Sean sat next to her on the edge of the bed and took her hand. He played with her fingers out of nerves more than anything. “What do I tell him, Luce?”
“The truth,” she said. “He’s just like you, Sean. He’s a smart kid. Honesty is the only way to convince him to do what’s right.”
Lucy had met Jesse briefly before he and his family went into witness protection. It had been bittersweet—Sean had to say good-bye. He’d found his son and lost him in a matter of days, and now, only a month later, he was still having a difficult time accepting the situation. And, evidently, so was Jesse.
“I wish it didn’t have to be like this.” Sean was on edge, emotional and in pain.
Lucy took his hand, kissed it. “Jesse knows this isn’t your call, Sean, but it’s for his safety. Just think how you would feel if you were in the same situation.”
“Helpless.”
“Yes, but also angry and betrayed and scared. He loves you.”
“He doesn’t even know me.”
“That doesn’t mean anything, and you know it. You saved his life. He wants to get to know his father, and right now it can’t happen.” Didn’t Sean see what she saw? “He’s been emailing you—against the rules—because he’s trying to see how far he can go. He doesn’t understand that the rules—at least, these rules—can’t be broken. It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t know how to fix this.”
“You’ll find a way.” She kissed him. “You don’t have a lot of time.”
“I hate traveling commercial, and they’re making me fly all over the damn country. I don’t even know where he is.”
Lucy didn’t have to explain to Sean why the Marshals were setting such protocols. They both knew it was to keep the Spade family safe.
Sean pulled Lucy into a tight hug. “I love you, Lucy. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
She smiled, trying to show a brave front for Sean. He didn’t need her worries and anxiety when he was so stressed himself. “It’s going to work out.”
He nodded, kissed her. “Twelve days.”
Her heart skipped a beat. They’d discussed eloping, considering everything that was going on in their lives. They’d even gone so far as to talk to Father Mateo about the prospect—the priest who would be marrying them at St. Catherine’s. He’d talked them out of it.
“You’ve earned this wedding. What you two have been through these last two years, you deserve this one day of joy and love in front of God, family, and friend. And Lucy,” Mateo added, “your mother scares me. She calls me twice a week about details, and if she can’t see you get married, she’ll probably curse or haunt me for the rest of my life.”
The wedding would be small and intimate, but those they cared about the most—friends and family—would be there. For the celebration. It was a new beginning, and they both needed that confirmation. That whatever life threw at them, they weren’t running away or hiding. That together, they were stronger.
“Twelve days,” she whispered.
She walked Sean to the garage, kissed him good-bye, and watched through the kitchen window as he drove off in his black Mustang.
Once he was out of sight, Lucy started the coffee, then went back upstairs to take a long, hot shower. She figured she’d get into FBI headquarters early this morning, considering that she had a lot on her plate she needed to clear in the next twelve days. She wanted to locate as many of the black market babies—sold in the human trafficking ring she’d helped stop last month—as she could before she left.
But after her shower, she got caught up in reading the news while eating a bagel and drinking her coffee and suddenly she didn’t have as much time as she’d thought.
“Shoot,” she said and rushed back upstairs to finish getting ready. Sean texted her that the first of his short flights was done, but he was turning off his phone and removing the battery per orders of the Marshals. Truth was, he’d been told not to bring a cell phone at all and this process was a compromise.
She sent him an emoji kiss.
I love you.
They’d had a recent setback in their relationship and for a short time, Lucy wasn’t even certain they would survive the events. But instead of tearing them apart, they’d found a way to not only stay together, but love stronger. For nearly two years, Sean had been her rock of support. She’d leaned on him, he’d carried her when the weight of her life threatened to bury her. Now, she was strong enough to be Sean’s support when he needed it the most. Two years ago, she would have failed. Now, because of Sean, she could be the rock he needed.