Page 4 of Unveiled Wishes

“I told them I didn’t feel well, and they bought the excuse.”

“Already using the loopholes,” Tyler commented drily. “Whatever you do, Emily, don’t be one of those asshole lawyers.” He was the quiet one out of the pair, but it was obvious he had more life experience than my brother.

“No, I want to fight for the people who don’t have a loud enough voice.” I honestly believed that.

“Sounds like a dreamer’s plan. You know you’ll get roped into working at the Nelsons’ practice until they marry you off to Christopher.” Eric was still smiling, but I didn’t know why he found it funny. It was actually pretty pathetic.

“Christopher? The fucker at the bar this afternoon?” Tyler asked Eric.

“Yeah. The one and only. My parents have this idea that they’re going to marry Em off to him and merge our import business with their department store.”

“That’s fucked up,” Tyler growled. “She should be free to do whatever the fuck she wants.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t leave like I did.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it also wasn’t the complete truth. I hadn’t found an opportunity to run. “Can you two stop talking about me like I am not sitting here?” I was getting angry at them for reminding me I was a pushover. I had wanted a few hours to myself, and these two idiots were ruining it.

“Sorry, Em,” Eric said, turning around and diving into the pool.

“I’ve seen How’s letters that you send him. He either lets me read the funny ones or quotes anything he thinks I might like. If I left you my address, would you write to me? I don’t have a family that gives a fuck. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.” Tyler ran his hand through his hair and across his face. He seemed almost embarrassed.

It took me a minute to realize what he was asking for. “Of course. I don’t mind, but I am not sure how much you want to know about school. It can be pretty boring.” I smiled.

“Nah, I want to know it all.” He stood from the chair, and as he took a few steps towards the pool, he turned back to look at me. “Don’t marry that fucker. You’re too good for him.” He shifted and looked down at the decking. “If you can’t get out of it, come find me, and I’ll marry you first.” He jumped into the pool.

We never talked about it again. I also never saw him again.

***

Grace

“You sure you’re going to be alright?” Sabre asked me, placing JR in his car seat. He kissed his forehead and stood to look at me. “I can ride out with you or send a prospect.”

“No, I think it will be okay. We’re just going to Aunt E’s appointment. Do you want me to text you when we head to lunch?” I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head against his chest, soaking in his strength.

“I’ll come if you want me to, but if you think you’ll be okay, I’d rather stay here. Count and I are working on the end-of-the-year reports. It all fucking sucks, but it has to be done. If Chef doesn’t make lunch, I’ll make a sandwich or something.” He tightened his arms around me. “I love you.”

I stood up and let him go, reaching up for a quick peck. “I love you, too.” Turning towards the driver’s side door, I waited untilSabre opened it before sitting down and starting the car. “You ready, Aunt E?” I said to her.

“Let’s…over with,” Aunt Elizabeth said from the passenger seat.

“Yes, let’s get this over with.” I smiled, holding in my tears until I was in private. I thanked God every day that my aunt and Meredith had survived the attempted abduction, but it had left too many scars on both of them.

They weren’t sure about the extent of my aunt’s traumatic brain injury, but she could no longer process a full thought. She was still the poised woman I had grown up with, but we would often catch her drifting off into her own world. There was always a pause, and we just waited it out. We were taking her to therapy sessions to see if they could stimulate her mind and put her body back together. She was one big cast, and yet she maneuvered pretty well. When she was tired, the older brothers often helped her to her room.

Meredith was a different story. Where my aunt was still emotionally stable, Meredith was not. She hardly spoke, and if she did, it was full of snark. Her smile was gone, and she wore the same sweatshirt and pair of leggings every day. Sabre had told me that Grizz was having to force Meredith to shower and dress. He even had to bribe her just to get her to sit in the main room. If he left her alone, she wouldn’t leave their room, preferring to sleep the day away.

“If you need anything, call me. I’ll be here.” Sabre closed my door and tapped the roof. Walking back to the porch, he watched as I pulled up to the gates and left the clubhouse. I turned the music up and sang along with the radio as we drove down the road towards the appointment. My aunt chimed in every other lyric, and I reached over and placed my hand on her knee. She reached down and squeezed my fingers. It was moments like thisthat I had to hold on to. Otherwise, the dark would swallow me whole.

We were halfway there when a road sign appeared on the shoulder for the Old McMillan Place. I was taking quick peeks at the sign, but we were going to pass it before I could read the whole thing.

“Honey. It’s ah…it’s for sale,” my aunt said to me, as we passed the sign. “Back. Go.” My aunt was pointing out the window. “We have… Go.” She patted my arm.

“It was for sale?” I asked her, not sure I had heard her correctly.

“Go,” my aunt insisted, her eyes wide as she kept pointing out the window.

I made a U-turn and headed back in the opposite direction until we approached the driveway. I turned in and parked so that we could read the sign. The Old McMillan Place. Banquet and Ballroom.

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