The Signature (A Perfect Forever Novel)

by Ward, Susan

“With twelve nieces it’s a skill unavoidable to master even in my limited time on the West Coast.” Danny lifted the baby from Krystal’s arms. “Look what you did, Grace. You just wet on a star! She’s not officially a Howard yet. You’re only allowed to wet on her after she says ‘I do.’”

  Krystal was suddenly trembling. Anxiously, she asked, “What is her name?”

  It was Jordan who answered her. “Grace. It’s my father’s pet name for my mother, though everyone else calls her Graelynn. She was named after mother.”

  The telephone number Devon had written in her day planner had looked familiar because it was! 5-5-5-S-A-F-E in numbers is 5-5-5-7-2-3-3! Staring at Jordan in stunned disbelief, she mumbled, “5-5-5-7-2-3-3.”

  Jordan lifted a brow in surprise. “My mother’s private phone line. When did you find the time to memorize that? I’ll have to have a talk with Devon before you two get married...”

  Shadowy spots began to dance in Krystal’s vision, the room was spinning at a dizzying pace, then the tingling of her fingertips spread from her hands to her arms and everywhere else.

  “...if he keeps you up all night to memorize family telephone numbers...”

  Danny was laughing, but Jordan didn’t make it any farther than the first chuckle. Krystal thrust out a hand and knocked the plate from Jordan’s fingers. He had only a split second to react. Almost knocking his brother to the floor with his shoulder as he sprang forward, Jordan caught his soon-to-be sister-in-law just before she would have crashed into the shrimp salad on the buffet.

  Regaining consciousness came in a slow blur, first with the low hum of voices, then with the tired effort of lifting her lids. The figure on her left was Devon. On the right—it made Krystal flinch—was her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

  “Hello, Alice, welcome back. How was Wonderland?” Devon whispered.

  “Wonderland is dark and not at all pleasant. What happened?”

  His fingers brushed back the hair from her face. “You fainted. Jordan caught you just before you landed in the salad.”

  “I’ve never fainted before in my life,” she said weakly. What must they be thinking of her? Forcing herself, she said brightly, “It’s a good thing your dad was a football coach, Devon. I’m sure it accounts for his sons all having such fast hands.”

  Devon laughed, but he shook his head in mock condemnation. “Always a humorist. You scared the hell out of me, kiddo. Are you sure you’re all right?”

  She pushed up weakly into a reclining position, against the pillows. “Other than the fact that I find the thought of not returning to the party extremely appealing at present, I feel fine, so stop worrying. I don’t even want to speculate on what they must be thinking of this. I’m not making a good impression at all, in case you haven’t noticed.”

  “Take your own advice and stop worrying. They’re not thinking anything beyond being concerned for you. The Howards are easy. We love unconditionally.”

  “Why don’t you go tell everyone she’s all right, Devon,” Graelynn ordered calmly. “I’ll sit with her until she’s up to returning. Give us a moment alone. She might compose herself better if you composed yourself a bit.”

  Devon’s face flashed with indecision. Krystal said, “Go on, Devon. I’m fine. Don’t you think someone should thank Jordan for his quick hands? When we choose up sides for touch football on the lawn, I want to be on his team. I’ll be along in a few minutes.”

  It took a second effort, but Devon left them. There was a long pause in which Krystal stared at Devon’s mother in disbelief. There were so many things she needed to say, but she couldn’t collect her thoughts and emotions well enough to organize them, so the words flowed on their own from her heart.

  “I don’t even know how to thank you for all you’ve given me. You gave me my life. Now you give me your son. You carried me from a nightmare and put me in a dream.”

  Graelynn smiled tenderly. “No thanks required, my dear. I don’t do it for thanks. I do it because it’s the right thing to do. However, this time, it was not only right, it brought my son his happiness.”

  It was still too much to absorb. Running a shaky hand through her hair, Krystal searched Graelynn’s face. “Does Devon know about your involvement with the Underground Railroad?”

