“GET OUT! LEAVE! I won’t have you here.”

Ryder walked in the front door and heard Chloe’s voice screeching across the diner. He glanced at Tristan, who stiffened. The café was empty, thankfully. Surprised, Ryder wondered why. It was long past noon. Business should have been booming. The voices coming from the kitchen instantly told the story.

“Hold it!” Petra’s signature accent called out.

Who was she talking to? Tara or Chloe? Ryder rushed through the eating area and into the kitchen. Tristan was hot on his heels. The entire staff was gathered in Chloe’s office. They didn’t realize he and Tristan had stepped into the prep area. Tara was standing in the doorway, obviously just turning back towards the crowd. Petra had hold of one of her arms. “Just hold on, Tara. You’re not leaving.”

“The hell she isn’t! I won’t have her here another second.”

Ryder started to cross the kitchen, ready to lay into Chloe when Dok’s voice stopped him dead. “You will. Or you won’t have any staff.”

Dok and Chet never spoke up to Chloe. Ryder stopped dead. What was happening?

“What do you mean?”

“If you fire her for no reason, we’ll all leave too. How can we trust you not to fire us too?” Chet spoke this time. His tone was almost soft, and his reluctance to speak dripped off his words.

“No reason? I have every damn reason. She lied. Her name was fake. Her Social Security number a total fraud,” Chloe ranted.

Ryder could see over Tara’s shoulder and Petra’s head. Chloe was glaring laser beams at Chet, standing with her hands on her hips. She screamed right into his face.

“You are still hurt over your sister’s death. You are angry that Tara is alive and sharing Ryder and Wyatt’s life and Ebony isn’t. That is no cause to fire her. We… all of us, we won’t allow it,” Petra spoke defiantly. Her tone was calmer now and sounded almost soothing after Chloe’s yelling.

“Allow it? This is my place. I’ll do whatever I damn well please. Fire and hire whomever I fucking want to. And what about this? Tara lied on her employment application. That automatically invalidates her and I can fire her for any damn reason I choose. No matter what you all think.”

“I did lie,” Tara said, hanging her head down. “Just… I think this is for the best. Chloe can’t deal with me. It would be miserable… for both of us.”

“No,” Dok spoke. “You lied. We heard, Tara Tamasy. That isn’t why she’s firing you. She used to rave over what a hard worker you are, and how good you are with the customers, not to mention all the sales and fat tips.”

“I call bullshit. This is about Ryder,” Chet interjected.

Chloe smacked her fist down on her desk. “It isn’t about Ryder! God! I don’t want to fuck my brother-in-law or anything. I definitely don’t want this white trash influencing my sister’s son.”

“Good. ‘Cause he doesn’t want to fuck you. And I decide who influences my son. It isn’t your decision. Nor will it affect your future business decisions.”

All eyes turned towards Ryder. Tara’s entire body straightened as if someone just zapped her with the end of a bare, hot wire. Her shoulders stiffened and she spun around. Ryder stepped into the overly crowded office. It was only twelve by twelve. Chloe’s desk faced the door and was close to the center. The staff stood at the sides and in front of it when she stood behind it.

He stepped inside. Tara’s eyes were wide, and her mouth open while her cheeks exploded with pink hues. He touched her arm with his hand.

“Ryder!” Chloe’s tone was both outraged and shocked.

“Yeah, Ryder. I’m still half-owner. You’re not firing Tara. Not for this. And she isn’t white trash and she hasn’t, nor will she ever, negatively influence Wyatt.” He let go of Tara’s arms after a soft squeeze. One thing at a time. He walked past Petra, who stepped back to make room for him. She slid behind Chet, who was leaning on the desk. He glared at Ryder.

Ryder slid up to Chloe and, without any hesitation, fully embraced her. Her body folded up into his arms. He patted her back and stroked her soft hair. “What are you doing here, Chloe? You’re not ready. It’s too soon. Petra’s got you covered.”

She gripped his shirt in her fists and started to cry. He glanced around. “No one is getting fired. Why don’t you all go open for lunch and get the kitchen up and running?”

They all just stood there, staring at the unfolding scene. He raised his eyebrows. “Please?”

After some muttering and nodding, they finally left. Tara was last and she stared at him before she slipped out and gently shut the door.

Ryder pushed Chloe back until she flopped onto the chair. She leaned her head into her hand on the desk. “I never considered fucking you, I never even wanted to. I was just being dramatic.”

