How Sweet It Is

by Dylan Newton

  It looked like they’d found the edge of the world.

  The river appeared to fall off the face of the Earth, reminding Kate of those infinity pools owned by some of her parents’ colleagues in the Hamptons. Kate held her breath as they sped along with the water, toward the edge. She gripped her seat belt with her free hand so hard, the canvas bit into her palms.

  Suddenly, the water ended, and the helicopter seemed to also dip over the edge, eliciting a small gasping scream from Kate. Drake plucked the phone from her, and she was grateful to have both hands to clutch the seat belt as the craft lurched and dipped in the mist-filled air currents that rose above the large basin of water beneath the falls.

  “Oh my God!” Her heart thudded in her chest. She turned to face Drake, who had her phone in his hands and appeared to be taking a picture of the view from her side of the helicopter. “It’s the most incredible thing I have ever seen!”

  Drake pointed at the boats bobbing along the white-churned waters below filled with people dressed in identical blue rainslickers. “Maid of the Mist,” he said and then pointed toward the back of the chopper. “Check out the Rainbow Falls from this angle.”

  Kate stared transfixed at the water gushing over the invisible precipice. Her mind was unable to fathom the gallons and gallons tumbling through the air to smash the massive boulders beneath it with such force, mist rose like plumes of smoke all around.

  John’s voice boomed into the headpiece.

  “I’ve only ever given this follow-the-river tour to one other person, and that would be the commander-in-chief. Drake pulled out all the stops tonight—still can’t believe he got clearance for this little maneuver. Turns out, he has some fans in high places.”

  “I promised Kate a VIP experience for everything she’s done for this book launch.” Drake shrugged, but was clearly pleased. “Every once in a while, making a living from freak-show novels filled with nightmares results in some nice perks.”

  “Don’t talk that way about your books,” Kate said, absently putting a hand out. She’d intended to put it on his arm in admonition, but ended up hitting Drake’s hand, instead. When his fingers closed over hers, she squeezed them once and gave him a smile. “You’re always looking to use your craft to bring happily ever afters to life. You just do it in a…unique way.”

  Drake leaned toward her, chuckling.

  “I think this place is affecting your judgment—it is the honeymoon capital of the world, after all. Now, let’s give the Queen of Happily Ever Afters a picture to blow up her social media accounts.” He let go of her hand to switch her camera’s view, and quickly snapped a picture of the two of them leaning together, grinning, the falls a spectacular backdrop behind them. “There. Now how many event planners have a picture like that in their personal feed?”

  The helicopter bobbed down, and she gasped, her hand clutching Drake’s arm.

  “Sorry about that. A little turbulence here because of the water vapor,” the pilot said, pushing on the joystick. They rocketed forward, ascending another fifty feet. “I’ll swing over Horseshoe Falls, and then we’re cleared to land at Niagara International.”

  The helicopter banked to her side again, and she touched the cool glass of her windowpane reverently.

  “What an amazing place to get married! I wonder why nobody has ever booked me here? As you said, it is the honeymoon capital of the world.”

  “Too wet,” Drake replied, pointing to the mass of people on soaking-wet wooden platforms connected by staircases that clung precariously to the sides of the cliff rocks lining the gorge walls. They were all dressed head-to-toe in identical, bright yellow rain slickers, the hoods pulled all the way up to ward off the mist roiling from the water that thundered down just feet from them.

  “Well, if I ever marry, my wedding will be someplace like this that needs no decorations to be jaw-dropping,” Kate said, nodding with conviction. “And after that, we’ll have a huge party.”

  “Not an event?” Drake joked, and she snorted.

  “No, for once. I’m too type-A to let someone else plan an event for me, so if I take the plunge…it’ll be a fun, spreadsheet-free kind of day.”

  Just then, the chopper veered, sending Kate careening into Drake. He caught her hand again, and she gripped it hard as the helicopter took a minute to right itself, ascending farther and lifting completely away from the falls until they were postcard-sized beneath them.

