Page 166 of Collateral Damage
We burn for each other.
Burning hot.
Coming undone.
Our connection is soul-deep, and I don’t know if I believe in past lives or future ones, but I do know I never ever want to love another woman.
This is it for me. Sybil Laurence is the one, and I’ve always known that to be true.
She’s my past, my yesterday, my now, my tomorrow.
She’s my forever.
Epilogue
Sybil
Two Weeks Later - Age 27
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
The industrial art gallery gleams with polished concrete floors and soaring ceilings, every inch alive with chatter and laughter. String lights crisscross overhead like twinkling constellations, casting a soft glow over the crowd. I step back for a moment, taking it all in—the children and families mixed with the clusters of sharply dressed benefactors, everyone either marveling at the art on display, chatting, or dancing. The air is rich with the aroma of hors d’oeuvres and champagne and my heart is full.
This is my night—I pulled it off.
After pouring over every detail and dealing with the Vales’ sabotage, I can’t believe it’s come together so perfectly. From the intricate floral centerpieces to the local jazz quartet playing in the corner, to the elegant guests, and the families we invited to join us at the event.
Everything is perfect.
It’s all been made more perfect by Cooper. Despite all the trauma we’ve endured, we’ve both grown so much. We’ve killed the toxic parts of ourselves, broken the patterns that were hurting us, and healed so much pain along the way.
A server passes by with a tray of champagne, and I grab a flute.
My fingers tremble slightly, not from nerves, but from the sheer magnitude of our donations tonight. We’ve always done a lot, but after a record-breaking night, we can do so much more than before. We’re going to change so many more lives.
I glance at Cooper standing near the bar in his tailored suit. His dark wavy hair is a little tousled, and when he turns to catch my eye, my heart swells. A warm, private smile curves those lips I love so much, and I smile right back.
Everything about him is something to love.
Miriam’s voice pulls me to the party. She’s holding a microphone up front, her silver hair catching the light as she calls me over. Anticipation races to my nerve endings. I wasn’t expecting this. I’m happy behind the scenes, moving in silence, making things come together without needing praise.
Weaving through the crowd, I join her under the spotlight, beaming at the crowd. I’m so damn grateful for all the donations we’ve collected.
“Before we wrap up tonight’s program, I have a couple of announcements to make,” Miriam says, and my heart flutters. I know it’s coming, but the moment is so surreal. “First, we have to thank Sybil Laurence for this incredible night.” She pats melightly on the shoulder. “It wouldn’t have been possible without her tireless dedication, creativity, passion, and perseverance in the face of adversity.”If only they knew.“And I’m excited to announce we’ve beat all previous records, having raised over fifty million dollars that will go directly to deserving children and families all across this country.”
The crowd erupts into applause, and my cheeks flush. I scan the room, searching for Cooper, to find him standing next to my family and watching me with so much pride it makes my chest ache.
“And second,” Miriam continues, her voice softening, “as many of you know, I’ll be retiring at the end of this month. I couldn’t be prouder to announce that Sybil will be stepping into my shoes and taking on the role as President of The Laurence Foundation.”
The room blurs as the crowd breaks into applause again, louder this time. I cover my mouth with one hand, overwhelmed by the wave of emotions crashing over me. This is what I’ve been working toward, and I know I had a head start. I know I had privilege and help, but I worked hard for this.
Damn it, I’m going to do an amazing job.
Chandler stands next to Mom with his hands over his head as he claps and cheers louder than anyone else. Did my parents know that having a child with down syndrome would one day lead to all this? That Chandler would inspire so many people and be the catalyst for one of the country’s biggest special needs nonprofits to receive much needed funding? I’d do anything for that kid. I’m so damn lucky to have him in my life for so many reasons, not only this one, though this one is pretty great.
Miriam leans in, whispering, “You’ve earned this, Sybil. Every bit of it.”
