Blind Faith (39 page)

“You would have felt
awful
?” Serena choked out.  “How do you think I felt after being brutalized by those…those monsters?  My guess is that you didn’t think about it all, because the only one you ever concern yourself with is
you
!”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” McKinley snapped, “the damage had already been done.  What purpose would it have served to confess my part in it and have everyone lay the blame on me?  It wasn’t my fault,” she said defensively.  “For all I know, you led Randy on and got him so hot and bothered, he couldn’t control himself.  Now, I’m not saying you asked for what happened, but at some point you must have made him think you
wanted
it.”

Serena’s fingers curled into her palms.  “
How dare you say that to me
,” she growled.  “I want you out of my house, out of my life, and if you
ever
say anything derogatory about Will again, I
will
tell Mom and Dad
everything
.”

“You wouldn’t do that,” McKinley exclaimed.

“Really?  Are you willing to take that chance?”

“But…you promised!  You swore you would never tell anyone, and now you’re saying…”

“I’m
saying
,” Serena cut her off, “that I lied.”  She crossed her arms, a cold smile on her face.  “I’m disappointed in you, McKinley.  Surely, the Queen of deception wasn’t fooled by a con game she
is
so familiar with?”

“You…you played me?”  McKinley sputtered.  “You deliberately tricked me into spilling my guts so you could blackmail me?”

“You got it, sister,” Serena’s laugh was bitter.  “Guess you’re not the only lying bitch in this family anymore.”

“You’ll be sorry for this, Serena.”

“No…no, I won’t.  The only thing I’m sorry about is having you for a sister and believing that somewhere in that arctic wasteland of a heart…you loved me.”  Serena drew in a ragged breath.  “Get out of here, McKinley.  It makes me sick to my stomach to be in the same room with you.”

“Fine,” McKinley took a few steps towards the door.  Serena heard her stop and was surprised by the strain in her voice when she spoke again.  “For what it’s worth…I never meant for them to hurt you.”

“Yeah…,” her smile was grim, “for what it’s worth.”

The door opened then closed.  The voices from the porch were muted, and brief.  McKinley couldn’t have told them much, but her subdued mood
must have
alarmed them because Rose and Will came rushing through the doorway a few seconds later.  Serena didn’t say anything, she didn’t have to.  Will gathered her in his arms and held her close
.  S
he sagged against him because that’s what you did when you loved someone
; y
ou trusted them enough to share your pain.

Will gently stroked her hair, his touch
instantly thawing the ice in her veins
.  “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he said softly.  “I imagine she said some pretty horrible things like she always does.”

From behind her, Rose swore under her breath.  It made Serena smile.

“She’ll go running straight to your mother,” Rose said.  “If we don’t leave soon, Leslie and Tony will be on your doorstep and put a stop to it.”

“No, she won’t tell them.”  Serena turned so she was partially facing Rose, not quite ready to give up the comfort Will’s arms afforded her.  “Even if she did, it wouldn’t matter.  I’m not going.”

Will repeated the profane words Rose had muttered only a moment before.  “It’s McKinley, isn’t it?  She said something that changed your mind.”

Serena started
to deny it, but in a way, he was right.  “Yes, I suppose she did.  Actually, she…helped me.”  Neither of them said anything, but she knew Rose and Will were exchanging cynical glances.  “I know it’s hard to believe, but she helped me see that I didn’t need to go back there to find closure.”

“We are still talking about McKinley, right?”  Rose said dryly.  “Your sister; a woman who wouldn’t save a drowning puppy for fear it would ruin her designer shoes,
that
McKinley?”

“No, hell hasn’t frozen over,” Serena laughed.  “It’s true McKinley helped me, but I never
said anything about her being kind or sensitive while she did it.”

Rose still wasn’t convinced.  “She didn’t threaten you, did she?”

Serena bit back the giggle that bubbled up her throat.  If she told them
she
was the one doing the threatening and blackmailing, they would never believe it.  McKinley
had
helped her, albeit inadvertently, because knowing the truth did bring closure.  It was incredibly liberating, and for the first time in years, Serena didn’t feel as if she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“No threats.  She just…convinced me that I needed to stop dwelling on the past and get on with my life.” 

“Are you sure about this?” Will asked.

“Positive.  As a matter of fact, I think we should celebrate by doing something fun.  What do you two think about exchanging our boots and old jeans for flip flops and swimsuits and taking a drive down to the beach?

“Sounds good to me,” Rose said warmly.  “You think Rufus will like splashing around in the water?”

“I’m sure of it,” Serena replied.  “Where is he anyway?  I’m surprised he didn’t come to check on me when you came back inside.”

“He planted himself in front of the door,” Will chuckled.  “I think he’s guarding it in case McKinley shows up again.”

