Jules covered her heart with her hand as her chin quivered with emotion. “Don’t get too mushy, Bobby. With these hormones I’m likely to flood this tent with tears.”
“Jules, you are my longest lasting friendship. It’s impossible for me to look back over the last fifteen years and not think of you. We made our share of mistakes together, we’ve fought and we’ve disagreed but we’ve never let go of each other. Even when it would have been the easiest thing for us to do. You’re here with Michael today, and I’m lucky enough to be here with Piper. They’ve both made us the best versions of ourselves. They’ve both challenged us to grow and change in ways we desperately needed. I love them for that. But I love you, because before I was ready to be this grown-up, well-rounded person, you loved me. You loved the kid who showed up here and didn’t know what to do with himself. You loved the teenager who thought he could control everything. You loved the guy who chose to be a cop, even when it scared you. You never let me go, even when I gave you reasons to. And I’m never going to let you go. That little girl,” Bobby said, choking on his emotions as he gestured toward Jules’s belly, “will have the most wildly protective, dedicated, and loving godfather in the world. The two of you will be incredible parents and with any luck . . .” Bobby said, gathering himself and plastering on a devilish smile, “little Françoise will have Jules’s looks but not her temper.”
“Yes!” Betty shouted, as she stood and slapped Bobby on the shoulder. “I knew I’d get more people in the Françoise camp.”
Jules stood and pulled Bobby in for a playfully forceful hug. “I should have known you couldn’t be sweet for that long. You’d have to end on a sour note.”
Another round of clinking glasses led to Piper standing up to deliver a toast of her own. “Since Bobby covered the toast for Jules, I thought I should give my friend Michael his. Michael is literally the first person in this town who I connected with. As many of you know by now, coming to Edenville was a difficult journey for me and I didn’t think I’d ever feel comfortable here, but Michael was the first to give me hope that it might happen one day. I think we’d all like to believe we have a plan for ourselves. If we work hard and act strategically we can carve our way through this world. We can forge our own path, and nothing can stop us. For me, I never really believed in a higher power out there having a plan for us.”
Betty cleared her throat and made a sign of the cross. “I’m still working on it,” she said to the minister who was sitting at the table to her left.
Piper rolled her eyes and continued, “I mean I didn’t used to believe that. But now when I sit here and look at the four of us, I think there must be someone in our corner. How could four people start where we started and end up here unless someone was guiding us? Michael, the kindness you showed to me before I really earned it is a testament to who you are and the kind of husband and father you will be. You are one of the most fearless and loyal people I’ve ever met in my life, and as I watch you move through this world and continue to make it better, I realize how lucky I am to know you. The first night I brought you here, I couldn’t have imagined it would lead to a day as amazing as today. And that’s how I know this was all meant to be, that every moment led us here. Because not in our wildest dreams did we think this was in store for us, but here we are. And I don’t think any of us would trade it for the plans we thought we wanted.” Piper raised her glass in the air and the crowd followed her lead. “To the best laid plans, and how wonderful it is when they go awry.”
Michael stood and hugged Piper and then leaned down and kissed his wife. From the other side of the tent, the strum of a guitar drew everyone’s attention. Willow’s soft low voice began a song about love that immediately quieted the entire field. Even the crickets, just starting their dusk chirping, seemed to stop and listen. The lyrics were unfamiliar but at the same time felt as though they’d been sung a hundred times before. It only took a moment for Jedda to realize this was an original song, something Willow had written. The reason he felt he already knew it was because it was what Willow would sound like if she herself were a song. It was equal parts of joy and longing. Quiet and piercing.
It was met with nodding heads and broad smiles from everyone who stepped out onto the makeshift dance floor wrapping their arms around each other and swaying to the beat of Willow’s heart as she strummed her soul out. Jedda looked over at Crystal who was mesmerized by his sister’s talent. “She’s incredible,” she whispered.
“She could sing when we were little,” Jedda said as he stood to step away from Crystal.
