Closing Books (18 page)

“That’s fast. Can we start using it for the practice lessons?” Joseph asked.
 

Dan’s brows furrowed. “We’ll need to put in the mats, but with the rest of the renovations, it’s going to be a mess. Unless you’re fine with cleaning it up yourself, I would suggest you find another place for that.”

The guys continued their conversation about the gym while she looked at the table of food.
 

Feeling that someone was staring at her, Evelyn looked up and saw Marianne’s eyes on her. “Is there something you want to ask?”

Marianne’s gaze flickered onto Dan for a second before returning to her.

“I don’t mind you asking.”

“Mrs. Moore is dead; you saw Amy last night…What about Leah?”

Dan reached out and took her hand, watching her for a moment.
 

She pinched her lips together. “I don’t know.” Besides the nightmare, she hadn’t thought much about Leah. Even in the home, Leah seemed to have lost all determination to fight. “Once the police stepped in, they separated us and I hadn’t seen her since.”

“Why are you so ashamed of it? You went through hell, and you’re still here, successful and alive. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Joseph said.

The corner of her lips turned up.

She didn’t have an answer for his question. She’d heard Kate say that so many times, and she’d repeated it to herself over and over, but she supposed she never believed it.
 

“I, I didn’t mean…don’t…” Joseph said with his palms up, glancing over to Marianne and Kate for help.

Only when Dan pulled her into his arms did she realize that she was crying. She hid her face in Dan’s chest. “I’m fine, I’m fine. Really…” She straightened herself, but Dan kept his arm around her.
 

“Because she’s messed up, just like her house,” Kate said and grinned at her.

“My house is perfectly fine.” She turned to Dan. “Right?”

Dan hesitated for a moment, but eventually figured out the right reaction. “Right, of course.”

Everyone laughed while Evelyn narrowed her eyes and stared at Dan. “You know, from what I understand, you’re supposed to stand by your date.”

“I did.” Dan glanced around the table and repeated, “I did!”

Tyler grinned and shook his head. “Key words—I’m sorry.”

“Wow, I never thought there’d be a day where I’d be taking relationship advice from Ty.”

“Oh! That reminds me, Eve,” Kate said, fluttering her eyelids at her. “Dan was
really
mean to me yesterday. He
shouted
at me.” With a small pout, she continued. “He says it was my fault that you went missing.”

Dan raised his hands. “Wait, I didn’t shout
at
you. My back was facing you, so that makes it impossible for me to yell
at
you. I was just stating my opinion at a louder decibel.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes at Dan. “Really? That’s your excuse?”

“What happened to standing by your date?”

“There are exceptions.”

“You’re pure evil,” Dan said as he looked over Evelyn’s shoulder.
 

“That’s my wife you’re speaking to.”
 

“That’s how you should’ve reacted when I asked you about my house,” Evelyn said.

Dan opened his mouth to speak, but changed his mind at the last minute. He shook his head, and after a moment, he said, “I’m sorry.”

Ryan leaned back and laughed at them. “I’m
never
going to end up like this.” Pushing himself off the chair, he popped the last piece of hash brown into his mouth and hobbled out of the kitchen with Marianne’s help.

Everyone finished up their food and headed to work after Kate shooed them off.

Just as Dan and Evelyn were getting into his car, Evelyn’s phone rang, but after checking the caller ID, she dropped her phone back into her bag and got into the car.

“Is that Amy?”

“No.” She noticed his skepticism, so she continued. “Really.” Then, she gave him a sheepish smile. “You know the bad-in-relationships thing that Kate said about me? That includes relationship with clients. It’s better that Kate handles them.”

Dan grinned and shook his head.
 

“And Dan, whatever happens between us, whatever stupid thing I do, please don’t take it out on Kate.”

“Eve, I wasn’t—”

“I know. I know you didn’t mean it, and trust me, she isn’t angry. It’s just…I
am
a ridiculous mess. The way I do things, the way I behave. I know she ends up being the one to clean up my mess, but she never complains—except about the cleanliness of my house.”

“And she keeps Ty in check. Even when he could’ve, and probably would’ve, been all crazy about Kate getting hurt.”