She isn’t coming back
, Serena thought, refraining from saying it out loud.  It would only lead to questions and she refused to have their day clouded with dark thoughts or somber conversations.  She’d meant what she said to McKinley; she would never breathe a word about what transpired between them this morning as long as her sister
left Will alone.  And she didn’t want Will harboring anymore hard feelings towards McKinley than he already
did
. 

She knew how he would react if she divulged what really happened that night.  Will didn’t have it in his heart to forgive McKinley.  Serena wasn’t sure she did either
.  B
ut if that day ever came, she didn’t want to feel the need to justify her reasons to anyone but herself. 

It was regretful that she would never be close to McKinley, but they had never really shared a sisterly bond to begin with so it wasn’t a tragic loss.  And there was always the hope, however slim, that McKinley would discover telling the truth was a cleansing experience and want to do it on a regular basis.  As for herself, Serena was ready to turn the page and begin a new chapter in her life.  One that was filled with laughter and love and maybe one day…forgiveness.

                       
                                        
***

Will
watched Serena closely over days and weeks that followed her run in with McKinley.  She hadn’t volunteered to tell him about it and he hadn’t asked,
al
though he knew there was no way in hell McKinley would have offered any encouraging words unless it was completely by accident.  Still, he couldn’t deny there was a dramatic change in Serena and he was content to let it go.  She seemed truly happy now; unencumbered by the nightmares that used to plague her, she was light-hearted and always had a ready smile on her face.

Tonight they were going to her parents’ house to have dinner with her brothers and Rose.  McKinley had been blessedly absent from their lives, another mysterious outcome of Serena’s talk with her, but he wasn’t about to question that one either.  If it bothered Serena, she never said so, and tonight was far too special to bring up something that might upset her.  She knew where they were going, of course.  What she didn’t know was that he’d spoken with her parents earlier in the week and asked them to plan a celebration dinner. 

A nervous flutter rippled through his stomach when he dipped his hand inside his jacket pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.  It seemed as if he’d waited a lifetime for this moment and now that it was here, Will was starting to panic. 
What if he bumbled the words he’d practiced so diligently?  What if the ring didn’t fit?  Oh God, what if she said no?
 

His worrisome thoughts came to a screeching halt
when Serena emerged from the bathroom.  His eyes slowly glided down the perfection of her slender body and up again.  Golden curls framed her beautiful face, and she was wearing the pale blue cocktail dress Rose had brought over yesterday.  It was simple, but elegant, and hugged every delicious curve as if it was tailored made especially for her.  She was stunning…breathtaking, and Will couldn’t even begin to imagine a life without her.

Serena paused for a moment in the middle of the room before a soft smile curved her lips and she moved in his direction.  “So you like the dress,” she said, stopping in front of him to do a slow pirouette.

“How did…” the words locked in his throat.

“How did I know where you were?” 

His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.  “Uh
,
huh.” 
God, he sounded like an idiot!

Serena leaned towards him with an impish grin.  “The same way I
knew
you liked the dress; I could hear you panting.”

Will dragged her into his arms.  “Witch,” he murmured before taking possession of her soft lips.

Heat curled deep inside him, as it always did when the passion between them flared, but over the past several weeks their love making had soared to new heights.  It had been good before, but there was always a part of Serena that he couldn’t quite reach;
a part of herself she held back
, as if she was afraid to let go.  Now…she was fearless in her giving, and there was an intensity to it that left him in a euphoric stupor afterwards.  Life with Serena was a euphoric experience all its own and he was anxious to make her his wife and start a family.

“I love you, Will Duncan,” she
said in breathless whisper
.

“I
love you too.  I also
have a surprise for you,” he
waltzed
her backwards. 

Serena gasped when the back of her legs hit the mattress.  “If seducing me is the surprise, I’m afraid your timing stinks.  We’re supposed to leave in fifteen minutes.”

“Seducing you did cross my mind,” Will admitted, “but that’s not the surprise.  Sit down, honey, there’s something I want to say before we go.”

“Sounds serious.”

Will kissed the corner of her mouth where a frown had started to form.  “Sit,” he ordered. 

Once she was seated, he pulled the box from his pocket and plucked the ring out.  Kneeling down in front of her, Will took her right hand in his and brought it to his lips.  He lifted his eyes and let his gaze sweep lovingly over her face, the speech he’d rehearsed over and over flying right out of his head. 
This one is from the heart, my love.

“I love you, Serena.  I started falling when you were nothing but knees and elbows and a shy smile, and I
have
been tumbling helplessly ever since.  You’ve grown into a
beautiful, desirable woman, and I am completely captivated by you.  You
are
intelligent, kind, loving…everything a man could ask for and more.”

“You’re starting to worry me,” she said with a nervous laugh.  “Is…is something wrong?”

“No…yes…I mean, there is something wrong, but you can make it right with one word.
 

What I’m trying to say is…I love you, Serena, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”  Will lifted her hand and slipped the ring on her finger, relieved to find it was a perfect fit.  “Serena, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”