Chapter Twenty
The wheels of the plane touched down back in Orlando. Our honeymoon had been perfect—beyond anything I could have imagined.
As we taxied into the Shaw International hangar, one by one, all the challenges we’d be facing rushed forward in my mind.
Navarro.
Carrie Duvall.
Jessica’s murder.
The mole.
Vivian.
The Wades’ involvement.
“What’s on your mind?” Garrick asked.
I looked at my hands, my knuckles turning white where I gripped the seatbelt. I released them, allowing the blood flow to return. At some point, we would have to tell my parents about Carrie. But first, we needed more information on where she stood before we involved them.
“Our island was like an escape from everything going on in our lives. Did Sawyer’s parents take your offer?”
Garrick’s face grew solemn. “No, they didn’t. And it doesn’t make sense why not, unless it’s pride.”
Why didn’t they take the deal? Knowing Garrick, it would have kept them in a good financial position. “What are you going to do now?”
Exasperated, he ran his hand through his hair. “The offer doesn’t expire for seven days. I added extra time in case they said no. We’re going to have an anonymous envelope delivered with proof the snowmobile accident was indeed intentional. Then we’ll wait and see. After that, I don’t know what else to do.”
I placed my hands on Garrick. It hurt to say this, but I had to. “Do what you can, but don’t put yourself in danger. They made their choice. You didn’t.”
His fingers touched my ring. “I will do everything within my power for them.”
“Thank you.” The plane pulled into the hangar, and I sighed. “I wish we were back in seclusion, but we do have Thanksgiving to look forward to. Our first Thanksgiving.”
The melancholy lifted from the room. “Do you still want to have it at Mom’s?”
“Yes, of course. I’m excited to be part of the Shaw tradition. Your mom called a couple of days before the wedding to work out the details. Both sets of my parents are coming. And your mom seems receptive to Hastings now.”
The plane came to a stop and all the lights came on. “In a sense, he’s family because he’s your brother. As long as he doesn’t upset the balance, it’ll be fine.”
After Thanksgiving, Christmas would be right around the corner. Mom already asked what we planned to do. I had a feeling it would come up again next week. “Can we spend Christmas at the house in Utah? Have a simple Christmas with you and me?”
His eyes twinkled. “I’d love nothing more.”
I knew this was on his bucket list and wanted to make it special.
“Our first Christmas together in the mountains. I can’t wait. Will your Mom be upset if we don’t see her on the actual day? Of course, we’ll make time at some point.” My parents would be fine. We’d schedule something for after we got back. To me, Christmas was more about the time spent with people, not the actual day.
The captain came over the speaker stating it was safe to deplane. We grabbed our things and got in the car.
I scooted close to Garrick, and the conversation resumed.
“I’ll handle Mom. She’ll be fine with it,” he said.
“Sounds good.” I pulled out my phone and stared at it. “This means we really are back in reality.”
Garrick leaned in and whispered, “Once we get home, I’ll be back inside my wife. We’ll make our own escape from reality.”
“Yes, please.”
For the last three days, we hadn’t had contact with anyone. So, if I wanted to spend the evening hiding away a little longer, I needed to catch up on my messages. I pushed the button and waited for my phone to turn on.
Garrick turned his on and began typing. Three days without working had to put him behind.
More messages than I could count flooded my phone. I sent a text back to my parents saying we were back and I’d call tomorrow. As I looked through the notifications, I realized the majority were from Kurt and Sawyer. I opened the picture from Sawyer and gasped. “Oh no! She’s begun her strike.”
“What?”
I handed my phone to Garrick. From the picture, it appeared as if Christmas had thrown up all over Kurt and Sawyer’s place. “Are those Christmas decorations…in November? Before Thanksgiving?”
“Yes. Sawyer’s a little obsessed. If it hadn’t been for our relocation, Sawyer’s decorations would have been out prior to this. And Kurt is a very pro give-the-turkey-his-day kind of person.”
I opened the last text from Kurt.
Kurt: Your ex-roommate is nuts. Santa before the turkey. It’s sacrilegious.
Me: Ho-Ho-Ho! Merry Christmas!
Kurt: I’m questioning our friendship.
Me: Have the movies started?
Kurt: I may be moving in with you and Garrick until December. I cannot see all this Santa shit until it’s Christmas.
I showed the text to Garrick, who shook his head. “Over my dead body. He started this war with her, he can suffer it out. He’s the one who needs to admit he has feelings for her.”
“Do you think he does?”
“Without a doubt. Regardless, he’s not staying with us.”
I chuckled and typed a response.
Me: Umm…no, you will not be staying at our place. Newlyweds, remember?
Kurt: I don’t know if I can handle the disrespect to poor old Tom the turkey.
Me: Decorate Santa in some Reverence pajamas.
Oh no! I was supposed to be neutral.
Kurt: Great idea!
Me: Ignore me! I didn’t say anything.
Kurt: No, you did. And I have written proof. Prepare to be blackmailed.
Me: I’m going to get you yellow snow for Christmas.
Kurt: Welcome to the fold, partner in crime.
I threw my head back and groaned.
“What’s wrong?” I handed my phone to Garrick. He read the texts and chuckled. “Looks like he just got the leverage he needed. Sorry, sweetheart.”
“Hey, whose side are you on? I may say he can be our new roomie.”
“I don’t think so.”
I raised my eyebrow. Garrick’s fingers traced the inside of my thigh. “Then you wouldn’t be able to scream when I fuck you.”
Oh jeez. He had a point. And now I needed him. “We need to get home. Now.”
“You’re reading my mind, Mrs. Shaw.”