Lancelot's Lady (35 page)

Rhianna
'
s eyes filled with tears.
"
My father was dead on impact.
"

"
No,
"
JT said.
"
He was alive when I got to him. He said
'
Anna
'
and then he died.
"

"
Oh my God,
"
she said with a moan.

"
When I realized your mother was pregnant,
"
JT said,
"
I knew I had to call it in. I called 911 right away, using your father
'
s cell phone. That
'
s when I saw his wallet on the seat. I needed to know their names. For some reason that was vital to me.
"
He took a deep breath.
"
I found the photo of your mother. Susanna. I don
'
t know why I took it. I don
'
t even recall doing so.
"
He paused.
"
You look so much like your mother.
"

Rhianna
'
s mind reeled. She didn
'
t know what to say.

"
All these years,
"
Jonathan said, visibly dazed,
"
you let me believe you
'
d had an affair.
"

"
I didn
'
t know how else to explain having Anna
'
s photo. The guilt was excruciating, overwhelming.
"
JT gave a weary shrug.
"
Maybe I wanted someone to blame me for something. So I let you.
"

"
Did my mother say anything before she died?
"
Rhianna asked.

"
She told me about you. She asked me to take care of her baby.
"
A sob escaped him then.
"
I stayed with her until I could hear the ambulance.
"

"
But you left them,
"
Rhianna cried.

"
I know, and there
'
s no excuse for my cowardice. I tried to make things right. I sent money anonymously to your aunt and uncle, but when they died and you went into foster care, I lost track of you. I am so very sorry, Rhianna.
"

JT
'
s admission filled her with overwhelming sadness. She couldn
'
t even look at him. Or Jonathan. All she wanted to do was to run to her room and lick her wounds.

"
Rhianna,
"
JT whispered.
"
Can you ever forgive me?
"

She couldn
'
t speak. She was afraid of what would come out of her mouth.

"
I think she needs some time,
"
Jonathan told JT.

Rhianna walked to the window and stared out over the professionally landscaped lawns and perfect flowerbeds. Her parents probably would have given anything to live in a home like this. But they were never given the chance. Because of JT. Because he wasn
'
t paying attention.

Was Jonathan
'
s father really to blame, or was it fate?

Her own words to Jonathan came back to haunt her.

People who are dying have a deep need to make amends.

Could she forgive JT? Was it as easy as just saying the words?

She didn
'
t think so.

Someone touched her shoulder.

"
Are you all right?
"
Jonathan asked.

She crossed her arms protectively
.
"
I don
'
t know. I
'
m numb.
"

Flicking a look over her shoulder, she watched JT. He was slumped in the chair, his head in his hands. Quiet sobs came from him―tired, worn out cries of a man who
'
d suffered, who was still suffering.

Did she want him to suffer m
ore?

No.

Her parents were gone. She
'
d lived with that knowledge all her life. What was done was done. There was no going back, no way to change things. She
'
d lost her parents. JT had lost his marriage and his son. Jonathan had lost his father for so many years.

Hadn
'
t they all paid enough?

Exhausted to the bone, she cleared her throat.
"
I forgive you, JT. Too many people have already suffered because of this secret. I forgive you.
"

The old man broke down and she hurried to his side, holding him in her arms until his weeping grew quiet. Over his shoulder, she watched Jonathan. He stared at her with a look of amazement. And something else. Hope?

Her heart did a quick pitter-patter.

~ * ~

That evening, after JT had retired to his room, Rhianna sat in front of the living room fireplace, staring into the flames. Her life had taken a series of unexpected turns, the last one leaving her breathless and unsure of the future.

She felt utterly lost.

What now?

Jonathan entered the room, a pensive look on his face.

"
Did you have a good talk with your father?
"
she asked.

"
Better than I
'
d expected. JT was quite taken with Misty.
"

"
I expect the feelings were mutual.
"

He grinned.
"
Yeah.
"

Jonathan sat down on the couch beside her, his thigh brushing against hers. She
'
d never been more aware of him. Or more terrified of what he might say.