  Graelynn shook her head. “None of my sons know, Krys. It is a secret we must keep between us. To involve them would only bring them risk from my activities. Risk and worry. I waited until I’d raised all my sons, not wanting to jeopardize their happiness with the possibility of their mother going to jail, before I started my work in this. Only Robert knows.”

  Krystal leaned forward and wrapped her arms tightly around Devon’s mother. “Do you have any idea what you mean to me? What you mean to all the women you help?”

  When they pulled apart, Krystal noted a tear in Graelynn’s eye. The older woman said, “Perhaps I should explain to you what it means to me to know that I helped you. You have helped ease the pain I’ve carried in my heart nearly fifty years. Having you with Devon has given me peace, as though my loss was necessary because it was needed for my son’s happiness. God’s purpose in all this finally revealed to me. God’s purpose through me was you.”

  Krystal frowned, perplexed. “Me?”

  Grace smiled sadly. “No one knows this but my husband, but I was married before Robert. Married and had a little girl named Ellie.”

  She pulled off a locket and handed it to Krystal. Krystal stared at a picture of girl inside it, with Devon’s features and large brown eyes. “Devon’s sister?” Grace nodded. “She’s very beautiful.”

  Grace took the locket back and kissed it once before slipping over her head.

  “She was very beautiful, my dear. I was married only two weeks before I realized what a mistake I’d made. But times were different. Women rarely divorced in those days. Victor was an insanely jealous man. If I came home ten minutes late from the market, that was all that needed to happen to set him off. I lived in hell for nearly five years.”

  On a ragged breath, Krystal responded, “I’m so sorry, Grace. I know what it was like for you. I lived in hell with Nick for seven years.”

  “You survived your hell, my dear. You and Katie. I was not so fortunate. Ellie was only four when it happened. I came home late from an evening with my parents and Victor was in a rage. He had never struck me before with our daughter in the room. I should have put her down, but it never occurred to me that that night would be different. I was hardly in the living room before the blow. It came so quickly that there was no time for me to react. He struck my daughter in the back of her head. She died instantly in my arms.”

  It took a while for Grace to compose herself, and Krystal was anxiously brushing at her own tears when she continued. “I ran after that night. Here to California, where I was blessed enough to meet Robert Howard. It took ten years before I learned to live without fear.”

  “You are a strong and remarkable woman, Grace.”

  “So are you, Krystal. Don’t ever forget it,” she said.

  Graelynn’s smile put any fear, any doubt that Krystal’s future was here with the Howards to rest forever. They were holding hands when they rejoined the family.

  Devon pulled Krystal into his arms. “Are you feeling better?”

  “Better than better. I could scale Everest today.”

  She leaned back enough so he could see the truth on her face.

  “I don’t know what you talked about with my mother, but remind me to thank her later. You do look like you could scale Everest.”

  “Hey, Devon, you got plans for the rest of the afternoon or are you free?”

  “I thought I might take a beautiful woman someplace where I can have her all to myself.”

  “Why don’t you marry her instead,” she breathed, tracing a finger down his cheek.

  “We haven’t got a license. We need blood tests to get married in California.”

  “I come with perks as well as annoyances. I can get a license and a judg
e with a phone call.”

  Devon laughed. “What has gotten into you?”

  “It’s a perfect day. Your family is already here. My family can be here in half an hour. Bright sunny skies. What do you say, Devon. What do you think about starting the rest of our life together on this perfect day?”

  “I started the rest of my life the first moment I set eyes on you, Krys.”

  “Marry me, Devon. I want to leave this house a Howard.”

  EPILOGUE

  Morgan Katz had traveled ten hours straight. He wasn’t exactly sure where the hell he was, as he brought his bike to a stop in front of a bar in the middle of a small town, in the middle of nowhere. He looked at the bar’s door, and from the shadowy window a red, neon Coors sign flashed brightly.

  Yes, he was in Colorado, and those mindless hours of riding, deeply claimed by his thoughts, hadn’t caused him to wander off course. He knew for certain he was done with Utah and was inside the Colorado border.

  His blurry eyes took in the dim streets, the light dotting of cars, the faint lamps that offered only bare illumination to the wood plank sidewalks, and the occasional passerby who gave him no notice beyond that due a stranger. Rural America had its own charm. It was why, when circumstance allowed, he took off across her on his bike.