“I’m sorry, Jedda,” she said, the tears in her eyes forming again.
“It’s all right. As a matter of fact, I feel a little relieved. I was falling for you. And I just kept reminding myself how bad of an idea that was. How much I’d probably just destroy you. I actually feel relieved that you don’t want more from me.”
“I do,” Crystal said in a raspy emotional voice. “That wasn’t an act, Jedda. I do want you. Us.”
Jedda placed his napkin on his plate and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to center himself. He could feel his grip on his anger toward her fading, and that scared him. Without another word he turned and walked away.
Chapter Sixteen
The late afternoon had turned into dusk, and then nightfall, but nothing could take them away from the field tonight. Crystal had headed to the house to help clean up, trying to give Jedda some space but clearly not wanting to leave. The lanterns Bobby had brought down from the shed were enough for them to huddle around in their circle of chairs. The tall trees cast shadows of moonlight all around them. The stars sparkled like nothing Jedda had ever seen before. Fireflies danced across the dark corners of the field. They’d all had their share of wine and champagne, of laughs and tears, and now all that was left to do was sit and take in the serenity of a southern night, surrounded by woods.
Even Josh and Willow seemed to be getting along well enough. She was sitting off to the side with him as he strummed the guitar and she hummed a song. Jedda felt lightness in his heart every time he heard her laugh at something Josh was saying. He liked the way Josh looked at his sister. All he wanted was for Willow to be happy, that’s all he could ever remember wanting. So much of life didn’t make sense to him. What made a man like Brad so set on hurting others for sport? What kept his sister from enjoying the life right in front of her, the one she’d been given? Why, if Crystal was only pretending to care about him, was she still here? But just as his hopes had risen for Willow, they were quickly dashed as Josh leaned in to kiss her and she shot up like a firecracker, scrambling to get as far from him as possible.
Jedda fought the instinct to go to her when Willow raised her voice. Although she quickly dropped it to a quieter level, it was too late to avoid an audience. “Oh, Willow,” Jedda sighed, dropping his head to his hands. Everyone had already seen the commotion and, like usual, it was up to Betty to do something.
“Did y’all hear that noise in the woods? We need to get this food out of here before the critters come to rummage through it. Josh and Bobby, you grab those two tables there. Everyone, gather an armful of food or dishes and head up to the house. Jedda and Willow, you stay down here and clear off the cake table,” Betty directed, moving everyone along with the waving of her hands as though she were conducting an orchestra. Her calculated move to give Willow and Jedda some time to talk was blatant, but no one had the nerve to call her on it.
Jedda made his way quietly to the table where the mostly eaten cake sat, looking like a picked over carcass. He started scraping the remnants of frosting off the plates and into the trash as Willow joined him.
“He tried to kiss me,” she said defensively as she rolled up the sleeves of her cardigan and started to help clear the table. The bruises had begun to heal, switching from deep purples to marbled greens and browns. Even as their intensity faded, Jedda’s reaction to them was still as powerful as ever. They made rage course through him like a river cutting it
s way through a mountain.
“I know. And if you didn’t want him to, then that’s fine. I’m just worried that you’re pushing everyone away. People who really want to help you. You’ve been acting strange for days, and I feel like it’s more than just the Brad ordeal. That talk we had didn’t make any sense to me. I just imagined we’d have more to say to each other.”
“I don’t have anything to say. I don’t want to talk it out. I don’t want you to tell me the right answer.”
“So what do you want?” he asked, his tone rougher than he intended.
“I don’t know. I want to feel better. I want to be happy. I want to forgive you and forgive myself, but it’s not that easy.”
“Happy? You aren’t happy?” Her reaction to those words tore a hole in Jedda’s heart. Her chin quivered and her lower lip buckled beneath the weight of her emotions.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” she snapped, tossing more cake into the trash.