  Kate sighed into the microphone, loosening her grip on Drake’s hand, but not releasing it this time.

  “It’s perfect,” she said, watching the falls until they disappeared from view. Then she turned to look at the only view that rivaled the falls. “Thank you, Drake—this has been the most magical afternoon.”

  Drake’s mouth widened in a soft, slow smile.

  “You’re welcome. But it’s not over yet.”

  Her stomach whirled again. She squeezed Drake’s hand, refusing to let go until they landed.

  And maybe not even then.

  Chapter 16

  Drake enjoyed watching Kate’s reaction to the helicopter ride, followed by the stretch limo that picked them up. He had to admit: so far, his plans to make Kate feel special—to bring that light to her eyes and the genuine, semicolon smile to her lips—were going spectacularly.

  “I’m always the one reserving these, never the one inside them,” Kate said, her head on a swivel as she examined the back of the limo, flipping switches that adjusted the lights and music. It was like she was finally comfortable abandoning the armor of her professionalism and letting down her guard to have fun. But maybe that was what he wanted to think, after that kiss behind the bandstand that was still on replay in his mind.

  Drake shrugged. “It’s all part of the VIP tour I promised. Besides, calling a car service typically involves waiting, and as you’ve seen in my hometown, the more time I’m out in public, the more I’m mobbed by fans. It’s even worse when I’m outside of Allegany County.”

  “So, what do you need to do tonight? Are you signing books or speaking, or both?” Kate asked, finally settling back with him into the limo seat.

  Her hand easily fell into his, as if they’d been holding hands their entire lives, and just like Grandpa Matthews had described in his letters, Drake could feel his chest constrict, the yearning for more days like this—more days with Kate—making it hard for him to breathe. He’d wanted this kind of all-consuming passion for so long. Now he was terrified he might do something to screw up his chances with the woman who inspired it.

  Somehow he managed to speak around the feeling igniting in his chest.

  “This one’s not a signing event, technically, but since everyone knows I promote this group’s conference every year, there are usually a bunch of readers there,” Drake said, wanting to prepare her for the mob scene. He did not want this to spoil their night. “I’ll likely get asked for autographs at first, but typically readers leave me to eat in peace. This hotel is known for their cuisine, so you’ll enjoy at least that much of the evening.”

  Kate’s face softened. “You don’t need to give excuses for doing your job, Drake. It doesn’t bother me. Sign all the books you’d like. I’m…well, it occurred to me on the way here that I haven’t taken time off in a hot minute. This is a welcome break.”

  Suddenly, the phone in Drake’s pocket buzzed. He hauled it out, reading the display.

  “It’s a text from Imani.” He groaned, read it aloud. “‘Heads up. Have it on good authority that Everstone has a plus-one. Do you need me to cancel for you?’”

  Kate’s brows crinkled in confusion. “Why would you care that Evan brought a date?”

  “Because he’s dating my ex-girlfriend. Rachel Lackey. The author of a tell-all book about her relationship with me titled Living Horror: My Terrifying Time with the Knight of Nightmares,” Drake said, keeping his voice neutral, as Kate gasped in surprise. “Her book, filled with lies and vitriol, hit the bookstores exactly two months after our breakup.”r />
  Kate was fast to put the puzzle pieces together. She jolted, grabbing his arm as the realization hit her.

  “Do you mean she wrote that book while she was still dating you?”

  Drake nodded his head. “Mmm-hmm. I found out later that she was cozying up to a famous Hollywood producer at the same time, which is how she got a fat book contract so quickly.”

  “Evan Everstone?”

  “One and the same.” Drake rubbed his forehead, suddenly exhausted. “Lucky me.”

  “Now I know why you were ticked when Imani brought Everstone to your house at the beginning of October.” Kate shook her head, her eyes wide. “And you have to work with him for the movie adaptation?”

  He nodded. “I hate like hell that he won the contract to turn Halloween Hacker into a movie, but the decision wasn’t mine to make.”

  “I think I’d have tried to sue her for libel,” Kate said, crossing her arms over her chest in an adorably offended expression. “That can’t be legal, what she did to you.”

