something that found her. It was becoming too great for her. “I guess that’s something to be thankful for. Not having taken a life.”
And just like that, the emerald eyes lost their shine. It was only briefly. Emily knew her best friend had taken one life. A miserable, despicable person, but it was a life nonetheless. It was something Emily never wanted to experience. Especially looking in the depths of one woman’s sorrow. “And you have.” The statement hung in the air for a while. Just as Emily was about to apologize, her phone rang.
If it wasn’t Tabby’s face staring back at her, Emily would have sent it immediately to voicemail. There were some things more important. Helping a friend face their past, no matter how haunted it is, was one of them. Choosing one’s soulmate over one’s best friend was difficult at best. “Hey, Sexy. What’s happening?” Emily gave an apologetic wink to Abby who rolled her eyes. In that amount of time, once again Abby was back to her happy go lucky persona. Or at least appeared so.
Emily listened as her fiancée broke down. It was heart wrenching. “I’ll be back at the bed and breakfast as soon as I can. Nicky and the boys can’t have gone far. Just remember, Adam and Conrad know how to take care of themselves.” Abby was now at full attention. Their lunch was barely touched. But now was the time to go. “I love you, too.” Emily threw a couple twenties on the table knowing it was too much. “Let’s get back to the bed and breakfast. I think Tabby is in panic mode, but right now we can’t be too careful.”
Abby didn’t say a word. After what had happened in Europe and what was happening in Middletown now, there was no way she would take anything for granted. She knew her sons could take care of themselves. But they shouldn’t have to. At least not in the way it seemed they were being forced to more and more. It was more of what weighed so heavily on her body, heart and soul.
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Tabby was probably overreacting. She knew Nicky, Adam and Conrad wouldn’t go far. Not after everything that had been happening as of late. But she couldn’t find them. The other Walker children had no idea where they were. Melissa had had her hands full with Miss Alex. Sam had wanted to return immediately to her agency and attempt to contact Sierra. Abby had wanted to spend time with Emily.
It was something Tabby understood. In fact, she missed spending time with Sierra. There was Desiree, but what about the woman whom she had saved? A woman who had been through so much in her time. The woman who saved her right back by giving her a job and paying off all of Nicky’s medical expenses. She wanted more than anything just to have a few moments together. It’d been since the hospital and having to be informed about Emily’s flight.
The petite blonde made her way to the edge of the water. Tabby had found some tracks the boys had most likely made. But they ended at the water’s edge. While Nicky could swim, he wasn’t a strong swimmer. She didn’t trust that he could swim across the lake. There could have been a raft or canoe. But where would the boys have gone without telling anyone? Especially with Sam and Abby just having returned.
“We’ll find them.” Tabby turned at the deep, rich voice. She hadn’t been expecting to see Sam there. After spending some time with her children, Sam had insisted on spending time at the agency. There had been a meeting with Steve, Jarod, Max and a new hire. Someone from the same SVU both Steve and Sam had served under. A former detective with mad computer skills, but also had been in the Crime Scene Unit.
“I know. It’s not just the boys being AWOL once again.” Tabby turned from the tall figure. To her, Sam seemed the shadow of herself. No one knew what they had been through. Perhaps Jarod and the others did, but not even Melissa had been told all that had happened while they were in Europe. And the fact they had been absent nearly t
wo extra weeks…Tabby could see the haunting in azure eyes.
It was a similar haunting to what Tabby saw every day since returning from her latest capture. Looking in the mirror in the morning was becoming a chore. Merely breathing was a chore at times. But a thought of Emily or a touch of her fiancée was enough to get her through. It was why it was so difficult and why she had called Emily, interrupting the reunion between best friends. Until Tabby found her balance once again, she needed her fiancée more than anything in the world.
“I know what you mean.” Sam gently placed her hand on the shorter woman’s shoulder. She remembered the first time she had looked into emerald eyes. She remembered the way Tabby had known she was playing possum. And she remembered how Tabby had risked literally everything to help her. It was why the nurse had been so readily adopted by the Walker clan. She had been willing to give up everything just to cleanse her soul and help Sam in the process.
