All Who Dream (Letting Go) (31 page)

I was no
longer the woman I was six weeks ago, nor was I the same mother, friend, or
sister. Love had thawed every frozen emotion. It had exposed
every
unfounded insecurity
, and freed every imprisoned truth.

Love was
the strength to my every weakness.

Falling
in love with Jackson had changed everything I used to be. And it had allowed me
to dream—again.

“What are
you thinking about?” he asked, holding my body against his as a cool breeze
blew against my back and bare shoulders.

I smiled
and shook my head.
“You first.”

I thought
he would refuse my deflection, but as usual, he surprised me.

“I was
thinking that I don’t want you to leave next week.”

My chest
ached. I didn’t want to leave.

“I know.”

“It feels
like you just got here—hard to believe that was five weeks ago.”

“I know.”

He was
quiet for a minute more, and then pulled away slightly to search my eyes.
“There are so many things I wish I could promise you, Angie,” he said, his eyes
reflecting the beautiful torment I could sketch in my sleep. “So many things I
want for you—and for Cody, but I won’t make promises I can’t be sure I can
keep.” He kissed my lips softly, closing his eyes before he continued, “But I-”

“Ahem…Mr. Ross?”

You have got to be kidding me.

We both
turned to look the second staff member Ivan had introduced us to, now turning
all shades of red as he realized his social faux pas. He looked at the ground
as he spoke to us.

“The
Captain wanted to me
tell
you we’re in route to be
back to port in thirty minutes, and the fire place has been lit in the saloon
for your enjoyment.”

I felt
Jackson’s body relax as he nodded his head once. “Thank you.”

The young
man nodded in response and disappeared.

“So much
for perfect timing, eh?” he said.

I
laughed, hoping we would finish this conversation inside.

Jackson
tugged on my hand to take me in, but first I asked to look over the railing. He
smiled in agreement. I leaned over and stared into the dark water below as the
wind whipped my face and hair. The moment was powerful. I closed my eyes, committing
it to memory.

Jackson
leaned on the rail next to me. I could feel the heat of his body before he
spoke.

“I never
expected this.”

I knew
exactly what he meant; I hadn’t either.

Yet, it
was one surprise I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Unfortunately,
once we got back inside to the saloon to enjoy the remainder of the evening,
fate had other plans for us. As I turned toward Jackson on the couch, hoping to
continue our conversation from the deck, his eyebrows furrowed slightly as he
looked at me.

“What’s
wrong?” I asked.

“Didn’t
you have your necklace on tonight—the one with the angel wings?”

My hand
went to my
neck
 
only
to discover that it was bare. Panic fueled every cell in my body as I stood,
hoping that a spotlight from heaven would illuminate the frail chain and
pendant. No such thing happened.

“It’s
okay—let’s just retrace our steps,” Jackson said, taking charge in my frantic
state.

I
nodded,
my hand still at my throat.

But
somewhere
never revealed itself.

As we
searched the Aft Deck, I was suddenly struck with a sinking feeling, one that
twisted and gnawed at my insides as I remembered.

The wind.

I had
leaned into the wind over the railing to look into the dark waters below.
Had it slipped off my neck?
 
The ocean was the only place we couldn’t
check.

Though I
would have liked to believe that the strength it took to overcome years of
physical abuse would keep me from breaking down over some small trinket
tonight…it did not.

Losing
that pendant was as if a part of me had been severed from my body.

There was
no way to describe the kind of value that necklace had held for me, or the hope
it had provided over the last eleven years. It was the last gift I’d ever
receive from my Granny; the last connection to her unwavering faith. So many
times I’d been empowered by its steady presence. Because of it, so many
conversations had begun with Cody about the importance of believing in what is
unseen, and so many tears and prayers had been absorbed within its delicate
design.

In a
blink the treasure was gone.

After a
full hour of combing the yacht with the help of Captain Cogs and his staff, I
had to no other choice but to accept my dreaded theory. Jackson shook the crewmember’s
hands as we left, and I did my absolute best to hold it together until we got
into Jackson’s car that he had parked at the marina. The second I sat down in
the passenger seat an explosion of grief burst from inside my chest. If only my
embarrassment of such a display was more powerful than my feelings of sadness
and loss in that moment, but that was not the case.

Though
the engine was running, Jackson didn’t move, except to pull my head onto his
shoulder as I cried. He was quiet as he rubbed my arm softly.

“I’m...sorry,”
I said between sniffles, “This…is a horrible way…for me to be…after such a
great night.”

He
laughed lightly and brushed his hand over my hair, moving strands away from my
face. I was sure I looked like a hot mess of mascara and snot. Again though, my
care-factor seemed to be as lost as my necklace for the moment. I took a few
deep breaths, calming myself as Jackson finally put the car into reverse and exited
the marina. We rode quietly, each lost in our own thoughts. My eyes that felt
swollen from crying. Just when I thought I might have pushed him away due to my
female inclinations, he said the one thing that could justify my emotional
response to such a loss.

“You’ve
had that necklace for a long time, haven’t you?”

I smiled
weakly. “It had belonged to my Granny—I think I told you about her before?”

He nodded.
“Yeah, she collected the angels, right?”

I
swallowed the thickness in my throat.
“Right.
I got
the necklace in the mail randomly—about six months after she passed. It’d been
given to her on her wedding day by my grandpa whom I never met. She said it was
her guardian angel, and that is what she always called him. I’ve worn it every day
since I was eighteen.” Several rogue tears escaped down my cheeks. “My necklace
and my black journal were all I had from my old life in Colorado. Cody’s never
seen me without it on.”

“He was
pretty sure it was your guardian angel, too. I remember him saying that.”

I nodded.