  Instead of going directly into the bar, he started to walk, needing to stretch his legs. His hand, by its own will, rummaged through the pocket of his jacket and pulled free the unicorn. He lifted the yellow ribbon, the essence of her teasing his senses and blocking out the fragrances of summer in the Rockies. Six months. It still held Kryssie’s scent. His heart breathed her in, too.

  He supposed he should return it to Devon. He’d found it on the storage room floor after the LA concert. An accidental loss, most probably when Kryssie hit Devon.

  An hour later, Morgan entered the bar, a hazily lit room with a small clutter of people crowded around a TV set blaring too loudly to be heard, above a jukebox that blared too loudly, as well. The air was redolent of cigarettes and beer. It was an unpleasant intrusion after the cleanness of the night wind and the quiet on the streets, but he went to the bar anyway and lowered his tall, heavily muscled frame down on a stool.

  He sat at the bar for a quarter hour without service. Then a girl in the gathering in front of the big screen TV noted him, blushed and hurried over. He wondered if the blush betrayed he’d been recognized. Damn...he was in no mood for that bullshit tonight.

  The image of her caused him to smile at her anyway. Fresh faced, all American wholesomeness. She had a lithe, healthy body with pert, round breasts; shoulder length golden hair; lightly tanned skin with a dappling of freckles; and bright, cornflower blue eyes.

  Twenty-one? Twenty-two at tops. Her similarities to the other girl were impossible to miss. Perhaps being recognized tonight wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

  “Sir! Are you all right?”

  The way she said it, loud and concerned, told Morgan that he’d been lost in his thoughts, and she was trying to get his attention. ‘Sir’. That made his smile slip into a grin.

  “I’m sorry. Have I been staring off into space? I was just wondering if this were a self-serve bar. I don’t travel in this part of the country very often and I am unfamiliar with your customs.”

  That made the blush darken prettily on her face. “Oh, I’m sorry, but there was this news report, and well...I’m sorry. What can I get you?”

  You, I’m thirty for you. “Just a beer. Whatever you have on tap will be fine.”

  She moved in a graceful flow, turning away from him, filling the glass, then setting a coaster on the lacquered wooden bar before putting the icy mug atop. “That will be a dollar fifty.”

  Morgan Katz took a sip, and then said, “Why don’t you just start a tab for me. Is there a hotel nearby that you can recommend? Within walking distance.”

  He had no idea what was in his expression, but it made those cornflower blue eyes search his face and then soften.

  “There’s a hotel across the street. It happens to be the only hotel, so I recommend it highly. As for the tab, I’m sorry, sir, we don’t run tabs. Too many people run without paying them.”

  He hadn’t been sure until now. The sir had meant it could go either way. He was certain now that the girl had no idea who he was. That came with perks, as well.

  He rummaged through his jacket and pulled free one of his credit cards. He had an odd assortment of them, with an odder assortment of names. It was his American Express card with his real name on it, Manny Grant. Only one person ever called him Manny. God was determined to give perfect symmetry to this whimsy.

  The girl frowned at it in dismay. “I’m sorry, sir, we don’t take credit cards.”

  Morgan couldn’t contain his low rumbles of laughter. “We’ve got a problem then, love. I don’t carry cash.”

  “Really?” She said it as if it were the most peculiar thing she’d ever heard. Morgan’s laughter grew. “I’ve never known anyone who doesn’t carry cash. That is, unless they don’t have any. Why don’t you carry cash?”

  Morgan rolled his shoulders. “I don’t know, love. They don’t give me cash. Just cards. I miss the feel of money. It’s more real.” His gaze swept her pretty face, and then he said, “I have an idea. Why don’t you keep the card? I’ll have someone send you the cash and you can return it to me.”

  Her smile was impish. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll go on a shopping spree?”

  He shook his head. “Not in the least. You’re not that kind of girl. I can tell in a glance. I hope the hotel takes credit cards. The idea of sleeping on the sidewalk isn’t at all appealing.”