He sat down on the edge of the desk. “I know, Chloe. But Tara and I have become intimate and that isn’t changing.”

She winced. “Gloves are off, huh? You don’t talk like that too much.”

“Yeah. Honestly, she lied. She did. I ran a full background check on her and it’s not pretty. Charges for drug possession and prostitution. But it only hurt her, not like burglary or violent crimes that would raise a red flag for us. But she’s also been living here long enough that we both know she’s clean and trustworthy. You know it as well as I do.”

Chloe shook her head and looked down. “I just want Ebony back. I wish she were still alive.”

Ryder gently set his hand on her shoulder. “I know,” he said softly.

She glanced up. “But you don’t anymore. You want her.”

He held her gaze, steady and sure before he replied, “I do. I wish Ebony were back. I want her to be the mother of our son, her son, as she’s supposed to be. But I can’t deny that I want her… Tara. However, that doesn’t change anything regarding Ebony. If you only knew how often I wish this had never happened to her and how much I grieve for her still. Don’t ever doubt that. But I did grieve for her, Chloe. My mourning for Ebony was over years ago. Tara didn’t just show up in my life and I started fucking her. It was much more than that, and was also a long time coming.”

Chloe sniffled and kept shaking her head. “I can’t believe she’s dead. My sister. My other half. I’m all that remains of us… our unique relationship…”

“I’ll be here for you, Chloe. Always. No matter what.”

She snorted. “As if she’s going to let that be. Not after what I did and said to her.”

Ryder wanted to answer that Tara was actually pretty damn nice and sweet, so yeah, she would have let it be, Ryder had realized. But he knew that would have only inflamed Chloe so he kept it to himself and set a hand on her shoulder.

“You realize now that what you said and did was wrong. She won’t hold it over your head. Just go home. And don’t come back until we’ve figured this out, okay? I’ll help you. I’ll always be there. I hope you know that now. Just as you have always helped me with Wyatt.”

She rubbed her eyes. “Will you still let him be around me as often?”

“All the time.”

She rose to her feet. “Okay. I guess…”

“I’ll talk to the staff. Just take care of yourself. Let me call your mom…”

Chloe shook her head to the negative. “No. It’ll just upset her more. I got this, Ryder. I just need some time alone.” She slipped the light coat over her arm. “Thank you, Ryder. For stopping me here. I’ll… I’ll go work on a better way. I just need some more time alone.”

“Take all the time you need. And when you’re ready? Wyatt and I will be waiting right here.”

Her lips barely smiled as her eyes shut and she tried to ignore the pain she felt. Turning, she opened the back door and slipped out of the restaurant and past the staff. No one said anything. Ryder fully believed they’d all forgive her and understand the extreme stress and pain she was reacting to. Her identical twin sister had been found murdered. When you shared the same womb and the same DNA, it wasn’t something easily processed.

“Petra? You okay to keep acting as manager?” Ryder asked her.

She nodded. “Yes. Just needed to talk some sense into her. She needs more time. Poor dear.”

“She does, and she’s taking it. Anything comes up in the time being, come to me.”

“Will do.”

“Otherwise, it’s all up to you. I trust you implicitly.”

Petra beamed as he walked through the kitchen door. The place was already filling up with the lunch crowd and Tara was busily scribbling down an order.

Ryder came up right behind her. Tristan was sitting at another table, frowning as he stared at Ryder, and curiosity shone in his eyes.

Ryder took Tara’s arm when she started to turn and she smacked into him. With an “Oomph!” her gaze was temporarily riveted on his chest. When she finally raised her head up, she explained, “Dok thought I should keep on serving since they’re getting so busy. I wasn’t sure.”

“You should keep on doing what you’re doing. Chloe was taking out her anguish on you. You’re not fired.”

She nodded. “I thought so. But I did lie on my employment application.”

“I know. And you lied to me and her and Wyatt and everyone else here for months.”

Shame filled her cheeks with color. She jerked her arms from his. “Yes. It’s unforgiveable,” she mumbled, and started to pass around him.

“No. Nothing is unforgivable.”

She stopped dead and paused before turning back towards him. People were beginning to stare at them. Why the hell not, he figured? All the regular patrons had already pretty much witnessed their relationship from their first introduction to their courtship. Everything almost entirely occurred right there, so why not have it end there too?

