Always the One

by Tara Randel

  But as things stood right now, he’d be lucky if she ever spoke to him again.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  A WEEK AND A HALF after her mother was discharged from the hospital, Hannah worked up the nerve to walk into the Prescott Gallery. It was empty. Contemporary music flowed from the hidden speakers. A fresh bouquet of colorful flowers scented the room. Squaring her shoulders, she moved toward the back office to complete her mission.

  The past few days hadn’t been easy. She and her mom had sat down for an overdue conversation. You would have thought living together for years under strained circumstances would have kept them from secrets, yet it hadn’t. But after explanations, tears and, finally, hugs, they were able to overcome their differences. Hannah had to let the hurt of her mother not trusting her go. She loved her mother and despite everything, wanted to keep their relationship intact.

  Hannah had also worked up the courage to tell Lynny who she really was and why she and her mother had been in hiding. Instead of being mad at the deception, Lynny told her it was the best story ever and wanted to write a book about it. Happy to still have her best friend on her side, Hannah agreed to give her pointers. Until Lynny decided it would have to be a romance novel and Derrick would be cast as the hero. In that case, Hannah would pass.

  Derrick. That was another story.

  Jonathan emerged from his office, leafing through some papers. He stopped short when he saw her. His lips pulled into a tight line. Anger? Probably. She deserved it.

  “Hello,” she said uncertainly, moving closer. She wiped her damp palms on her jeans and suddenly grew warm under her heavy sweater.

  He nodded but didn’t voice a greeting.

  Okay, this was going to be harder than she’d thought.

  Ready to take care of the business at hand, she reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out the diamond engagement ring Jonathan had told her to hold on to until she was ready to move forward with their plans. This time instead of refusing, he took the ring from her fingers and placed it in his jacket pocket without trying to talk her into keeping it.

  He cleared his throat and asked, “I guess you’ll be moving on with Derrick now?”

  “No. He left. I’m staying here.”

  Astonishment flashed over his features. “I must say, I’m surprised. He certainly worked overtime to convince you that the two of you belong together.”

  He had, until she’d had enough. Each day she’d put off any conversation with him, unable to accept what he’d done. With her pride holding him at arm’s length, she hadn’t given him a reason to stick around. And in the exact opposite fashion than when he arrived, Derrick accepted her silence and gave her plenty of room to decide the direction of their relationship. Like Nevada to Florida room.

  “I’ll admit, I wasn’t thrilled when he was around,” Jonathan said. “But on reflection, he did bring an inner light out of you, Anna. Something I was never able to do.”

  She looked down at her boots. “Hannah.”

  “Excuse me?”

  This time she met his bewildered gaze. “My real name is Hannah.”

  His shoulders slumped as if he was finally resigned to the endless hurdles between them. “Well. I see there are even more layers to you that I don’t know about.”

  Uncomfortable, she shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’m afraid so.”

  Jonathan sent her a strained smile. “Then it’s a shame you let Derrick walk away.”

  “Come again?”

  “It was very plain to everyone around you that he made you whole. Happy. I would have thought after all you’d been through that you would have fought for him.”

  Why didn’t she fight for him? The answer was simple. He’d betrayed her once again. But in the past days, as she’d replayed everything he’d done in her mind, she realized that his actions had been to protect her. Both times. She really couldn’t fault him for that.

  Too little too late.

  “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with us,” she said, truly meaning it. “Can you forgive me?”

  “So am I. And with time, perhaps.”

  An awkward silence descended. She wanted to say more, but was it fair to Jonathan? Nothing he said would change her mind about breaking the engagement. And she’d certainly hurt him. A decent person would leave now and let him get on with his life. That’s what she intended to do.

  He must have sensed her withdrawal. Nodding in the direction of the door, he said, “Go live your best life, Hannah.”

  She pressed her lips together, regret and gratitude vying for first place. “You, too.”

  Stepping outside, she pulled her scarf closer to her ears. In time Jonathan would forgive her. Can you say the same about Derrick? Could she? She’d forgiven her mother, hadn’t she? Was it harder to make peace with Derrick because he’d wounded her heart? The heart she had so much wanted to give to him? She stood alone as people hustled by, busy with their daily routines. Moving forward while she felt suspended in time.

  Jonathan was right; she had been different with Derrick. Because she loved him. The hurt was fading now and the stark truth was that she’d let him walk out of her world. By thinking her pain was deeper than his, she’d pushed him away when all he wanted to do was love her.

  Her heart sank. What had she done?

  * * *

  AN HOUR LATER Hannah unlocked the front door and stepped into the house she shared with her mother. Sophia hurried out from the kitchen. “You’re home.”

  “Yes. I told Lynny everything after school. Then I drove to the gallery to see Jonathan.”

  Her mother cringed. “And?”

  “Lynny thinks the entire story is bookworthy.” She unwound her scarf and tossed it, along with her jacket, on the couch. “Jonathan was quite the gentleman about the end of our relationship.”

  Her mother placed an arm around Hannah. “What a day. How about you come into the kitchen. I have a surprise for you.”