“The most difficult thing at the moment is keeping perspective.” Sam wasn’t one for words, but knew Tabby needed something more than Emily to hold onto. Not that Emily was going anywhere. Just like Abby wasn’t going anywhere. It was the fact a life can be taken so quickly. A life can be granted. Sam had seen too much. And this latest battle with the forces of evil had nearly taken everything from her.
It wasn’t that Sam had come close to dying on more than one occasion. It was the fact Abby had…No. She couldn’t go there. Not now she couldn’t go there. Would she ever be able to? If she were to ever resume some semblance of a normal life she would have to face what had happened. Abby was already denying anything had happened. At least every time she attempted to speak to her soulmate, Abby would become distant or change the subject.
It was something Sam had done back in the day. When she had first experienced violence in the worst way. On the job, when she was supposed to be an officer and handle situations like that. It was something that haunted her. And now, Abby was haunted. If Sam had thought her wife dealing with taking a life before was something, it made what was happening now pale in comparison.
If it weren’t for the children once again, Sam wasn’t certain if she’d be enough for Abby to survive. It was that horrible what her wife was dealing with. When everyone had thought she was dead, it was Adam and Conrad that had caused Abby to get out of bed every morning. It was what had caused Abby to survive long enough so that they could be reunited. The constant silent prayers Sam had sent to her fiancée hadn’t reached her.
Or had they? Sam shook her head. Nothing was black and white. Nothing was as simple as some people attempted to make it. Whether that was believing in the love you shared with your soulmate or the fact good would triumph. Or what was truly good. After all, look at Sierra. At one time, she was one of the worst Sam had to contend with. And yet, now she was fighting to rid the world of evil and injustice.
There was Sam. Once upon a time she had been into the ladies. No relationship lasting more than two months. While she had been growing tired of the lifestyle, it had taken meeting Abby to finally make her stop with that way of living. For some, it was all right. For Sam, it had become hard on her soul. She needed so much more. She needed someone to make a family with. Like what her mother had had.
What Emily and Tabby were now working towards. It was why Sam and Abby, even as battered as their souls now were, would continue to fight the good fight. So that children could grow up safe and happy. That soulmates could find their happily ever after. That the world could one day become the ideal world that everyone hoped for. While the fight may never be complete, she hoped the legacy they would leave behind for their children would be to continue fighting for what was right and what one believed in.
“I know. I want to scream. I want to curse. I want to beat up all those I think are responsible for how I am now.” Tabby managed to gain the courage to look directly into azure. Pain. Agony. Anger. Truth. Commitment. Love. It was all there for the world to see. Sam had been through so much and yet was willing to do so much more. How many people were out there like the woman standing before her.
“And I want to restore your innocence. I want to make it so Adam, Conrad, Nicky and any of the children didn’t have to have memories of being harmed or separated from their loved ones.” Sam’s growl caused Tabby to take a step back. It wasn’t because she was afraid of her friend. It had surprised her, the deepness. And yet, it shouldn’t. Though some would say she was stoic, it was actually a deep passion that was only controlled by sheer will alone.
“And I want the world safe for my little girl.” Both women turned to see someone neither expected to see. Leon was using crutches to support his weight. Sam couldn’t contain the smile. He was a lot like her in many ways. He should have been in the hospital for at least another week. Yet, he had either recovered enough to be released or more likely had signed himself out. Just as she had made the great escape.
Sam hastily made her way to the man she admired. She hadn’t been able to discover much about him. For some, it would have caused her to be nervous. In the case of a friend of Mitch’s and Emily’s father, it actually caused her to be happy. It meant those that were after Emily and Tabby because of their association with Sam and Abby would also have trouble finding anything about Leon’s past. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Barkley.”