He withdrew his hand from his pants pocket and stepped forward, taking her hand. “I don’t like knowing your last name was such a secret. And since you don’t seem to like being called Tara Tamasy, let’s just change it to Tara Kincaid and I won’t have a problem anymore.” He slipped the ring he bought for her onto her left ring finger.

Tara’s mouth dropped open like a well-oiled hinge and stayed like that. Shock sparkled in her widening eyes. Audible gasps escaped from the mouths of the patrons around them. Ryder smiled as he glanced at her and waited for her answer.

“What did Tristan say to you?” was the first thing that popped out of her mouth.

Ryder grinned. “I was already coming here to do this after what you said to me.”

Her mouth opened and closed and opened again with visible wonder. An almost soundless squeak escaped through her lips. “I don’t understand.”

“I love you, Tara. I was hurt and confused when I thought you didn’t think you could trust me with your secret history. I’m sorry I didn’t handle that very well. Or my discovery of Ebony, but mostly, I’m sorry for how I let it affect us. I promise you I’ll work on that. I’m sorry for the way you lived before you came here. But look at what you created when you got here. And in so short a time. Did you know the entire staff was ready to quit? They were all willing to give up their jobs for you, in solidarity with you, and they all came to your defense when Chloe attacked you. That says a whole hell of a lot about the woman you are inside. Much more than your damn name.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t want to cause Chloe anymore pain.”

Ryder grazed her face with the backs of his knuckles. “You are not responsible for hurting Chloe simply because you are here in her sister’s place. You’re not replacing her, does that make any sense? What I shared with Ebony was entirely separate and very different from what I share with you. Like someone having two kids and losing one. You can’t replace the lost child. My heart and life have just expanded to include you now too.”

He leaned towards her, bumping her with his forehead and pressing it into hers. “Now say you still love me and you forgive me and you want to be with me.”

Her eyes were huge and clear as she looked up at him and softly replied, “Well… duh, of course I do.”

He smiled. “Then say you’ll be my wife.”

“Has all this made you a little nuts?”

“Possibly. Nuts about you, for sure.”

“I’ll marry you then. I’ll accept this ring, but I won’t marry you anytime soon. How about next summer? Chloe needs some more time… and I think I do too.”

Ryder’s heart swelled with relief. “Done. I can deal with that. Will you move in with Wyatt and me in the meantime?”

“Yes. Right after I get my driver’s license. That way, I’m not so dependent on you. I just need…”

“To be independent. I get it. After what you’ve gone through to get here, I wouldn’t expect you to give any of that up.”

Dropping his mouth onto hers, their lips met and their kiss was long and sweet. His hands were at her waist and he lifted her up as her arms circled around his neck. She let out a muffled exclamation before the entire diner erupted into cat calls, laughter, whistles, and lots of applause.

His heart nearly exploded with joy. After the long period of bitterness from Ebony’s disappearance and his sadness and disappointment at learning the truth of her demise, his heart gladly filled up with unbridled love and joy and light. All the things he thought he’d lost when Ebony left had returned, although the circumstances surrounding her death still sat heavy on his heart. Chloe was still in his life too, and he’d worry about her and ache for her and commiserate with her like the sister she was to him. He intended to always improve her welfare. And he was glad that Tara not only understood and supported that, but she would have been angry and offended if he didn’t. He admired Tara’s generosity and kindness, knowing she had entered his life with one intention: to make it better, never harder for him.

And he believed he did the same for her in return.

Just then, her entire body stiffened. Worried, Ryder leaned back, glancing into her eyes only to find them focused on something over his shoulder. Her gaze was towards the front door and then her eyes grew huge. Fear seemed to be reflecting out of her eyeballs. Confused, he turned towards the front door, wondering, What the hell now? A stooped, old man wearing sky blue polyester pants, black shoes, a button-down shirt that he had tucked in, and an ancient navy-blue, argyle sweater vest. He was mostly bald and his skin was freckled with old age.

Tara pushed back from Ryder and started blinking her eyes in disbelief. She looked at the old man, then at her brother, who was watching them with a huge grin on his face. He noticed she was staring at him and glanced around before jumping up out of the booth.

He started towards Tara, not the old man. “Oh shit. Tara, I didn’t do this. I swear to God. I was telling you the truth. I never told anyone where you were.”

What the hell was all of this?

Tristan stood in front of Tara as if trying to protect her. Irritated by the interruption of the moment, which was such a huge moment for Ryder and romantic as all hell, Ryder was visibly confused. Why was Tristan standing between them now?