  “I briefly entertained the idea of taking legal action, but ultimately, cooler heads prevailed. As my publisher reminded me, Rachel’s book, evil as it was, acted like a double-shot of adrenaline to the sales of my previous titles, so from a business perspective, it was a lucrative thing.” Drake shrugged as Kate looked indignant. “I’m a big believer in karma. What goes around will come around for them both. At the same time, I’m not going to hold my breath. Everstone’s untouchable.”

  Kate’s lips pursed, as if she tasted something sour.

  “That just…that just sucks! What are you going to tell Imani?”

  The limo pulled up to the portico for the main entrance.

  “I don’t know. So much for a relaxing dinner out, huh?” Drake offered a lame laugh, cursing his luck as he got out of the vehicle before the driver opened the door. He wanted to help Kate out of the vehicle himself.

  But before they’d shut the limo door, there was a commotion. A group of a few dozen people, loitering by the hotel’s revolving front entrance, spotted him.

  “There’s Drake Matthews!” a man in a gray hoodie shouted, pointing at him with a sniper’s accuracy. “Right there, behind the redhead.”

  Suddenly, people streamed out from inside the hotel, joining the waiting throng on the sidewalk. Soon, the small trickle of readers was more like a tidal wave.

  Drake had enough time to step in front of Kate, feet in a wide stance, as he braced for the onslaught. He reached behind him, blindly, and Kate squeezed his hand, as if sensing his need to ensure she was safe.

  Kate’s voice sounded in his ear just before the group descended on him.

  “You do your job. I’ll be here when you’re done.”

  He did as he was told, a bemused smile on his face as he signed book after book thrust at him from the waiting crowd. While he greeted each fan, checking the spelling of their name before signing—a lesson he’d learned the hard way, years ago—he kept an eye on Kate, who seemed to have suddenly become the coordinator for this impromptu meet-and-greet.

  She’d gotten the valet to take the velvet ropes that lined the entrance of the hotel and fashion them into a queue, of sorts, for his readers to stand in without blocking the rest of the building’s traffic or causing some sort of unintended hazard from the sheer crush of humanity on the threshold of the hotel. Then she went down the line, instructing each fan to open the book to the title page to expedite the signing process. Kate was a bundle of surprises, sprinkled with goodness and grace, and wrapped in a hell of a gorgeous package.

  He wanted to drop everything, scoop her up, and make off with her to somewhere they could be alone. Preferably a place with a bed.

  Yet for now, he was stuck giving autographs. When the hotel’s manager came out, Kate intercepted her neatly, and although Drake only glanced their way between signings, he saw Kate had it all in hand. In fact, a few moments later, a concierge was taking their bags from the limo, and the manager was handing Kate sets of what appeared to be room key cards.

  Drake signed book after book, until only one fan remained. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kate edging closer on the pretext of putting away the hotel’s ropes, but his attention was focused on this last fan—the only one with empty hands.

  “Mr. Matthews, I don’t have any books for you to sign because I borrow all your books from the library,” said the thirty-something woman standing in front of him, her face shining with earnestness. “But I came down here today to tell you that your writing matters. And I’m living proof.”

  “Well, thank you. That’s quite a compliment.” Drake noticed the woman was dressed in layers of shabby neutral clothes, and the laces on her sneakers had been knotted in several places where they’d been frayed and ripped.

  “I didn’t have a good home life, growing up. My parents divorced when I was five, and my older brother and I lived with my mom until she died from an overdose. My dad took in my brother, but he couldn’t take me, so I got shuffled from relative to relative. Most of them couldn’t afford another kid, and those who could didn’t want me for long.” The woman’s large hazel eyes were clear and unblinking as she cracked open her mental diary of pain. “Some homes I was in, well, they weren’t the best places. For little girls, I mean. And I got real low in high school. Real low. I thought maybe the world was better off without me.”

  The woman paused, looking like she was back in high school, reliving that dark time.

