Chapter 13 - The Wedding That Never Happened
Grant did know.
The address was an old Calloway warehouse.
He had discovered Daniel’s name in the property records months earlier but withheld it because police were still processing evidence.
Evelyn was furious.
“You promised no more secrets.”
“I was legally prohibited from telling you.”
“You could have said that.”
“You’re right.”
That stopped her.
“You’re not supposed to agree that quickly.”
“I’ve been receiving coaching.”
“From whom?”
“Your mother.”
Evelyn stared.
“Traitor.”
The warehouse contained Daniel’s old office.
Inside a desk, investigators had found a box intended for Evelyn.
Now that the case was closed, it could be released.
There were birthday cards.
One for every year until eighteen.
Daniel had written them before attempting to flee with Margaret and Evelyn.
Evelyn opened the card marked EIGHTEEN.
If I am not there, never let my absence convince you that you were abandoned. Some people leave. Some people are taken. Love is measured by what we tried to return to.
Evelyn pressed the card against her chest.
Grant waited outside the room.
He understood this grief belonged to her.
She eventually opened the door.
“Come in.”
He did.
She handed him the card.
Grant read it.
“He would have liked you,” Evelyn said.
“You don’t know that.”
“He hated arrogant rich men.”
Grant smiled.
“Then definitely not.”
She laughed through tears.
A year passed.
Daniel Mercer House expanded.
Margaret joined its community board.
Grant established a legal fund for families harmed by financial fraud.
Evelyn built her own property-management company.
Grant invested nothing.
She insisted.
He complained.
She ignored him.
Vanessa was sentenced.
Victoria received a longer sentence after investigators proved her role in evidence tampering and Evelyn’s kidnapping.
The wedding pavilion at the Calloway estate had been dismantled.
Only the garden remained.
One October evening, Grant brought Evelyn there.
“No orchestra?” she asked.
“No.”
“Photographer?”
“No.”
“Hidden catering staff?”
“Evelyn.”
“I’m checking.”
He took out his mother’s ring.
She became still.
“I’m not asking you to marry me tonight.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“That is a terrible opening.”
“I know.”
He put the ring in her palm.
“I’m giving this to you because my mother was right about one thing.”
“Only one?”
“She was my mother. Let me maintain some dignity.”
Evelyn smiled.
Grant closed her fingers around it.
“You made me feel safe enough to become someone other than the man everyone needed me to be.”
Her eyes filled.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He kissed her.
It was not their first kiss.
But it felt like the first without ghosts watching.
Later that night, they entered the estate.
A package waited on the front table.
No postage.
No courier label.
Grant stopped.
Security had no record of its arrival.
Evelyn opened it.
Inside was an ivory wedding invitation.
Her name and Grant’s were printed across the front.
May you like
The date was tomorrow.
Neither of them had sent it.