A rustling behind Jedda had Willow wiping quickly at her eyes and getting her emotions in check. He assumed someone was coming back for another load of trash or to help them wrap up the cake. But he was wrong, and the look on his sister’s face made that perfectly clear.
“How l-lucky can I g-g-get?” Brad asked in a slurred stutter. “I’ve been waiting to get the two of you alone for a while, and here you are. And even better, we’re out in the woods.”
Jedda turned quickly and swiped the large serrated cake knife off the table. “Go,” is all he said as he backed up toward Willow and wielded the knife confidently.
“Perfect,” Brad chuckled franticly, “a knife. That would be assault with a deadly weapon. That would seal your fate for sure.”
“Or I could slit your throat and it would seal your fate,” Jedda growled, pushing Willow behind him.
“He’s trained in martial arts, Jedda. Don’t let him fool you. He can hold his own and he’s high on something,” Willow warned.
“Well let’s go then, come at me,” Brad taunted, signaling with his hands that he was ready for a fight. “Let’s get you thrown back in jail.”
“I’m not going to attack you,” Jedda said defiantly. “You can do and say whatever you want from over there, but I’m not playing your game.”
“Oh, so she didn’t tell you yet?” Brad asked, hitting his hand to his forehead feigning absentmindedness. “Because if she had you’d already be over here trying to kill me. Tell him what really happened, Willow. Tell him about those bruises.”
“Shut up, Brad,” Willow snapped as she dug her hands into Jedda’s arm then whispered to him, “Let’s make a run for the house, we’ll go through the woods.”
Jedda shook her off and gripped the knife even tighter. “I already know you beat her up. You found out about who she is and you attacked her.”
“Well, not really,” Brad said, jumping forward and acting as though he might strike, and then stepping back and laughing obsessively. “I was pissed when I found out she was a filthy whore. I certainly couldn’t date her anymore—wouldn’t even be seen in public with her if my life depended on it.” He made a face of disgust as he kicked a folding chair, launching it in their direction. Jedda deflected it with his arm and again tucked Willow farther behind him. “But then I realized something.” Brad winced. “A freak like that, she might not be anyone I’d like on my arm at a dinner party but she might be fun in my bed. She’d like it rough. I mean, even the news said she was found chained to the wall. I could tie her up. I could burn her or bruise her and it would turn her on.” He licked at his lips and then pursed them into a kiss as he winked at Willow. “The same way I liked to read comic books when I was that age, getting smacked around would be nostalgic for her.” He spit in their direction and Jedda felt the spray hit his face. His fury was building to a tipping point, as the look in Brad’s eye grew even more crazed. “So I didn’t beat the crap out of her to punish her, I did it while screwing her, ’cause I knew she’d like it.”
A blind, black rage hit Jedda harder than any punch he’d ever received. It socked him in the chest so hard he actually felt the need to take a step back, leaning slightly on Willow.
“You didn’t!” Jedda demanded as he got his footing and raised the knife up higher, the moon catching it and glistening across Brad’s manic face.
“No,” Willow cried as she looped her arms around Jedda’s bicep. “He didn’t. He didn’t, Jedda. I got away from him. I fought him off.”
“She’s right. The bitch locked herself in the bathroom until I passed out. Then she ran off and ratted me out,” Brad said, shrugging his shoulders. “But I never leave unfinished business. So I plan to get my fun in eventually. I’ll have you screaming my name even if it’s just to beg me to stop. Maybe sooner than you think.” Brad took a step forward as Jedda raised the knife to strike down on him. A snapping twig behind him was enough to snag his mind and pull it back to reality. From the corner of his eyes he could see the shadows and outlines of the people who loved him. They were there, they were with him.
“We all heard what he said,” Michael assured them as he took a step closer, slowly moving toward Jedda. “We heard what he did.”
“Stop, Michael. Stop where you are and take Willow back to the house. I’m ending this.”
