“I’m not looking for revenge. I just want us back in our snow globe.”
Julia didn’t need to look for revenge. I had plenty for the two of us. My list didn’t stop at Phillip. As she’d already said, the Butlers were in on this too. “Skylar helped you?” I asked.
A smile curled her beautiful lips. “For the first time in years, it felt like he and I were friends again. None of the pressure for love and forever that we both knew wasn’t real.” She swallowed. “He’s not guilty. I mean, he is of other things, but in this debacle, Skylar was as confused as I was. He said he was supposed to save the day. My mom said my marriage license to him hadn’t expired.”
“Phillip was going to leave you at the altar?”
She held tight to my hands. “I don’t know. He dismissed everything I said. I thought you no longer cared.”
My palm gently cupped her cheek. “Never doubt my love, Julia. I’m many things. I’ve done horrible things and while I may deserve anything and everything that is thrown my way, you don’t. You’re going to learn about things that I’m not proud of.” My thoughts went to the call with Lena. “I’m dealing with a new revelation right now.”
“What?”
“More of the damage I caused.” I shook my head. “I’d give away every dime I ever made to show you that I’m a changed man.”
“Van, I don’t want to change you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do. I love you. I love the man who saved me, who has shown me physical love, and above all, the man who listens.”
Her lips brushed mine.
“Our snow globe is waiting.” I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her against me. Julia reached beneath my sport coat, holding onto my torso. With my chin on the top of her head, I inhaled scents of fruit and sunshine as my heart rate took on its first normal cadence since Julia slipped from my grasp.
Her stare turned my way as my phone vibrated.
“I don’t want to let go of you,” I admitted, wanting to ignore the world.
“I’m not going anywhere without you, Mr. Sherman.”
Pulling the phone from my jacket pocket, I saw the icon, indicating there were eleven missed calls. The incoming call was from Connie. “I should take this.”
Julia nodded as she sat up.
Beyond the windows of the sedan, the tall buildings were giving way as Michael took an entrance to I-90. As our speed increased, the heaviness of the city fell from my shoulders. I was never happy in the city and watching it disappear behind us was the relief I didn’t know I needed.
“Connie,” I said, answering her call.
“Mr. Sherman, thank God you answered.”
The relief was short-lived. “What is it?”
“Andrew called. There are state police at the airport.”
My body stiffened. “Why?”
“They want to search your plane.”
“For what?”
“They won’t say.”
“Tell Andrew to wait until my legal team is informed.”
“I took the liberty of calling Oscar Fields. He called a firm in Chicago. They have a representative on their way to the airport.”
“Tell Oscar to call me when he knows something.” I spoke to Michael. “Change of plans.”