“Yes. Luc will be here in ten minutes.” Her cheeks warmed as she stepped back to let him in. “I’ve hardly seen him these past couple of weeks, as he’s been working long hours to catch up at work, and I’ve had so many FBI interviews and paperwork.”
He held up the portfolio. “I’m afraid I have a few more papers for you to sign for your exit from the witness protection program.”
“What more is there to do?” She didn’t mean to sound testy, but she was more than ready to get her life back—and hopefully spend a lot of time with Luc. Maybe she’d go back to school to finish her degree or open her own beauty salon. At least she had some money in the bank after living frugally while inside WITSEC. So many possibilities, but she wasn’t going to rush.
“You know how the government needs every i dotted and t crossed...in triplicate. Don’t worry—it won’t take long.”
“I hope not, as I have a lot to talk about with Luc.” Including what he might like for Christmas, now just over a week away. She led him into the eat-in kitchen, where there was space to spread the papers on the bare counter.
“Just sign where I put the sticky arrows, and I’ll be out of here before Luc shows up.” Mac winked at her. “I heard you had a session with another hypnotherapist.”
“I’ve met twice with a female psychiatrist who’s trained in hypnotherapy.” She set the papers down on the counter.
“Did it help?”
“Yes,” Priscilla said. “I finally remember my entire time with Luc that night in Vegas.” What a relief that had been, to have all her memories of that night fully restored to her.
“And marrying him?” Mac leaned against the counter.
“That too.” She picked up the pen Mac had laid on top of the papers. “What exactly am I signing?”
But Mac ignored her question. “What are you going to do now that you’ve remembered everything?”
“I’m not sure. That’s what we’re going to talk about tonight.”
He leveled a look at her, his eyes serious. “I might have had a few doubts about Luc when I first met him, but his actions proved that he’s a man worthy of your love.”
She couldn’t deny the way her heart vibrated like an electric razor every time she spoke to Luc. Today she’d awakened early in anticipation of his arrival late this afternoon, and had spent half the day mooning over his absence.
Mac gently took her hand in his. “Listen, Priscilla. I know you’ve been through a lot these past few weeks, and the idea that you can live your life without fear is still new to you. But I will say as a married man of eight years who’s still madly in love with my wife—I think you and Luc are very well suited for each other.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then released his grip. “Now, let’s go over these papers, so I can leave before he arrives.”
Mac’s words about Luc lingered in the back of her mind as Mac explained the documents and she signed the papers. For the first time in forever, Priscilla believed she could view the future not with fear or trepidation, but with hope, joy...and love.
* * *
Standing in front of Priscilla’s apartment door, Luc stepped to the left and took one final glance at his reflection in the front room window. He smoothed back his freshly cut hair, then adjusted his grip on the bouquet of red and white roses. He was acting like a schoolboy on his first date, his nerves tingling with anticipation.
During the weeks since the recapture of Culvert, Luc had had a lot of time to contemplate his future, and he’d quickly come to the conclusion that it would be very bleak without Priscilla in his life. Now all he had to do was convince her that their hasty marriage was a firm enough foundation upon which they could build a life together. He’d even taken the bold step of telling his family about his wife, and his mother had immediately insisted Luc bring Priscilla home with him to celebrate Christmas.
Knocking, he waited for her to open the door.
But instead of Priscilla greeting him with a smile, Mac stood there. “Hey, Luc. Come on in. Priscilla will be out in a minute.”
Luc entered, clutching the flowers like a shield. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”