Jackson
left his car with the valet and walked me up to my door, despite my insistence
that the courtesy wasn’t necessary. Naturally, he ignored my protest. I took my
key out as he placed his hand on top of mine, stopping me from inserting it.

“If there
was any way for me to get the necklace back for you—I would.”

I turned
to him, tears filling my eyes again. “Thank you, Jackson. I know you would.
Despite this necklace drama, the night really was perfect. I loved everything
you planned.” I put my hands on his chest as I looked up at him. “I’ll never
forget it.”

He touched
my cheek. “I won’t either. Goodnight, Angie.”

“Goodnight.”

He kissed
me on top of my head before I walked inside and shut the door behind me.

How can one measure the value of invaluable?

How does one quantify the price of
priceless?

Worth does not coincide with a cost,

Importance can’t be found on a scale.

True treasure may be absent of wealth,

For a fortune is known only by the heart.

I was up early Sunday morning—due in part to my unusual
sleeping habits of late. It was too early to chat with Cody, and I was sure my
brother wouldn’t appreciate his cell ringing at this hour, especially on his
weekend off. Instead, I trudged my way to the restroom.

After
showering, I decided it was best to avoid the mirror, as my bloodshot eyes were
evidence that my necklace was indeed gone. The loss wasn’t just an awful dream
like I had hoped. Sigh.

Pippy
texted last night to remind me of the lunch date at
1:00 this afternoon with the authors on the family tour. It was going to be my
first time seeing them since the drama with
Divina
.
Though there was only a week left of signings and interviews, I couldn’t help
but feel like I had been ostracized from the pack. Jackson had assured me that
working on the revisions of my book
were
my top priority
now, but I wondered if they saw it the same way.

I guess
I’d find out soon enough.

I decided
to take advantage of my unplanned downtime and read Book Two in The Quinton
Chronicles. After reading the prologue, I had unknowingly traded my humble
setting for a life of criminal investigations. I was completely absorbed. I
held my breath numerous times, gasped out loud, and shed more than one tear as
the dynamic between Detective Quinton and Reagan had begun to change. He was
finally beginning to trust her instincts as she proved herself to him more and
more. I bit my lip as I got to the climax of the story; my heart was racing.

Reagan
had just walked to her car after leaving the precinct for the night, not
knowing that the brother of the drug
lord
who had
recently been murdered, would be waiting for her. I was a ball of nerves as I
drew my legs up underneath me.

She pulled the door open and slumped hard
into the driver’s seat as she rolled her neck from side to side. The long day had
stretched into an even longer night, but the grueling hours had been well worth
it. A small smile tugged at her lips as she put the key into the ignition.
Quinton had finally acknowledged her efforts—finally given her the pat on the
back she had been waiting for since their partnership began six months ago.

She turned the key, but nothing happened.
She tried again, furrowing her brows in frustration as a light clicking sound
was the only indication she had done anything at all. Reagan had just upgraded
her car, trading in her old model for newer one, for precisely this reason. She
hated falling prey to a world of mechanical issues—one she knew nothing
about—so instead, she was meticulous about the demands of proper car
maintenance.
Always.

What’s going on?
 
But the answer found her before her mind had
time to fully process her question.

Her seatbelt tightened on her chest, digging
in to the side of her neck as a rough hand covered her mouth. She bucked her
head forward, trying to loosen the suffocating grasp, but to no avail. She
pawed at her door, frantic to find a way to escape. Her attempt was only met
with a harder pull as the belt strangled her against her seat.

“Stop squirming, Princess. I have no problem
letting you die right here.” The dark voice behind her said.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself
as the raw panic of adrenaline surged through her body. Finally, the belt
slacked enough for her to breathe through his thick fingers.

“There you go. Now listen carefully-”

The phone
next to me shrilled, and I almost jumped off the couch. I fumbled with the
answer button, dropping the cell twice before succeeding in answering.

“Hello?”
I
said,
my voice a higher than-pitch than normal.

“Hey…you
okay?” Jackson asked.

I blew
out a deep breath. “No I’m not okay…I’m about to have an anxiety attack while
reading your book!”

He
chuckled. “What part?”

“Oh, uh,
well, let’s see…the part where you let Reagan walk into a death trap in her
car. Jackson, you better have Quinton come out and save her, or I swear I will
throw this book at your head the next time I see you.”

He
laughed harder.

“I’m
serious, Jackson.”

“I
know…that’s what’s so funny.”

“This is
why I don’t read this genre…I cannot handle the suspense. I hate it.”

“Oh, so
you just want to read the kissing scenes then? Is that what you’re saying?”

I flushed
instantly, biting my lip as a smile spread over my face.

“No,” I
lied.

“Well, I
would gladly reenact some of those with you, but I actually need to head out of
town for the day—possibly overnight.”

“Oh?” I
said, trying to keep my disappointment off his radar.
Too late.

“Yeah.
Something’s come up that I need to deal with—work
related.”

Code for: I’m not going to tell you.

“Oh…I
hope everything’s okay? It not…Jacob, right? You’d tell me if something had
happened?” My throat suddenly went tight.

“He’s
fine, but I’ll tell him you said hello.”

So Jacob’s a part of this spontaneous trip?
Interesting.

“
Ang
?”

“Yeah?”
I asked, realizing I had zoned out for a second.

“Yes, I’d
tell you something like that.”

My heart
warmed. “Thanks.”

“Hope
lunch is good today.”

Crap!
I jumped up, letting the book fall
off my lap onto the floor as I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the
time.

12:30
p.m. stared back at me. I pushed the door open to my bedroom.

“Oh
my gosh
...I have to go. I totally lost track of time while
reading
your
dang book!”