Evelyn nodded. “Exactly. Remember what happened with Joanne?”

Dan laughed as he thought about Joanne’s crazy behavior. “So, if I ever get into a fight with Kate, it’s safe to assume you’ll
always
take her side?”

“Oh, come on, this isn’t a fair question.”

“Why not? I’ll pick you over the guys anytime.”
 

“Kate will never pick a fight with you for nothing. She isn’t unreasonable.”

“I’m saying what if. If she’s being unreasonable, you’ll be on my side?”

“No…but I’ll probably tell her to be kind to you for my sake, and she will be.”

“Is that the best answer you can give?”

“You want me to lie? I can do that if you want,” she said with a mischievous grin.

He laughed and shook his head. “And Eve, I’ve completely forgotten about Anne, but thanks for helping with her school admissions and all.”

“I knew you’d want that for her.”

“Thanks,” he said, then continued. “My mom flew into a rage when she realized Anne was going to Paris.”

“At Joanne? I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Who says at Joanne? At me, of course. But it was the first time that Joanne actually looked apologetic about it.”

“She emailed me, sent me quite a few photos, said she was having a lot of fun. She promised she was studying hard, too.”

“That’s good. I’ll see you tonight?” Dan asked as he stopped his car right in front of the elevator of her office building.

She nodded and was about to get out when Dan stopped her, turning her head back toward him.
 

Leaning in close, Dan brushed her hair back and said, “Have a good day.” Then, he closed in and kissed her.

Evelyn hung up the phone and checked the order list on her laptop, making sure that she had ordered everything she needed for the new project.
 

“Ready to go?”

She looked up from her laptop and smiled as she saw Dan leaning by the door. Then she saw what he was wearing.

“I know I look good, but you don’t have to ogle at me like that.”

Of course he looked good.
 

He wore a black suit with a midnight blue shirt. He’d buttoned up the suit, showing off his sculpted body.
 

She glanced at her own attire, a brown, three-quarter sleeve satin shirt tugged into her faded jeans. “Where are we going? I think I’m underdressed.”

Dan lifted the black paper bag he was holding and handed it over to her. “I asked Kate for the size, so if it’s wrong…”

Laughing, she took the bag from him. “Give me a minute.”

She changed into the simple, sleeveless black dress that ended slightly above her knees, all the while wondering where they were going.

She returned to her office and grinned at Dan. “Fits perfectly,” she said. “So, are you going to tell me where are we heading?”

Dan shrugged. “You’ll see.”

He waited by the door while she grabbed her bag and followed him out.
 

She kept pestering him about the plans for the night, but Dan either shrugged or tell her that she would find out soon enough. Eventually, she gave up. He was obviously determined to keep his mouth shut.

She looked out of the window and tried guessing where they were going, realizing that she had taken the same route so many times. “We’re all dressed up to have dinner at the mansion?”

Again, Dan merely smiled, drawing another frustrated sigh from her.
 

Instead of driving all the way up to the mansion, Dan kept looking into the woods and parked his car by the start of a line of candles leading into it.

Her brows drew closer and she turned to Dan. “All right, I know it’s supposed to be some sort of surprise, but I’ve got to say, this is scaring me a bit.”

Dan laughed as he got out of the car, jogging over to open the door for her. “Trust me,” he said, stretching his hand out for her.

She sighed again, but took his hand anyway. As she stood by the car, she squinted, looking into the woods. “I hate the woods. I can’t believe Kate chose to stay here.”

Wrapping his arm over her waist, Dan pulled her closer toward him. “Don’t worry, no serial killer is going to get you; not while I’m with you anyway.”

Her brows raised and he probably noticed her astonishment.
 

“I called Kate to ask for help in preparing this. She told me about the
When a
Stranger Call
movie you girls watched.”

She laughed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s one reason. I just don’t like quiet places; feels as though someone can jump out at you anytime.”

“Well, it’s quiet now.” Pointing toward the rest of the gang, he continued. “Whenever Ryan is around…”

She laughed again, leaning closer to Dan.

Dan smiled and kissed her hair, tightening the grip around her waist.
 