  Without much enthusiasm, Hannah let her mother drag her into the other room. When she recognized the person waiting there, she thought she might faint.

  It took long seconds for her voice to work. “Dad?” she croaked. Not waiting for an answer, she ran across the room to hug her father. “How?”

  “Derrick sent a PI to find me,” he explained. “I was informed by the Bureau that it was safe to be reunited.”

  Derrick had done this? He had mentioned he’d been looking for her father, but not that he’d found him. She wanted to be mad at him for risking her dad’s safety, but was too happy to muster up the appropriate fury.

  “When did you get here?”

  “An hour ago,” he said, wrapping his arm around Sophia’s waist as if she never wanted to be separated again. “We have so much catching up to do.”

  After a quick hug for his wife, her father walked over and kissed Hannah on the forehead. “Thank you.” He stopped to visibly compose himself. “Your mother told me how well you’ve taken care of her, especially through her health scare.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I thought it was ever a good idea for me to part ways.”

  “You were right from the beginning, Dad. People were looking for us.”

  He nodded, wiping his eyes. “I thought by moving away I’d take the spotlight off you and your mother. I’m sorry it didn’t turn out that way. Or that things didn’t end happily with Derrick.”

  Not that it mattered now. Hannah had flat-out refused to see him. But even in her stubbornness she couldn’t deny that she missed him as much as she needed air to breathe. He’d been the only man she’d ever loved, would ever love, and in the height of anger, she let him leave.

  Except that anger didn’t soothe her when she was lonely, didn’t reassure her with a comforting touch or searching glance when she had doubts. Derrick could have done all that if she’d let him in and now he was gone.
>
  Her mother’s voice interrupted her miserable thoughts. “Derrick explained what he’d done before he left.”

  “What do you mean?” Hannah asked.

  “Even though I was the one who set things in motion with the gemstones, Derrick found a way to unite us.” Sophia walked to Hannah. “The man your father testified against wanted revenge. He had our complete family history. Knew you and Derrick had dated in high school, so he had people keep watch on Derrick for years, hoping he might be the one to lead him to our family. Derrick’s superior at the FBI discovered a connection between the man you talked to at the gallery and someone who worked at the Bureau who was leaking information. When Derrick left to find you because of the gem I sent, the man was alerted and followed Derrick here.”

  From the beginning, Derrick had been as puzzled by events as she was. Yet he stuck it out, ready to insert himself in a dangerous situation to make sure Hannah was safe. To make up for the past. And how did she repay him? By turning her back on him.

  “So that feeling of being followed wasn’t in my head?”

  “No.” Her mother turned to smile at her dad. “Your father taught you well. When it counted, you knew to listen to your instincts.”

  Relief washed over her. Derrick had believed her when she’d expressed her concern. He’d been on her side and she’d let him go. Even though he wasn’t responsible, knowing Derrick, he was probably blaming himself for bringing danger to her after she’d successfully remained in hiding for years. Her heart softened at the idea of the strong, honorable man kicking himself.

  Her mother walked to the counter, picked up an envelope and carried it back to Hannah.

  “What’s this?” she asked as she took them.

  Her mother pointed to the one on top. “Go ahead. Open it.”

  With shaky fingers, Hannah slit the seam and lifted the flap. She pulled out the paper inside. When she read it, she gasped. “It’s a plane ticket to Florida.”

  “Derrick hoped you’d use it to arrive just in time for his mother’s wedding.”

  The ceremony was in a few days. She read the information again and her heart squeezed tight. “But...?”

  Her mother cupped her cheek. “Don’t worry about us. You need to see how this ends, Hannah. Not only for your sake, but Derrick’s, too.”

  She voiced her deepest fear. “What if it’s too late?”

  Her mother nodded to the second piece of paper.

  She opened the sheet of paper. Her heart began to race when she spied Derrick’s script covering the page.

  You have every right to be mad at me. I deserve it. But know this, Hannah, it’s always been you. Always will be you. I’d do everything over again to keep you safe. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I promise to make you happy each and every day. If not, I hope you have an amazing life because you are an amazing woman.

  She read the words with wonder. He still wanted her, even though she’d slammed the door on their relationship.

  “He was hoping you’d change your mind,” her mother said.

  Hannah’s breath froze in her chest. His words not only revealed the enduring depth of his love, but made her face the honest truth. She loved Derrick. He was the only man for her. And dear as he was, he was still giving her a way out. She could ignore his request to join him and he’d still love her. Or she could put aside her anger and forgive him. Plan a future of their own.

  She looked up at the expectant faces watching her. “But you just got here, Dad. How can I leave?”

  “I remember how crazy Derrick was about you. The fact that he still feels the same way is a gift. Don’t regret not accepting what he has to offer.

  “Besides,” her father continued. “Now that we don’t have to worry about any unwelcome visitors coming after us, we have plenty of time to reconnect. We’ll be here when you get back.”

  Her mother walked over to her father and hooked her arm through his. “Or maybe we’ll see you in Florida after the wedding. When we go home.”

