It feels good to be back to a normal schedule on Monday. Customer traffic in the store is at a fever pitch as we get closer to Christmas. I’m so busy at work I don’t have time to dwell on my upcoming nuptials. I guess it helps that Shane has taken over making all the arrangements, the few that we have yet to make. We’re keeping it simple.

With Cooper officiating at the wedding ceremony, Jonah providing the music, and Gina Capelli providing the food and the cake, there’s not much left to do. Gabrielle’s handling the flowers and bouquets. We’re just waiting for Shane’s parents to make their flight arrangements home from Italy so we can schedule the day.

To be honest, the wedding seems like it’s just a formality now because I already feel married to Shane. We weathered that awful hoax by Luciana, and we came out on the other side even stronger because of it. She did her worst, and she failed at driving us apart.

Now the wedding seems like it’s just an excuse for a weekend house party with our favorite people. I can handle that – that’s going to be fun. We’ve invited everyone to arrive Saturday morning. We’ll have the wedding ceremony in the afternoon, followed by dinner and dancing, and then everyone is welcome to spend the night. That way, everyone can relax and have fun, and we won’t have to worry about anyone driving back to the city after having maybe had too much to drink.

I work my way through the ground floor of Clancy’s, straightening holiday displays and offering my help to customers. This is my favorite part of the job – just being here and being useful. I move to the calendars and journals, straightening up, when I notice a familiar face perusing a rack of calendars just a few feet away.

“Molly?”

Molly Ferguson looks up in surprise and it takes her a minute to place me. “Oh, hi! You’re… Jamie’s sister-in-law. Beth, right?”

“Right. Well, almost his sister-in-law. Shane and I aren’t getting married for a couple more weeks, but the truth is, I already feel like his family is my family.”

“That’s nice,” she says, smiling. “I don’t have much family, so I envy you. I know Jamie has a big family. I’ve seen his brothers and friends stopping by since he moved in. I think I’ve seen a couple of sisters, too. A petite blond and a brunette?”

I nod. “Lia’s the blond, and Sophie’s the brunette. There’s another sister, Hannah, who divides her time between Colorado and Wyoming.”

Molly’s brow raises. “Sounds like they have a big family.”

“They do. So, what brings you here today? Is there anything I can help you with?”

Molly looks surprised. “You work here?”

“Yes. Actually, I own this store.”

“You’re kidding? It’s a small world then, as Clancy’s is my home-away-from-home. I love this place.”

She’s holding a calendar featuring paintings by American artists. “You’re an artist, aren’t you?”

She nods. “I have a small studio and gallery in Wicker Park. Very small. I paint abstracts, mostly corporate commissions.”

Someone behind me gives me a light hip bump. “Hey, princess.”

I turn to see Lia and Jonah standing behind me. Jonah’s wearing a gray knit cap to cover his trademark hair and dark aviator sunglasses. The rest of him – a black leather jacket, distressed jeans, and a tee – is all Jonah. Still, I might not have recognized him if it weren’t for Lia. Lia has a baseball cap on. I guess, as Jonah’s bodyguard, she’s becoming a little too recognizable also.

“Hey, Lia!” I say, hugging her. “Hi, Jonah. What are you guys doing here?”

“We were out walking and we’re hungry,” Jonah says. “We thought we’d kidnap you for lunch. How about Casa del Sol? Sound good?”

“Actually, that sounds really good.” Shane and I had our first date at Casa del Sol, and it brings back such poignant memories. I was so scared then, so anxious to meet anyone new, especially a man. After a few minor setbacks, and after a panic attack or two on my part, he made it all okay. He made me feel safe for the first time in my life.

I step aside. “Lia, this is Jamie’s neighbor, Molly.”

“Hey,” Lia says. “How’s it going?”

“Great, thanks. I’ve seen you a couple of times in my apartment building. My apartment’s next to Jamie’s.”

Lia’s eyes widen. “Oh, you’re that Molly – the one Jamie can’t stop talking about.” She sticks her hand out. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jamie’s cool sister.”

Molly smiles at Lia’s comment. After I finish the introductions, Molly looks astonished when she learns who Jonah is.

“Wow, I’ve never met a celebrity before,” she says, blushing as she shakes his hand. “I have quite a few of your songs on my favorites playlist.”

“Why don’t you join us for lunch,” Lia says. “Do you like Mexican food?”

“Absolutely,” Molly says. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I don’t want to impose.”

“Of course we don’t mind,” Lia says. “The more, the merrier.”

“Don’t forget me,” Sam says, coming up to put his arm across my shoulders. “I’m starving.”

* * *

I grab my stuff from my office, and the five of us head out on foot to the restaurant. Erin stays behind because she’s already got lunch plans with a former college roommate. I’m excited that Molly agreed to come with us. She seems really nice, and I think she and I would hit it off. Plus, getting to know her would allow me to put in a few good words for Jamie.

I don’t know why Molly keeps blowing Jamie off, as he says she is, but I doubt it has anything to do with the fact that he’s blind. I just can’t believe she’d hold Jamie’s blindness against him. There has to be another reason.

The restaurant is just a few blocks from the bookstore, so we decide to walk. As the signal at the crosswalk changes, we step into the street. I hear the screeching of tires coming from somewhere on my left. There’s a frantic shout, and then suddenly I’m flying across the street. I hit the pavement on my hands and knees, just barely catching myself from pitching forward onto my face. My palms and knees burn from skidding on the bits of sharp gravel and tiny shards of broken glass that litter the road. Searing pain shoots up my left arm.

“Beth!” Molly screams, rushing to my side. “Are you all right?” She crouches down beside me and helps me to sit.

I glance around me, stunned and confused. Jonah’s standing in the middle of the street with his arms outstretched, blocking the intersection, keeping a line of cars at bay. I’m dazed, and I feel sick to my stomach. Then I see Sam crumpled on the street close to the curb, his forehead covered in blood. When I see the unnatural angle of his left leg, I scream as I try to get to my feet.

“Beth, stay down,” Molly says. “You’re bleeding.”

“Sam’s hurt!” I cry, pointing across the street where he lies unconscious.

I hear shouting, then two quick gun shots. Jonah’s yelling at Lia, and Lia’s yelling at someone else.

“Get out of the fucking car!” she shouts, pointing her handgun at the driver window of an expensive silver sedan. “Get out and put your hands up, now!”

I hear more yelling, and people screaming and running.

“I called 911,” Jonah shouts.

“Call Shane!” Lia yells.

 There’s nothing but chaos all around me, and I can’t make sense out of any of it. My heart is racing, and there’s blood on my hands and knees. Tears are blinding me, and my left wrist is on fire. My hands and knees are stinging from the bits of glass embedded in my flesh.

But none of that’s important, because Sam’s not moving. He lies lifeless against the curb. When I see the smear of bright red blood on the lamp post, I retch.

People are crowding around him, staring down at him, but no one’s touching him. And he’s still not moving. One man reaches down to press his fingers to Sam’s throat, searching for a pulse.

“Go to Sam,” I tell Molly, my voice cracking. “Please! I’m fine. Help Sam!”

The last thing I recall is hearing the far-away screams of multiple sirens. They’re muffled, though, and growing more and more faint. Shouldn’t they be getting louder? Isn’t anyone coming?

Then everything goes black.