Epilogue
Two Years Later
In a corner office with two glass walls, high above the streets of Manhattan, three women all had huge smiles on their faces as they listened intently to the lawyer on the speakerphone in the middle of the desk, as he shared the good news.
Cutting it close was an understatement.
Tonight was the big party celebrating their deal. Over three hundred industry people would be in attendance and they were down to the wire, sweating it, that the deal, which should have been completed more than six weeks ago, would still be stalled. But in the eleventh hour, with their threat of pulling out, it had finally worked out, just within the last hour. And now the company was theirs.
Hanging up the phone, the three flew out of their chairs, hugging and kissing and jumping around the room, looking more like middle-school teens who had just been asked to their first dance, than professional business women who owned a corporation.
“Oh, my God, we did it. We finally did it.” Kylie was beaming.
Hayley picked up a picture of Jesse from her friend’s desk and smiled warmly at it. “He would have totally loved this moment.”
“Yes, he would have,” Kylie agreed, trying not to let her eyes mist over. “For many reasons, including the fact that he despised Blaise Collins and the way he treated me, so seeing the three of us as the new owners of Siren would have made him proud.”
“We are going to turn this industry on its ear.” Liz was stoked. “All sizes. All colors. All persuasions. Straight. Gay. Dyke. Trans. All beautiful. And all celebrated. This industry had better be ready for us, because we are the new Siren.” She grabbed Hayley’s hand and kissed her palm.
Sip’s shoulders did a little dance in response to the spontaneity of her lover’s genuine affection.
Between the three of them, they now owned sixty-seven of Siren’s stock. Buh-bye, Blaise.
“Are you going home to change?” Hayley asked.
“No. This is it. This is what I’m wearing. That’s why I had the invite say business attire,” Kylie laughed.
“I love that jacket. I’ve never seen anything like it before,” Liz complimented Kylie’s colorful garment with its watercolor paint splashes.
“I had it made in Italy when I was there. I just love this fabric, plus there are all these cool, useful hidden pockets, so I don’t need to carry a purse. Check this out,” she opened the jacket to show them the inside, “there’s a breast pocket inside on both sides. It will fit my cell, keys, wallet, and sunglasses and with the way the fabric drapes, you can’t even see that I’ve got anything bulky in there, so I’m not carrying a purse tonight.” She laughed, “And that’s better than going commando.”
“I need that jacket. Or maybe I can borrow yours…permanently,” Sip laughed.
“Umm, or not.” Kylie gave her the evil eye.
Liz looked at her watch. “Do you want to ride over with us?”
“No, go on without me. I’ve got a few things to finish up here first before I leave. I’ll meet you over there.”
“Okay. Come on, plus one,” Sip kidded, as she reached for Liz’s hand. “See you over there, Gracie.”
In the quiet of her office, Kylie sat back in her chair. Today was a big day. It was a good day. Good days were happening every so often now. Tonight was going to be even a bigger night. She’d be fine. Until she got home.
Picking up the picture of Jesse that Hayley had moved, she couldn’t help but smile looking at his beautiful face.
“Oh, Jess, I really wish you were here to see this. And you probably are, huh? I’m guessing that you know everything that’s going on and maybe even have been providing some divine intervention. I wouldn’t put it past you. I know you’d be proud of me. Unlike the past, I didn’t get beat down and abused by men once you were gone. I’ve stayed strong and turned it around and beat an asshole at his own game. Pretty badass of me, right.” She nodded at the picture. “And now, Hayley, Liz, and I are business owners and we’re going to empower people who have been disenfranchised. Quite the opposite of my previous destinies. I know this is what I was supposed to do, Jesse. This is how I’m going to help people. With you, it was your music. It gave people life and hope and joy. I hope what I do helps people love themselves and have the confidence to stand up for who they are.” She paused, thinking for a moment.
“But, you know, I still wonder, what didn’t we get right? You grew and were no longer putting your own agenda first, I was no longer a victim. So, the only thing I can think of is we were only taking ourselves into account and we didn’t factor in the third variable, who would not stop short of killing if she didn’t have you. Do you think that’s it? It’s the only thing I can come up with. The lawyers promise me she won’t see the light of day again in this lifetime, but she’s a crafty bitch, so I don’t trust that she won’t be granted parole at some point. Next time, babe, we are taking her down. I promise you that. This is the last time that witch gets the best of us.
“Look at me talking to your picture.” A short laugh turned into a sob as the bravado from the moment before vanished and tears welled up from her heart. “Tonight’s a rough one without you, Jesse. I’m not going to lie. Sometimes it feels like you’re right here with me, that you’re a part of everything, just like twenty minutes into the future, on the other side of the veil, and I really do good at those times. And then there are nights like tonight, where I just feel so alone and I miss you so damn much. I just wish I knew that you were by my side. I want you with me walking into that celebration tonight. Me and you. The way it’s supposed to be. We belong together, Jesse. We do. And I feel so freaking alone tonight. I’m happy, the company is a great accomplishment and the start of something big, but the emptiness just feels amplified by a million, because you’re not here to share it with. I want you with me, Jesse.” Her voice trailed off to a whisper, “I just want you here with me.”
Putting his picture down on the desk, she wiped her now red and swollen eyes. A great look for a new company owner, she laughed, and swiped under her lashes one more time with the side of her fingers to ensure any raccoon-like rings were erased.
Grabbing her keys, wallet, and phone, she turned off the office lights and took a deep breath. Time to pull it together and be a kick-ass Jersey girl.
Stepping out into the hall, as she turned to lock the door, the toe of her shoe crunched something on the metal threshold. Looking down, she could see blue plaid sticking out from under her right pump.
“What the…” She bent down to pick it up.
The card was a faded blue plaid, the white no longer bright, but yellowed with time, the edges worn. Turning the card over, a sound that was a combination of a gasp and a sob erupted from deep in her chest, as the image slammed her heart, lodging the flutter of a missed beat at the base of her throat.
Silent for a moment, she blew out the air she’d been holding in her lungs before taking a deep breath that she hoped would restore her voice.
“Yes. Yes, you are,” she whispered. The tears flowed freely now, falling onto the antique picture she held in unsteady hands.
Nodding her head, knowingly, she smiled through her tears at the handsome face on the vintage playing card, as she spoke. “You are my King of Hearts. You always have been and you always will be.” Closing her eyes, she acknowledged, “Okay, okay. I get it. Sometimes I just need a reminder.”
Opening her jacket, she slipped the card into the inner breast pocket on the left side, patting the soft fabric down over her heart. “Tonight, you’re going to be my plus one.” And with a smile on her beautiful face, they were on their way.
Fade to White