Tara’s gaze finally lifted to his. She started biting her lip, as her nerves were obviously anxious. “He’s our grandfather.”

Grandfather. Ryder gathered the old man was almost a legend in the Tamasy family by the way first Tara and then Tristan described him. They didn’t seem to get that he was now just an old man, someone they could tell to go to hell. Stooped over and ancient were not exactly the characteristics of someone mythical. What could he have done to them? Standing together, gripping each other’s hands, Ryder all but heard their silent monologue as they shared a long look. Be strong.

Ryder rolled his eyes. “What’s the big deal?”

Tara glanced up at him.

Suddenly, Grandfather was standing before them. “Tara? Is that really you?”

Seemed like a reasonable enough question to ask after his granddaughter had been missing for five years.

Tristan, however, went completely rigid. “What the fuck are you doing here? How did you find her?”

“I didn’t find her. I found you. Wondered what the hell kept you up here for so long. Finally figured out this small town wasn’t about work or vacation. I knew then it must have been Tara.”

Tristan’s face grew harsh and stern. “What? You had me under surveillance?”

Grandfather rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic, Tristan. I simply employed the same private investigators to keep track of you. They followed Tara for all those years and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Her hands fisted, Tara suddenly straightened up and burst out with, “Bullshit! You… you didn’t want to make sure anyone was okay. If that were the case, you’d have come a long time ago and helped me, or at least tried to help me. Any decent grandfather would have done anything in their power to steer their runaway granddaughter off the streets and not simply keep them on your radar. I call your bullshit, old man. BULL. SHIT. Your only objective is to keep tabs on us, in order to control us. Now? Tristan has gone rogue, just like me. Another factor that you can no longer control and manipulate like we’re pawns in a chess game.”

“But we’re not,” Tristan finally spoke up and Ryder noticed his tight jaw. Tristan needed Tara’s outrage before he found the courage to address the man. It wasn’t an easy or natural thing for Tristan to do, obviously. That was an interesting dynamic.

“No, we’re not,” Tara said, nodding.

Ryder grabbed her hand. “Do you mind introducing me?”

Sighing, Tara said, “This is my grandfather, Ellis Tamasy. Grandfather, this is my fiancé, Ryder Kincaid.”

Grandfather’s eyes sparked with fire as they fully scanned Ryder with aristocratic disdain. “A cop? You? Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Yes, are you surprised I didn’t end up dead in a ditch or strung out with some junkie? Disappointed? I’m sure that’s what you expected. And the reason why you never came after me if you did know where I was. That’s… that’s what makes it so much worse. You knew exactly where I was and what I was doing. Why couldn’t you at least try and help me? Why? Why did you continue to track me? Like wild game you were following to see where I migrated to. Don’t you see? Don’t you get why I had to run away? What’s wrong with you and the rest of our sick family? What is wrong with the Tamasys?”

Grandfather stiffened.

But Tristan added, “I told you I was done with them. I meant it. I would never have dragged you after Tara. She doesn’t deserve it. And neither does Kylie.”

“Oh, that girl…”

“That girl is my girlfriend and my brother did rape her. You chose his side. As far as I’m concerned, we’re done.”

“I’m old, Tristan. Your father can’t run Tamasy Industries, and your brother? Well, he lasted barely a month. He’s gone now. I fired him. I don’t know where he is. I don’t care either. Worthless piece of nothing, just like his father. But not like you.”

“Or Tara,” Tristan added softly.

Tara glanced at Tristan, her eyes filling with tears. Ryder was finally glad Tristan showed up in town. It pleased him just to see the love filling Tara up as she heard her brother defending her.

“Well, sure, okay. Tara too.”

Tristan shook his head. “I should have walked away when you so easily dismissed her disappearance. Barely seventeen. Your granddaughter. My sister. And she’s right, you tracked her like a wildlife specimen. Out of an odd, passing interest. Just to know where she was at all times. Just to keep that control. That’s not love, Grandfather. And what you have to offer us is nothing I need, or my sister. Now, please leave her alone.” He paused. Ryder watched him struggle before he finally added, “And me too. Please, just leave me alone.”

“You have to run Tamasy Industries, Tristan. There’s no one else. When I go… Tristan… it’s our legacy. And all I have to leave in the world. I need you. It needs you. Think of all the money. You’d have it all…”

“You still don’t get it, do you? It’s not about money. It should never have been about money.”

