Page 71 of Lethal Seduction

Tina squeals, and Patrick smiles as he gazes up into my eyes.

“I believe in you,” I say.

Patrick nearly drops his drink as he hurries to wrap his arms around me. We hug as Tina hops up and down next to us with her hands clasped.

“Me next,” she says. “I need some of this love too.”

“Bring it in,” I say, opening my arm to her as well.

She slides into my embrace, and we stand there and hug for a few moments. Once we all separate, Patrick nods and says, “I want to audition, but I’m a little nervous.”

“I’ll tell you what,” I say. “I’ll help you study or practice or whatever you call it and go with you and sit in the waiting room. Would that help?”

“Absolutely,” he says. “You’d waste a couple of days to help me with this?”

“It’s not a waste of time as long as I’m spending it with you.”

He smiles. I smile. Tina squeaks.

“There is nothing I would enjoy more than watching the two of you be cute together, but we have to finish shooting. There are a few people waiting for our lane once we are done.” Tina thumbs toward what looks like a family of four, waiting patiently for us to stop wasting their time.

“I’m going to wait for you two over by the concession stand. Come get me when you’re done here.”

Patrick and Tina grab their bows and arrows and start firing off projectiles. They’ll be done soon. By the way they quickly shoot without spending much time actually aiming, I can tell their heart isn’t in it anymore today. Once I get to the concession stand, I order a bag of pretzels and watch them from afar.

There’s something different about Patrick after the attack. I can tell from the way he stands, walks, and interacts with those around him, he’s more confident. Somehow, the intense circumstances he’s lived through have strengthened him, made him more certain. It’s obvious to me and absolutely intoxicating. While I’m happy for his newfound self, I know from experience that there may come a time where he struggles. He may become anxious or depressed as his mind continues to process what happened to him. There have been more than one police officer I’ve known who ended up needing counseling after an attack left them with PTSD.

It wouldn’t be something to bring up to him at this time, but I make a mental note to always be there for him. I’ll help him through whatever life throws his way from now on. I think backto when I was a kid and spoke with my father about how he knew Mom was the one for him. He answered that when he closed his eyes at night, images of them living their lives together flashed in his mind. His gut told him that she would always be his person.

A tingle in my belly when I imagine Patrick and my life together and what it might look like in a year, five years, or even longer down the road, tells me he’s my person and I’m his. I wave at them as they now make their way across the park toward the concession stand. They get closer, and I hold out the bag of pretzels. “Snacks?”

31

PATRICK

My life couldn’t have turned out any better than it has. After Tina and I auditioned for the part, we both got picked for important roles in the film. I play Max Donovan, and she’s Clarissa Cane in the latest Alexander Dorn film, “Devil’s Reach.”

We finished shooting a week ago, but the film isn’t slated to come out for another eight months as they still need to work on some of the CGI effects. It’s going to be such a life changer for me. I’ve already been offered other roles to consider, and I couldn’t be happier. However, after throwing every last bit of myself into this movie, I need a break, and there isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than side-by-side with my newlywed husband, Michael, headed to first adventure on our honeymoon destination in Los Angeles.

Yep, home-sweet-home.

We walk hand in hand up the stone steps of the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, the air warm but the breeze cooling enough to keep us comfortable. It's a grand building, with its towering columns and natural stone façade exuding a timeless elegance that always leaves me feeling small, but in thebest way. Michael squeezes my hand, and I glance at him, his smile reassuring, grounding.

“We could’ve gone anywhere for our honeymoon,” he says, his voice soft, teasing.

“And yet we’re here,” I reply, grinning back at him. “But it’s not like this place doesn’t have its charm.”

Our honeymoon plans have been put on hold, obligations pulling us back to the city. Instead of disappearing to some far-flung, tropical paradise, we’ve decided to spend the next few days checking out local spots we’ve never had the chance to visit. The museum has been on our list for a while, and today feels like the perfect escape from the hectic schedule that keeps trying to pull us back into reality.

The moment we step inside, we’re greeted by the cool air and the vast, open lobby. The grandeur of it all makes me pause. I’ve been in countless buildings more luxurious than this, thanks to my career, but this place—there’s something ancient about it. It feels like stepping into a different world.

We wander through the exhibits, taking in everything from dinosaur fossils to precious gems, each display more fascinating than the last. Michael stops in front of a giant mammoth skeleton, his eyes wide, a boyish grin lighting up his face. It’s moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with him. Even after everything we’ve been through—the case that nearly broke us both—he can still find joy in the simplest things.

“Hey there,” a voice interrupts us, and we turn to see a man approaching. He’s wearing a security guard’s uniform, but it’s the easy smile on his face and the way he carries himself that catches my attention.

“Enjoying the exhibits?” he asks, his tone light but genuinely interested.

“Yeah, it’s incredible,” Michael replies, nodding towards the skeleton behind us. “This place is full of surprises.”

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