In a flash someone blew past Jedda and he felt a hand plant hard onto his chest. It was Crystal and the fire flashing in her eyes was enough to catch Jedda’s attention for a brief second. Long enough for him to stop the charge he was about to take forward.
“You’re not doing this, Jedda. Things are different than they were before. You’re not making the same choice. I won’t let you.”
“Nothing’s different,” Jedda bellowed, still unwilling to lower the knife. “He’s no different than my parents. He’s never going to stop until he destroys her.”
“You’re right,” she agreed, keeping her palm planted on Jedda’s chest, pushing back as he leaned forward. “He’s a monster and so were they. The things he said, what he did to her, he’s evil.”
“So nothing’s different. I’m not different. I’m the same person. I feel the same way right now as I did that day and I’ll do the same thing. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect her. If this is going to send me back to prison, then that is where I belong. I’m no different. Nothing has changed.”
“Fine,” Crystal said, putting her hand on his cheek and pulling his eyes down to hers. “Fine, you’re the same guy. You killed for her and you’d do it again. You’re the same guy.”
“Then move. Let me end this,” Jedda said angrily, narrowing his eyes at Brad, clenching the knife even harder.
“He’s the same as your parents, and you’re the same as the kid who killed them, but something has changed Jedda. If you could see the army of people standing behind you, you would understand what I mean. Back then, it was just you, alone. Willow, alone. You had no one to turn to, no one to depend on. That’s what’s different now. Look behind you. You’re not in this alone. You’ve got a cop in your corner, a lawyer, a crazy-ass redhead, an old lady with a shotgun, and a sister who needs you out here. And right here in front of you, you have a woman who’s in love with you. Even if you don’t believe that, it’s true. Last time you stood like this, ready to change your life forever to save your sister, you had no help and no hope for a future. That’s what’s changed. That’s what’s different.”
He locked eyes with Crystal and searched her face, trying to discern the truth from fiction. It wasn’t easy to trust. She’d betrayed him, there was no way around that. But she was still here. She was standing between him and a life changing decision. She didn’t fear him or the knife in his hand. Could that be anything but real love?
Jedda took in a deep breath as he slowly lowered the knife and turned his head to see the group standing behind him. Their faces were a mix of worry and hopefulness that settled somewhere around relief. Crystal was right. This was different. He was the same, the danger was the same, but the circumstance gave him
options he’d never had before.
Michael leaned in and took the knife from Jedda’s lowered hand and guided him backward.
“Are you kidding me?” Brad shouted as he reached forward and grabbed a handful of Crystal’s hair, yanking her backward into his arms. Her yelp drew everyone’s eyes and Bobby charged forward, stopping when he saw the small knife pressed against her neck. He drew his service weapon and steadily pointed it at Brad’s head. Brad shifted quickly putting Crystal in the line of fire, ducking behind her.
“Get your hands off her or I’ll make a mess your daddy can’t clean up,” Bobby hissed.
“I have all the power,” Brad barked. “Here and everywhere.” He twisted Crystal’s body left and right as he shouted out to them. “You are like ants in my world.”
“He’s tweaking out on something,” Willow yelled as she stepped forward to Bobby’s side, slipping past everyone’s pawing arms that had attempted to pull her back.
“Listen kid,” Bobby said, steadying his voice and relying on his training, “you’re right. You have all the power. So tell me what you want.”
“I-I-I,” Brad stuttered. “I want her. I want her to come with me.” He pointed at Willow. “She comes with me and gives me the laptop and I make sure she doesn’t ever rat on me.”
“Okay,” Bobby said, nodding his head reassuringly. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“No!” Jedda shouted, unwilling to let his sister become a bargaining chip in a crazy man’s game.
Michael planted his hand on Jedda’s shoulder and gave him a knowing look. “He’s got this,” he whispered.
“Willow will go with you. She’ll get you the laptop,” Bobby said as they all watched the blade press down harder into Crystal’s tender flesh.
Finding Freedom (Book 4) (Piper Anderson Series) Page 16