“Is this supposed to be some romantic thing? Because it feels kind of cultic with all the candles and all of us in black.”

“You should stop watching horror movies.”

“I’m don’t believe in ghosts. It’s psychos I’m afraid of.” She smiled wryly, then shook her head and continued. “Are you going to tell me what we’re doing here?”

“Soon,” Dan answered.

“Why aren’t you all dressed up like the rest of us?” Evelyn asked Ryan as they neared. Everyone else was dressed in their black, formal attire; only Ryan wore a T-shirt.

Raising his arm with the cast, Ryan said, “I know it’s a thinner cast than before, but I still can’t fit my arm through the sleeve. And do you know how much effort it takes for me to hop here? Especially when Ty only has eyes for Kate, leaving me to Joe. Don’t complain.”
 

“What’s wrong with me? At least I bothered to help,” Joseph said.

Dan gave Ryan a mock punch on his arm, but it was enough to send him wobbling and everyone else laughing.
 

“Yeah, yeah. Get your cheap thrill, laugh at the cripple.”

“All right, can someone tell me what are we doing here?”

“You haven’t told her?” Kate asked, her eyes wide.
 

“We’re here for a funeral,” Dan said.

Evelyn leaned back, taking a better look at Dan. “Whose?”

“Mandy Shannon.”

Her jaw dropped. She took a step away from Dan, moving out from his arms. “What’re you talking about?”

“You’ve changed your name, your life, but you haven’t left your past behind. Let it go. Close the books and move on.”

She continued staring at him, her face blank.
 

Dan took a step toward her, closing the distance between them, and placed his arm over her shoulders. Nodding at Mr. Sawyer, Dan signaled for them to begin.
 

Clearing his throat before speaking, Mr. Sawyer said, “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today in memory of Mandy Shannon.”

Evelyn looked up and watched as Tyler reached into his pocket, taking out a folded piece of paper and handing it to her. She opened the paper, and immediately her hands began trembling.
 

Dan pulled her closer, running his hand up and down her arm.
 

She continued to stare at the picture of the house she was trapped in for over three years. Her tears formed blobs of circles on the picture, smudging some of the ink. She turned into Dan’s chest, forcing herself to take in a deep breath.

Dan brushed down the length of her hair, his arm holding her tightly against him. “It’s all right. It’s over.”

Around them, all eyes teared. Marianne dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief while Kate hid her face in Tyler’s chest.

Ryan hobbled forward, nearly collapsing onto them. “I know she’s yours, but I need to give her a hug.” He hopped forward and wrapped his arms around Evelyn from behind.
 

Everyone, even Evelyn, laughed.

“Thank you,” Evelyn said, sniffling.

Ryan hopped away, giving Evelyn some space. “When you’re ready, you can put the picture in there,” Joseph said, pointing to the small ditch that he’d dug.

Taking another glimpse at the house, she took in a deep breath and bent down to place the picture into the ditch.

Mr. Sawyer then continued. “A girl who was made to go through what no one should ever have, but survived it all.” When he finished his sentence, he dropped a slip of paper, on which was written what he’d just said, into the same ditch.

“A girl, who somehow, throughout all the insanity, managed to stay honorable,” Marianne added, bending down to place her slip of paper.

“A girl whose courage exceeds many men,” Ryan said with a grin, and since he couldn’t bend forward without falling over, he folded the paper and flung it in.

Joseph looked Evelyn right in her eyes and dropped his paper into the ditch as he said, “A girl who was completely misunderstood and neglected, but still managed to find her voice.”

“A girl who never gave up in spite of the horrors she faced, who even after being abandoned and betrayed, never lost her spirit.” Kate stepped toward Evelyn and gave her a hug before turning to place her paper on top of the stack.

“A living testimony that the past doesn’t have to shape your future.”

Evelyn nodded as Tyler placed his slip over Kate’s.

“A girl who stared fear and demons in the eye and emerged triumphant.” Giving her a peck on her forehead, Dan bent forward and dropped the paper in.

Tyler reached into his pocket and took out a pen and a blank slip of paper for Evelyn.