  “You’re in luck, then. No sidewalk tonight. The hotel does take credit cards. We also have a bank. It wouldn’t be a bad idea, if you’re going to stay in town a while, to carry cash.” She dug her hand into her pocket, pulled out two dollars and put it in the cash register. “You can come back tomorrow and pay me. But that’s all of your tab I can afford to cover.”

  “I’m going to need more than one beer tonight, love. How do you think we should settle this dilemma?”

  A man from the gathering turned, gave Morgan Katz a hard stare and called out, “Are you ok, Sandy? Are you going to come back to the set, or can we change it back to the baseball game?”

  “I’m fine. What do you think about letting this man run a tab tonight, Pete? He’s staying at the hotel. He’ll come back tomorrow and pay. He’s only got credit cards. He can get cash on his cards at the bank in the morning. I’ll cover his tab if he stiffs us.”

  “It’ll come out of your check, Sandy, if he doesn’t.”

  Sandy wiped down the bar and tossed the rag into the sink. Her eyes fixed on Morgan. “You can afford to pay, can’t you? The credits cards aren’t some sort of a scam? In case you haven’t figured it out on your own, I don’t make a lot of money here. You won’t stiff me, will you?”

  Morgan shook his head. Sandy was charming. He reached out to lightly trace the line of her cheek. “No, love, I won’t. I can afford to pay. Thanks.”

  When his hand fell away, she did a pert, pleased nod and flashed him a bright smile. “I’ll be over at the set. Just call when you need a refill.”

  He turned on the stool and watched her glide away from him. “What’s going on? Anything interesting? Maybe I’ll watch TV with you.”

  The girl paused, surprised. “I don’t think it would interest someone like you, sir. The men at the set are only indulging me because I can’t afford a satellite dish, and I get only one channel at home. That singer married her reporter yesterday in Los Angeles. It’s been on the news all evening, and well, I just wanted to see a happy ending for someone. Silly, huh. I’m a romantic. I like to know that dreams can come true.”

  She married him...Morgan Katz realized he was still holding the unicorn. He didn’t notice that the girl had come around the bar and was close to him at his stool.

  “Sir, what’s wrong? You look very sad.”

 
He reached out to thread his fingers through her straight, blond hair. Quietly, he said, “Sometimes when a dream comes true for one person, love, it’s a dream lost for another. That’s why I’m sad.”

  “Did you lose a dream?”

  “No. I gave it to another man.”

  “What’s that you’re staring at?”

  Morgan lifted his gaze and smiled. “It’s a unicorn. It’s a mythical creature sent to worlds to save them. It’s a symbol of innocence and purity.” He reached out and tied the ribbon around her neck. “Now it has a new home. As perfect as its last.”

  The girl’s face was fire engine red, but the look in her eyes told him she was flattered, even while she reached up to untie the ribbon. “I can’t accept this without paying for it. I can tell it’s a very expensive charm even though it’s on a ribbon.”

  One of his hands stopped her. “Kiss me once and tell me your dream, then we’ll be even. You can keep the charm.”

  She debated it. The process danced across her dainty face. She wanted the charm and wasn’t at all sure she wanted to kiss him. That made his insides flood with warmth. She was attracted to him, but she had that proper reserve and modesty of a girl raised in the country.

  Amused and enchanted, he said, “It doesn’t have to be a lusty kiss. You can just press your lips on my cheek, love. Then tell me your dream.”

  Her hands were tiny and soft, like a sable skin, and Morgan Katz watched as she pressed her palms on each side of his face, leaned in slowly, and touched her lips to his. There was sweetness to the gentle movement of her mouth that ran through him like honey.

  Her eyes were huge sapphires in a face of pink mist when she pulled back.

  “What’s your dream, Sandy? Share with me your dream, since I haven’t got one anymore,” he said.

  Sandy was embarrassed to share it, but there was longing and sorrow in the low, raspy voice. The voice made her nerves tingle. It was like a caress each time he spoke.

  He was such an odd man, very handsome, but odd. He had lustrous, unkempt, shoulder length black hair framing a face of strongly carved features and dangerously intense black eyes.