“What?” Grandfather’s face was completely puzzled.

“Love. Giving and receiving love to your family members shouldn’t involve money like it did for you and our parents,” Tara answered. Tristan nodded. Oddly, after she set her hand on his shoulder, he seemed to draw more strength from her. He must have had a hard time standing up to the old guy. Maybe he spent too long being squashed under the old tyrant’s thumb, which would explain why he hadn’t come after Tara sooner.

“We don’t want your company, your money, or even your name. Please leave, Grandfather. And don’t follow us anymore.”

Grandfather stared hard at both of them, his eyes growing flat with repressed anger. He turned on his heel and left without another word.

Tara trembled and Ryder swung his arm around her waist. He kissed her forehead. “Are you okay?”

She glanced at Tristan, who smiled, but it was sad and strained. Tristan sighed. “I gave up a lot for that man. But mostly, my moral compass and integrity.”

“But you’ve gotten both of them back. He’ll die someday all alone, Tristan. It’s sad, but it’s what he chose. He didn’t like our parents and he tried to control you by bribing you with all his money and subjecting you to his calculating coldness. It wasn’t love. Not like the kind between a real grandfather and a grandchild. It just seemed like it because Mom and Dad’s version of parental love was even worse. But thank you, Tristan, for defending me and not giving in to him. And most of all, thanks for being here.”

Tristan smiled and suddenly pulled Tara from Ryder’s embrace. “Fuck this pity party. Let’s get a round of champagne for everyone. This entire place is about to toast and celebrate your engagement. That’s something real. That’s what truly matters. Let me just call Kylie and then…” He smiled as he shook Ryder’s hand.

And they did have a celebration. They toasted their love with half the town right there in the café. All the patrons called their friends and soon afterwards, Ryder’s parents came in with Wyatt. He squealed and grinned when they told him the news. Ryder embraced his new life with a light heart. That was how love was supposed to be and feel. He savored knowing what love felt like again.

He lost a wife, and his son lost a mother. It was only then that Ryder understood exactly how it happened. The method that was used startled him and stumbled him up when he thought about it. But he learned to love another. Not to replace Ebony, but perhaps because his love for her was so pure that he could not endure a lifetime without having it again. Letting Ebony go meant he could make more room in his heart for another. He was not scarred or bitter. He glanced up just then, and was startled—no, he was shocked to see Ebony’s face in the window. He stepped back and the entire café went quiet as his vision focused in on her face. She stared at him vacantly with serious but sad eyes. She lifted a hand to the glass and pressed on it, smiling softly as she nodded. Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Then she slowly turned and disappeared into the parking lot.

Tara grabbed Ryder’s hand. She was laughing at something Gary said. Ryder zoned back into the party. The crowd’s noise and chatter filled his ears once more as the happy sights and sounds filled his senses. “Do you think she’ll be okay? Should you go talk to her?”

He glanced over at Tara, who was squeezing his hand, but his understanding felt fuzzy. “Who?” Did she see Ebony too?

“Chloe? You just saw her, right?”

His heart thumped loudly and then began to beat normally. Duh! Chloe. Of course she’d been the one at the window, watching the celebration of his engagement to another woman, who wasn’t Chloe’s sister, inside Chloe’s restaurant. It wasn’t a ghost offering her postmortem permission for Ryder to love and move on from Ebony. Although his heart felt lighter and almost sure, in a little way, that it was.

“Yes, that was Chloe giving us her blessing.” His gaze met Tara’s and she smiled softly. “We will be blessed, Ryder. From this moment forward,” Tara said.

He squeezed her waist as he hugged her next to him. “I think so too, and oddly, it’s mostly because you and Ebony are no longer lost. Does that make any sense?”

Ryder saw another reason why he loved Tara. Her mouth quirked up and there was no offense or outrageous reaction, not even quiet jealousy. Tara nodded and replied, “Of course it does. I had to find myself before I could be with you, and you had to find Ebony again to fully release her from your life. We were both lost. How I was found was just through sheer luck.”

He held her closer to him. Then he let her go and smiled. “What do you say you, me, and Wyatt go home now?”

She closed her eyes, twisting her mouth up into a small, sad, yet happy smile. “Home.” She nodded several times. “Yes, I would adore nothing more than to go home. Be home and stay home. And never again, will I be lost from my home.”

“Never again, Tara. From now on, you’ve been found. You are home.”

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