“Okay, you’re right. I’m sorry. Enjoy your day and your wonderful lives together. We’re just so happy for you both.” They shared a few more hugs and kisses before the older couple faded back into the crowded gallery. Sean watched them go with a vague sadness he knew reflected his thoughts on his own parents, who were years dead and would never know the family he would have, the people he would love as much as they’d loved him.
Greer slipped her arm under his and pulled him close for a reassuring, loving nuzzle. He welcomed it as he’d always welcomed her, and as he always would.
Something caught Greer’s eye and she turned, Sean following her line of sight. Just a few feet away, Gary Aires, wearing a very dapper blue suit, stood with Fox 13 reporter Kari Kates. Greer had given her permission to cover the event, a good way to keep other reporters away. They knew that only Kari was authorized to cover their private events, which made her competitors’ paparazzi-style stalking unnecessary.
“I’m here at the fabulous wedding reception of Greer Lange and Sean Callahan, perhaps Denver’s two most illustrious citizens. And we’re here with …”
Gary cleared his throat as she extended the mic to him. “Gary Aires. I’m the Callahans’ private attorney.”
“Rumor is that you were instrumental in securing their freedom from the Ecuadorian authorities.”
“Well, I think they’re going to play that up in the movie version, but I was just doing what any good lawyer would do for a client.”
Kari nodded. “Very nice. And you’re involved in their philanthropic efforts as well?”
“I’ve put a team together—accountancy, bookkeeping, corporate. Greer’s app is still bringing in a lot of money, not to mention the book and movie deals. So I have time for … for other things.”
Greer couldn’t miss the chemistry between them. They made a charming couple. A pair of slick professionals, she pale and blonde, and he, darker and taller. Another couple brought together by the incredible adventure she and Sean had shared. Greer wondered what other miraculous benefits would continue to spring from that desperate struggle and ultimate triumph.
“Greer?”
She turned to see two familiar faces, both of them unexpected and shocking.
Martin and Margaret Lange walked up slowly, their loose desert clothing replaced with eveningwear befitting the occasion.
“Oh, hello,” Greer said, taken so off guard that she wasn’t sure how to react. She turned to Sean to say, “Sean, this is Martin and Margaret Lange … Spencer’s parents.”
Sean offered them a pleasant smile and a hand to shake. Martin took it, returning the gesture, his wife doing the same.
“I … I’m glad to see you,” Greer said, “but … a little surprised.” And she had good reason. Not only had she been asked not to speak to them again, but their son’s death was on her hands, at least as far as they were concerned.
Greer braced herself, concerned that the violence and danger of their past wasn’t quite finished. And she had learned all too well that people weren’t always who they presented themselves to be, and the son of these two people had been running one scam after the next, a multilayered lie. Greer thought she’d escaped that terrible con, but standing now at the moment of her greatest happiness, it struck her that this could still be turned to the moment of her greatest tragedy.
It was too easy to imagine them pulling guns, shouting proclamations of vengeance for their lost son, who had perhaps been their protégé in the art of cold-blooded killing. She thought it might be possible they had groomed him in those terrible practices, maybe set him on his murderous journey to follow in their own footsteps.
Greer and Sean stood empty-handed before them, helpless should they draw hidden guns and start blasting away.
No, Greer thought, not now. Please, not now!
Martin and Margaret stood, humbled and sheepish, no guns drawn, no violence to return upon them and steal their dreams and their future.
“Dear,” Margaret said, “we’re sorry to come unannounced, but … well, we heard all about what you discovered … about our son.”
“We had no idea,” Martin was quick to add, “as we told the police. We only found out when the rest of the world did.”
“We understand that, Martin, Margaret,” said Greer. “We don’t suspect you of having anything to do with Spencer’s misdeeds.”
Sean nodded, and Margaret said, “We were so cruel to you, Greer, even after you came to us to share what you’d learned.”
“And we owe you a thanks, sir,” Martin said to Sean, “for what you’ve done to bring us the final resolution we needed.”
“We blamed you, darling,” Margaret said to Greer, “but we … were wrong, terribly wrong.”
“It’s okay, Margaret,” Greer said with a bittersweet smile. “I never blamed you for the way you felt. It wasn’t easy for any of us, losing Spencer, or … or thinking that we had, feeling that we had. For you, it had to be just terrible, worse than for anyone else.”
The Langes smiled at each other then turned their attention back to Greer and Sean.
“Well, thank you for hearing us out,” Martin said. “We’ll leave you to enjoy your night.”
“Oh no,” Greer was quick to say, “you must stay, you must! We’re … we’re family, after all.”
The aging couple looked as if they wanted to break down and cry, and in her own way, Greer wanted to do the same. Instead, they shared a warm hug, and she savored the sight of the two Langes mingling with the rest of the crowd, two more celebrants of Greer and Sean’s newfound happiness.
Greer had never felt better, but she knew even more pleasure was to come. There would be travel, there would be children, there would be earth shattering lovemaking that would create a family that would rise from the ashes of two others. The Callahans were about to ascend to the level of legend in Denver and beyond, playing influential roles in politics, in philanthropy, in commerce. They would create jobs, and they would create families, but most of all, they had created a love they could share their whole lives and pass down to their children and grandchildren, who would one day share stories of the great couple’s incredible adventure together, the legend of their family’s origin.
But beyond the legend, beyond the power, beyond the fame—there was love. Love had brought Greer and Sean together, and love would be what would sustain them and the generations to follow. For them, the past would never be gone. It would always influence their present and their future.
There would be great adventures for Greer and Sean that would take them to the heights of world power, to mountain peaks, to extraordinary sights most would never enjoy. And they would share them together, Sean and Greer Callahan, for as long as they both would live.
The End
Also by Heather Wynter
Series:
Grace Colby FBI Files
What She Didn’t See
Amelia Slate PI
The Darkest Secrets
The Unfound Ones
Run From Me
Stand alones:
Dead To You
SNIP
Malfunction
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About the Author
Heather Wynter published her debut in 2020 with What She Didn’t See and is quickly on her way to bestseller status.
She started writing after becoming an empty
nester to tick the “write a book” goal off her bucket list and had so many ideas she just couldn’t stop at one book.
Heather creates her characters to be real people, capturing the beauty of life and all the ups and downs that come with it. Her books are emotional and always include twists you won’t see coming. She writes Mystery, Thriller, Romance, and Suspense.
Heather lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her dog, Oliver. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her at the beach, riding her bike, and enjoying everything Florida has to offer. Heather is involved in her community, volunteering for everything from cleaning up the trails to serving beer at festival booths.
You can connect with Heather on her website, heatherwynter.com and on social media.
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