“Mr. Barkley was my father.” Leon enjoyed the firm grip. He’d expect nothing less when it came to the likes of Samantha Walker. She was a legend in her own time. He wondered if she realized how her name was actually famous in his world. Those he worked with were in awe of the former SVU detective. But did his former associates know how difficult it was on the soul to become the woman standing before him? “The name is Leon. And I hope I can call you Sam.”
“Of course. All my friends call me Sam.” The former SVU detective understood this wasn’t merely a chance meeting. The only question was it something they could discuss in front of Tabby? “Sorry that we are meeting under these kinds of circumstances. But glad we are. Now what brings you out to the lake? It might be to recuperate, but I don’t think so.”
“I volunteered to fetch you two.” When a dark eyebrow rose, Leon knew he had to explain. “Yes, Melissa could have called and let you know that the boys were back at the bed and breakfast. But I wanted to take a walk. I wanted to talk with you both before you saw your sons. I’ve already spoken to Abby and Emily. They are with the boys. It seems they decided it would be fun to go swimming. And left a note on the refrigerator. A certain kitten seems to like paper and shredded the note beyond recognition.”
Both women burst into laughter. Tabby gave her soon to be father-in-law a kiss on the cheek. Sam was on one side of Leon, Tabby the other. They slowly made their way back to the bed and breakfast. It was time for both Sam and Tabby to reunite with their soulmates. It was time they had the talks both couples needed. For both women, it was more than being a couple. It was being a family. And working together as a family.
It wasn’t long before two sets of couples were embracing. Sam and Abby immediately said their goodbyes. It was to be a family night. Whether that meat movies, pizza or having a long talk, they would spend the entire night with one another. After all, school would be starting soon and their family time would be, unfortunately, limited.
Without a word to Melissa or Leon, Emily scooped up Midnight. Tabby took Nicky’s hand. The boy appeared to be afraid. Perhaps he was worried having gone swimming with his friends without permission. Or perhaps he was worried trouble had once again found them. Whatever was behind it, Nicky held back and Tabby had to practically drag him until they finally reached the room the trio shared.
The trio sat on the bed watching Midnight play with a plastic mouse attached to a string. Nicky continued to move it around so that his new kitten was forced to pounce on it. It was Emily that spoke. “Nicky, things are going to be difficult for a long time. Not because we don’t trust you. Not because we don’t have faith in you. It’s because we’ve all been through so much.
Your momma most of all. While we are still getting married soon and you’ll be returning to school, things are never going to be the same. Do you think you can handle that?”
Nicky allowed Midnight to catch the mouse. The black kitten laid on her back and kicked at the toy. If the situation wasn’t so serious, it would be more than cute. It would be amusing. But things were extremely serious. Nicky looked his mother in the eyes. Emily was nothing but honest and loving. She complemented his momma perfectly
And yet, Emily had brought a negative side to his life as well. It wasn’t the end of the world. But could he continue to deal with everything that most adults can’t deal with? Honest. He knew it was the only thing to be. “I don’t know if I can keep worrying about you both. The bad mens coming. What if one day someone isn’t there to stop them? What will happen to me? Where will I be then?”
Chapter 18
The sunrise was perfect. It signaled the start to a perfect day. Emily hoped beyond hope that it was, not only the start of a new day, but the start of a new era. After all, it was her wedding day. A day she hadn’t thought would be filled with so much family. A day she had thought Simon would be waiting for her as she walked down the aisle. It was what every girl dreamed of, right?
Emily smiled to herself as she continued to do her hair. Already she was wearing the light pink dress she had chosen for this special day. If she were honest with herself, she had never expected to marry. Even when she had accepted Simon’s proposal, there was something that had held her back from setting a date. There were the usual excuses. There was trouble. Her parents didn’t want to come. The weather wasn’t right.
But it was the person she was betrothed to that had kept her from setting a date. What had held her from proposing to Tabby right away? It was the little things. It was how their lives had unfolded. The fact Nicky had pushed her away. Even after he had accepted her, she had hesitated. But why? Emily had known she wanted forever. Was it because it was merely a ring? A ceremony for friends as much as for oneself?
Distance of the Heart Page 36
