Page 112 of Between Now and Always

“You can’t do this. I have rights,” he wails.

I turn to him and give him a look of disgust.

“You’re going to get to exercise them when you’re arrested and charged with all of the crimes. Fiona was nice enough to incriminate you in. She left them everything they need to prove that she was your unwilling, unwitting accomplice. So shut the fuck up and save your sobbing for the police”

We text Serena to let her know they can come in. Etta comes back in, her gun trained on Duke until the Feds can come and arrest him. We wait until we see him cuffed and in the back of the squad car.

Only then, do I turn my car around and head back to Beth.

EPILOGUE

BETH

I was released from the hospital a week ago and cleared to travel back to New York. But we’re still in Dallas while we wait for the judge to sign Cameron’s guardianship order. Penn flew down for Christmas, and is staying in an adjoining room at our hotel in Turtle Creek.

Agnes Wolfe was the designated guardian in her son’s will, but since she died along with him, Cameron was placed in Phil’s custody. When he came to tell me that he was filing a petition for guardianship and custody, my first instinct had been to pushback. Cameron, for so long, was my lode star. I ordered my entire existence around her. But everything is different now. Phil is opening a new restaurant in Houston. He just bought a beautiful home in a subdivision that’s going to be perfect for Cameron - and I know it’s the right thing to do.

I’m not equipped to take care of a toddler. Hell, for the next six weeks, I can’t even givemyselfa bath. Carter and I are going to have to make some logistical decisions when we get back to New York, and I’m sure we’ll move into a bigger place together. But, right now, neither of us has room for two more people in our apartments. I’m just sad that we’re going to be so far apart.

I wrote a letter to the judge in support of Phil’s petition. There shouldn’t be an issue, Phil is her only living relative and he’s more than willing to take her. But, he’s single and gay and so, we’re not taking anything for granted.

In the last week, I’ve signed a document affirming that I’m not the rightful beneficiary of the bequest made in the Wolfe family estate plan.

A thought occurs to me and my hand stops moving across the sketch pad I’ve perched on my thighs which have served as my makeshift easel all week.

“What do you think of the name Piaf? It’s my mother’s maiden name. I want to change mine now that I’m officially not a Wolfe anymore.“

“Mmmmhmmm, that great,” Carter answers. His lips move to make the shape of a smile, but it’s not really a smile. None of the upward curving movements his lips have made in the last hour have been.

“I’ve got a snake in my boot,” I say dryly.

“Just try and get some rest.” Carter nods, and his hand continues his absent minded strokes on my head. His eyes are riveted to whatever he’s reading for the last thirty minutes.

“Carter, if you’re not going to listen to me, at least do a better job of pretending,” I raise my voice and he frowns in annoyance and drags his eyes off his device and looks at me.

“Huh?” he grunts and then yawns.

“You’re not listening to me,” I repeat, a scowl on my face.

He squints one eye and gives me a long assessing look. “You know…your face is going to get stuck like that.”

I pick up a pillow and hurl it at him.

He catches it and shakes his head in sad disapproval. “Tsk tsk, Beth. That’s no way to treat the man who saved your life,”

I glare at him. “It’s not funny, Carter. I hate being stuck here. I can’t live like this.” I growl in frustration.

He sighs in sympathy. “Yeah, I can imagine how hard it’s been to have Penn waiting on you hand and foot. And getting all those flowers and cards and hampers full of your favorite snacks - it must be torture.” He rolls his eyes and lifts his iPad up again and starts reading.

I kick him and yelp in pain when my bare toes meet the solid muscle of his thigh and he chuckles.

I spy the envelope containing the thank you note I wrote to Madame Mindy from the bedside table.

“I need to mail this, can we at least do that?”

“I’ll take it for you,” he says absently again.

“No, I want to go with you. I feel fine. Ineedto get out of this hotel room before I go crazy. ” I pout and make my most pathetic face.

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