Page 109 of Full Circle

“I’m sorry, I can’t seem to hear you, Desiree,” Wesley continued. “Did you have more to confess?”

Nana exhaled a shaky breath behind me. “We better sit down, sweet pea,” she stage-whispered to Iris. Both of them dropped into chairs at the table.

It didn’t faze Wesley. “Doug Hendricks didn’t leave you his house or the Hendricks land either, did he? That was also left for Celeste Hendricks, according to his last Will and Testament! Which you knew—your signature is right here on this prenuptial agreement, isn’t it?” He held out his phone and pointed to whatever document he opened.

Phillip and Chief Hillsborough slowly came through the door, with a few more deputies visible through the windows. To my surprise, Wesley gave the male nod to the sheriff, who returned the gesture.

“Let’s tell everyone how you really hit the trifecta, though, Desiree.” He slid his phone back in his pocket. “What happened to Doug’s life insurance?”

Desiree’s lips were pursed in such a thin line they almost disappeared from her face. There was nothing but hatred in her eyes as she ground out, “He was my husband. That money should have been mine!”

Wesley nodded angrily, his arms crossed over his chest. “But it wasn’t. You accepted a payout of three million dollars that belonged to his beneficiary, none other than Celeste Renee Hendricks.”

“Mama!” Iris gasped. Nana stared at the two of them like it was a live episode of Fear the Wicked. Even the sheriff raised his eyebrows. That was quite a sum. How like Daddy to ensure, even in death, I was provided for and wanted for nothing. He knew that as my stepmother, I would have provided for Desiree, too. Family is supposed to take care of family.

As her nostrils flared and her hands clenched into fists at her side, Desiree remained silent, shooting eye daggers at Wesley. She made no move to deny the accusations.

It was too much for me. I pushed past Marla, approaching my stepmother with caution. She already proved she wasn’t above hitting me. “How could you do it?” I asked in a whisper. “How could you take everything from me?”

Desiree turned her hateful gaze on me. “I took what I deserved. You never mattered to me at all.”

My bottom lip quivered, but I refused to let her see me cry. Desiree Stanbrooke wasn’t going to get another tear from me.

“Mrs. Hendricks, you’re under arrest,” Chief Hillsborough said. He stepped behind her, placing the handcuffs on her wrists as he rattled off her rights and listed the charges against her. Desiree’s eyes remained on my face until the sheriff led her outside and into the waiting cruiser.

Wesley immediately turned and pinned me to his chest again. “It’s all over now, sugar bee,” he murmured.

Hearing that nickname on his lips broke through the dam, setting the tears free. He kissed the top of my head, gently rubbing a hand along my spine. “I can’t believe you did that.”

He drew back just enough to tuck his fingers under my chin, lifting my gaze to his. “I promised your dad that I would take care of you.”

A warmth joined the lightness as my heart filled with hope. “You did?”

Wes smiled. “The morning she found us in your tower together. When he pulled me inside to have ‘The Talk.’” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Doug asked what my intentions were and I told him, point blank—'I’m going to marry your daughter.’ Part of me always wondered if he already knew he was sick, because when I swore on my life that I would provide for you, he said, ‘No. Swear on my life.’ That was why we did everything we could to make his final days special for you, Celeste. You were his sugar bee, and now you’re mine.”

I let out a shaky laugh because I could imagine the entire exchange clear as day. It sounded exactly like something my daddy would have said. And exactly how I would have expected Wes to respond.

“Well, we’ll have to see what happens after we get settled in Boston,” I offered.

He raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Oh, you’re gonna marry me. It’s just a matter of when.”

Rolling my eyes, I let go of him to rejoin Iris, Marla, and Nana at the table. “And what makes you so sure?”

“Because I’m the only one on this earth who has his blessing.” Wes smiled at us, sending a rogue wink Iris’ way.

“And mine!” she instantly piped up with a grin.

“Thanks, Rainbow,” he replied.

“Mine, too,” Nana added. Marla nodded silently beside her.

I couldn’t help but offer a shy smile to all of them. This was how family should be.

“C’mon.” Wesley held out a hand. “Let’s go home and get some rest. We all need it.”

Iris jumped up to join him. “I have so much I want to tell you!”

They both turned to me expectantly from the door. I gave Marla and Nana a quick hug, promising to return first thing tomorrow morning, before joining my daughter and her daddy for our first night together as a family.

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