  He reached out, taking her hand in his. Nothing he could say would eliminate her pain, so he helped by staying silent, letting this woman tell her truth.

  “Then I found your book in the library. Attic Asylum. I read the foreword where you talked about losing your aunt and how her suicide impacted your mom, and it was like you were talking to me.” The woman’s hand gripped his, giving them a little shake for emphasis. “You said, ‘Even if you don’t think so, someone out there cares about you, and you need to give them the chance to tell you.’ After I read that, I thought about it and realized my brother cared about me and probably my father too, although I hadn’t seen them in years. I used the library internet to find my brother and connected with him on social media, and it was like someone had flipped on a light. I hadn’t known how dark it was until I’d reached out to my brother, and that was all thanks to you.

  “Now, I’ve read every one of your books, and I love how you take me away from my troubles and show me that while things may seem bad, at least I’m not battling demonic dolls or aliens.” The woman smiled, making her look years younger. “And I’m alive. All thanks to your writing. I just wanted to say thank you, Mr. Matthews.”

  Drake blinked a couple of times and cleared his throat until he was sure his voice wouldn’t crack. “What is your name?”

  “It’s Judy. Judy Billings.”

  “Judy, do you mind if I give you a hug?”

  Instead of answering, Judy opened her arms, and when Drake embraced her, he felt her silent sobs against his chest.

  As he held her, he spotted Kate, watching from a few feet away. Her hand was balled up into a fist in front of her mouth, pressed against her lips. When he motioned behind Judy’s back for her to approach, Kate gave a big sniff and came up, stopping a discreet distance away.

  “Judy, I’d like to sign something for you, just the same,” Drake said, gently disengaging from the hug, but keeping his hand on Judy’s arm. “Do you spell your name J-u-d-y?”

  “Yes, but I—I don’t have any paper, Mr. Matthews,” Judy said, wiping tears from her cheeks. “I dropped everything and left the shelter when I heard you were going to be here today. Meeting you is enough.”

  “I’ve got some paper, I think.” He reached into his back pocket. “Ms. Sweet, may I trouble you for your lucky pen?”

  Kate nodded, fishing in her bag until she pulled out the sparkly pen.

  Judy’s eyes were exactly where he’d intended; by asking Kate for the lucky pen, he’d ensured Judy would miss what, exactly
, he was pulling from his wallet. Working fast, he removed a one-dollar bill and a hundred-dollar bill, fingers deftly lining them up so the hundred disappeared behind the single.

  “I’m going to sign this dollar bill, just for you, Judy, and I’m signing it with what my event planner assures me is the luckiest pen she owns,” Drake said. “You keep this in your wallet, or in your pocket. Every time you see it, I want you to remember I’m thinking of you and that someone in this world cares.”

  Drake used the side of the hotel building to sign the dollar bill, careful so that the hundred beneath it didn’t show as he folded it in half, then in half again before handing it to Judy. The woman took it, pressing the bill to her lips.

  “Thank you, Mr. Matthews. You continue writing your stories, and I promise to read them. I’ll keep this always.”

  The woman waved, bustling off as she clutched the money in her hand.

  Drake sighed, putting away his wallet. “Thank you so much for waiting, Kate. I so appreciate what you did with that flash mob of readers I had there. Did you check in already? Looked like you’d taken care of everything.”

  Kate nodded, looking straight ahead at the hotel, her gaze fixed on the doors. She cleared her throat, and her voice was tight when she spoke. “All checked in. They’ve taken our bags up, and the manager gave me both sets of keys, so we can head to our rooms.”

  Drake winced.

  She wasn’t even looking at him.

  He knew it had been rude of him to sign autographs for so long, but his fans had been waiting a long time in that cold…and she had said to do his job, hadn’t she? He followed Kate inside the elevators, his shoulders slumping. Hadn’t he learned from his past relationship? Women didn’t like coming in second for his time, especially when it meant being waylaid by a throng of horror fans eager for a signature on his freak-show books.

  Kate pressed the button for the top floor, and he waited until the doors closed and they were alone in the car before beginning his apology.