  Home. Derrick. One and the same. Whether in Nevada, Florida or DC. She pulled her family into a group hug. After a few tears, she leaned back and said, “Thanks. I love you, Mom.”

  “Back at ya.”

  Wiping her eyes, Hannah went to her bedroom. She had so much to do: pack, call the school to tell them she was taking time off, fill Lynny in on her plans. She only hoped her silence hadn’t gone on too long and Derrick had decided she wasn’t worth the trouble.

  * * *

  DERRICK STOOD AT the back of the church, loosening the tight collar of his new dress shirt. Just an hour until the ceremony. It would have been easier to get through today if Hannah had taken him up on his offer and come to Florida for his mother’s wedding. Her silence spoke volumes, so he shoved his emotions aside, hoping no one would notice that his heart had split into a million pieces.

  “Psst.”

  Shaking off the depressing direction of his thoughts, he looked to the side of the vestibule. His mother’s face was partially obstructed by a door. She waved her hand, beckoning to him.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked when he joined his mom in the side room.

  “No. Just checking to make sure you’re okay.”

  “Mom, don’t worry about me. Today is about you and James.”

  “Mothers worry about their children,” she gently scolded. “No matter what else is happening.”

  “I’m fine.”

  She patted his cheek. “And you’re a good liar, but I’ll let it slide.”

  Yeah, he was getting good at deflecting. Not that his family believed him when he insisted he was okay, but they didn’t call him on it and he appreciated their efforts.

  His mother picked up a bouquet of daisies. “I’m truly sorry things didn’t work out with Hannah.”

  No one was sorrier than he was, but he’d done what he’d done and now had to live with the consequences. Hannah was right; he hadn’t listened. He’d decided what was best, instead of giving her a chance to weigh in on the decision. Because of that he’d lost her.

  “I’m glad we were together as a family last night.” His mother turned to him, her eyes misty. “The next time we get together, I’ll be a married woman.”

  The previous night the Matthews clan had met at the beach gazebo to celebrate. It was bittersweet to see his family so happy. He’d been surprised to learn that Eloise and Dante had eloped. Kady and Dylan were moving closer to their wedding date, and Serena and Logan announced their engagement, which meant a fall, mountain wedding. Grace and Deke were still enjoying their relationship, but Derrick expected another engagement soon. And every minute, he was still missing Hannah. He supposed that would never change.

  Envy burned a hole in his chest. Everyone was moving on except him. At the bonfire back in January, when he’d told Dylan that he was ready to consider a life without Hannah, he’d never believed he’d see her again. And now, having been with her and discovering the amazing, capable and beautiful woman she’d become, there was no way he’d be able to have a serious relationship with any other woman. When he told Hannah she was the only one for him he’d meant it.

  Speaking of family, he was so glad that Hannah’s situation had changed for the better. Derrick wished he could have witnessed her reunion with her dad, to see the expression on her face when they met up again.

  He also missed the school. Missed Tommy and the other students, the friends he’d made there, even the class guinea pig.

  He heard his mother’s voice and glanced in her direction.

  “You’re not listening to me.”

  He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Sorry.”

  She straightened his dress-jacket lapel. Pinned on his boutonniere. “I do wish you’d come back with better news.”

  But he hadn’t and he didn’t want her sympathy or sorrow. Hers or anyo
ne else’s. He’d gotten himself into this predicament because he couldn’t leave well enough alone. His brothers had told him he overstepped, but he thought he knew better. Lesson learned. He would revisit it all during his very lonely future.

  “I think I’ll go check on the guys. Make sure they’re ready to roll.”

  “Good idea. I’ll meet you in the vestibule very soon.”

  He nodded and made a quick escape.

  As he entered the main part of the church, he stopped dead in his tracks. A stunning woman wearing a pale green dress, her riotous auburn curls piled on the top of her head, stood before him in the center aisle. His heart nearly burst with joy.

  “Hannah. You came.”

  She shrugged. “You told me to meet you at the altar.”

  He slowly moved to stand in front of her, spotting a gleam in her eyes. “That’s not exactly what I said. I asked you to join me at the wedding.”

  “That’s not what I heard.”

  He hesitated, and at her encouraging smile, as bright as the sun itself, he looped his arms around her waist. With a giggle, she leaned in to kiss him. Their lips met and in the kiss he realized that she had forgiven him. That they had a chance for their own happily-ever-after. She tasted of sunny days and heated nights and children and family and love. Lots and lots of love.

  He pulled back, couldn’t wait to get their future started. “Now what?”

  “Well...” She tapped a finger on her lips. “We had plans to get married seventeen years ago. It’s a little late, but we are in a church...”

  He couldn’t hold back a grin. “My mother is going to love this.”

  “Not as much as I love you,” she said, her luminous eyes serious. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”

  “No,” he rushed to say. “I deserved it.”

  “You did.” She palmed his cheek with her hand. “I guess after years of looking over my shoulder, it was hard for me to trust you. But you know what? The Derrick I fell in love with in high school and the Derrick who has turned into a caring, determined man both have one thing in common. My best interests.”