"
So what now?
"

"
Well, I guess that depends, Rhianna.
"

"
On what?
"

He took her hand.
"
On whether you can forgive me like you did JT.
"

Rhianna tried to ignore the stirrings in her heart.
"
What do you need forgiveness for?
"

"
For thinking you were sent to spy on me.
"
His thumb caressed her hand.
"
For not believing you.
"

"
Water under the bridge.
"

"
Is it?
"
His gaze intensified.
"
I
'
ve been a complete dolt. A real idiot.
"

"
Go on,
"
she said, smirking.

He entwined her fingers with his and stared at their hands.
"
I can
'
t imagine going back to Angelina
'
s Isle without you.
"

Her breath caught in the back of her throat.

"
It won
'
t be the same there without you,
"
he added.
"
And Misty really needs you.
"

"
Misty?
"

He pulled her close.
"
I
need you, Rhianna.
"

"
For how long?
"
she asked, gazing into his deep blue eyes.
"
Summer fling time is over.
"

"
I don
'
t want a fling.
"
He kissed her palm.
"
I want forever.
"

Rhianna could feel her pulse beating rapidly.

Is he saying what I think he
'
s saying?

"
What
'
s that mean,
'
forever
'
?
"
she asked.

"
Don
'
t you know?
"
He leaned forward and kissed her.
"
I love you, Rhianna McLeod.
"

"
Really?
"

He chuckled.
"
Do I have to prove it?
"

"
Yes, please.
"

When his lips met hers, Rhianna no longer felt lost. Her knight had found her and rescued her, and soon he would sweep her away to his island castle.

She could think of nothing she wanted more.

Epilogue

Three days later, Rhianna and Jonathan were married in the backyard of Lance Manor. Misty, the flower girl, sprinkled pink hibiscus and rose petals on the grass. Behind her, JT escorted Rhianna down the floral aisle and stood next to his son as the best man. Mrs. Atkinson was Rhianna
'
s Matron of Honor, while Marvin, Higginson, Roland and Denny watched on and exchanged hoots, nudges and proud grins. Rhianna couldn
'
t have asked for a more perfect wedding.

"
I have one request,
"
JT told her just minutes before they walked down the aisle.

"
Anything, JT.
"

"
I want to see Angelina
'
s Isle. I think I
'
d like to spend my last days there. With you, Jon and…Sirena.
"

"
Misty,
"
she corrected, kissing the old man
'
s cheek.

"
Yes…Misty.
"
He gave her a confused look.
"
Isn
'
t that what I said?
"

She smiled.
"
Of course it was.
"

When the music started, JT said,
"
I think there
'
s a party going on in there.
"

She took his arm.
"
Let
'
s go see, shall we?
"

~ * ~

They left for Angelina
'
s Isle the next day.

That first night back on the island, Rhianna stood on the dock and watched the setting sun. Seated in a wooden chair beside her, JT stared out at the ocean, a soft smile on his grizzled face. It was wonderful to see him smiling. He
'
d been experiencing excruciating headaches that day.

"
It
'
s beautiful here,
"
JT said, almost to himself.
"
The air is so fresh and fragrant.
"

"
That was my first impression,
"
she said.

A rustling of leaves made her glance over her shoulder.

Jonathan stood on the beach, waiting for her. In his arms was a large canvas.

"
I
'
ll be back in a few minutes,
"
she said, patting JT
'
s shoulder.

"
Take your time, dear. I
'
m not going anywhere tonight.
"

Rhianna strolled along the dock, her heart filled with love and happiness.
"
What have you got, Jonathan?
"

"
A new painting. I couldn
'
t wait to show it to you.
"

He turned the canvas toward her and she let out an audible gasp. In the painting, a woman reclined on a chaise lounge, with a wisp of silk draped across her naked body and long, auburn hair flowing down over her breasts. Around her neck, she wore a single string of pearls. Her expression was dreamy, as though she were waiting for her lover.

The woman had Rhianna
'
s face.

"
You can
'
t sell that,
"
she said, horrified.

Jonathan grinned.
"
I wasn
'
t planning to.
"

"
Why
'
d you paint it then?
"

"
To remind me that you
'
re mine.
"

Rhianna wound her arms around his neck.
"
You need reminding, Sir Lancelot?
"

"
Each and every day, milady,
"
he whispered, his lips capturing hers.

~ * ~