Absolution

  It’s a long drive for me.”

  I nodded. “No worries. She’ll hang with me after prom is over.”

  “She’s talked about nothing else.” Connie’s fond gaze followed Krissy’s every move, protectively.

  I could imagine the difficulty of when to rein in and when to set free where Krissy was concerned. Connie carried the burden of Krissy’s welfare now, and the deep line between her brows and the concentrated way she watched her niece was an undeniable expression of guardianship and family love.

  I wished, at that moment, I could tell her Krissy had a guardian angel who also watched over her and offered comfort.

  “What have you got planned?” Connie inquired. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Um.” Luke shrugged. “We’re going to go ice skating down at the Olympic rink, then we’ll come back and get ready. After that, we’re taking the girls to dinner and to the dance.”

  “That sounds like lots of fun.” Connie’s gaze swept the entry hall, as if she was studying the house in which her niece would be staying for the next twenty-four hours, then her gaze fell on me. “Thank you again, Zoe.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Connie faced Krissy and they hugged. “Have fun, sweetheart. Call me when you get in tonight. It doesn’t matter how late it is.”

  Krissy nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

  Connie touched Krissy’s cheek. “You’re welcome.”

  After her aunt left, and Krissy and Luke wrapped in a long hug the moment the front door closed behind the woman. I smiled. Krissy cuddled deep into Luke’s arms. Her soft sniffles pinched my heart. The tender way Luke stroked her hair touched me.

  I headed to the kitchen for a hug of my own.

  y y y

  I shut and locked my bedroom door, then turned and faced Krissy who stood in the middle of my room. “We have to lock them out,” I grinned, “or we’ll never be left alone.”

  Krissy nodded, hands wringing. “Okay.”

  “See, guys don’t get the whole it’s-time-to-get-ready for prom thing.” I crossed to her, feeling a bit like a mother readying her child for her first day of school. “It’s a girl thing.”

  Krissy nodded again.

  I glanced at the purple garment bag lying on the foot of my bed. “Let me see your dress.”

  She gingerly unzipped the bag and carefully brought out a sky blue dress—I gasped— with a black sash around the waist. My dress. In blue.

  Krissy, seeing my shock, asked, “Don’t you like it? Is it ugly?”

  “No,” I laughed. “I have the same dress. In lavender.”

  “Oh no.” Her hands flew to her lips. “What will we do?”

  I set my hands on my hips, eyeing the soft blue dress that looked just as good in blue as it did in lavender. Britt and I had spent weeks shopping for the right dress back in the day, thinking even if the guy was lame, when the dress was perfect the evening had some merit.

  That attitude was stupid, I realized. Going to prom just to be going or to be seen, well, that wasn’t my m.o. anymore. It was the relationship that mattered now, the guy was important. At least to me, and I knew Krissy wasn’t going to show off a dress.

  “We have great taste, right?” I shrugged.

  “Yeah.” Her laugh fluttered out. “We do.”

  “First things first.” I placed her dress on the back of my closet door so the wrinkles could fall out. Next, I grabbed my iPod and set it in the dock on top of my dresser. I chose a playlist and cranked the music up. Krissy squeezed her hands together at her chest, a grin spilling from her lips.

  I guided her into my bathroom where my palettes of makeup were spread out on the counter along with curling irons, flat irons, various hairbrushes and other beauty necessities girls needed to glamorize.

  She let out a gasp. “Wow. Cool.”

  “Do you wear makeup much?” I asked, hoping not to overwhelm her.

  She stared at the display like a little girl in front of a room full of dolls she wanted.

  “No. Dad doesn’t—never allowed it.”

  I picked up a foundation powder that matched her skin color, then plucked up a fluffy brush and stood inches from her. Krissy’s gaze swept my face.

  “What happened?” She pointed to the scratches on my cheeks, forehead and chin.

  “I had a run in with some trees.”

  “It looks terrible.”

  You’ve gotta love innocent honesty. “Yeah, that’s what concealer’s for, right?” I joked. “So.” I started brushing the skin-colored powder on her forehead. She pinched her eyes closed. “How are things going, anyway? You like living with your aunt? She seems really cool.” I finished applying the powder and set the brush aside. “That looks awesome.”

  She eyed herself in the mirror. “Aunt Connie’s great. We weren’t really close before, but she’s really nice.”

  I applied some faded cherry blush to her cheeks and she smiled. “Every girl needs to be in a perpetual blush,” I grinned. “Especially on a date.” I wouldn’t push Krissy, but wanted to know more. I especially wondered what was happening to her dad. I had to resign myself to the fact that it might be a long time before she wanted to talk to me about it.

  “All I have to do is be around Luke and I’m blushing,” Krissy said, the color in her cheeks deepening.

  “Well.” I patted her shoulder. “Trust me when I say he feels the same about you.”

  Krissy’s shoulders lifted demurely. “Really?”

  I nodded. “Yup.” I applied foundation to my face, realizing I wasn’t going to be able to cover the myriad of scratches without some serious work with the concealer.

  “He says I helped him quit using.” Her tone was quiet and self-deprecating. “I don’t know…”

  “That’s great Krissy.” I set the foundation on the sink and met her eyes in the reflection of the mirror. “Our family has tried everything to help him. I, for one, am glad you came into his life.”

  “He helped me, too.”

  “I’m glad you two found each other.”

  “Yeah.” Her hand shook as she reached for eyeliner.

  “Want me to do it?” I offered.

  She handed me the tube and faced me. Her lashes fluttered against an onslaught of tears. I bit my lower lip. Were those tears of joy for having found Luke? Or was her life haunting her at that moment? I wanted to hug her and tell her things would get better.

  After the tears subsided, I drew on a line of liner curving it up on the outer edge of her eyes. She blinked at her reflection. “Oh, thanks.”

  “The sparkle brings out the color in your eyes. Mascara?” I held up the purple tube.

  “I can never put this stuff on,” she said, leaning close enough to the mirror she was nearly nose-to-nose with her reflection.

  “One layer at a time,” I said, and the words brought Matthias to mind.

  That’s how understanding comes.

  Where are you? Are you okay? I looked upward, the white ceiling of my bathroom greeting me. I wished I could see beyond and into the heavens.

  “How’s that?” Krissy faced me, her now-black lashes fluttering.

  “Perfect.”

  Krissy smiled.

  “Okay,” I said. “Time to get dressed.”

  Chapter nineteen

  ____________________

  The doorbell rang at eight o’clock. I waited outside of my bathroom door for Krissy to come into the bedroom. “That’s Weston,” I called. “You ready?”

  I flattened the fabric of my dress and checked for ribbons hanging perfectly and no undone zippers.

  The bathroom door swung open. Krissy stepped out, her glow almost as lovely as the spirits I’d seen. Her gleeful expression dropped when she saw me.

  “Your dress.”

  I looked down at the black garment I wore. I’d worn it to another prom, but I was sure no one would care or remember. I’d shined plenty of times. It was Krissy’s turn.

  “Think it’ll work?” />
  “Why don’t you wear the lavender one? I don’t mind, really.”

  “It’s cool. I’ll match Weston better, don’t you think?” I turned.

  She nodded. Then she turned. “Okay?”

  “You look ab-so-lute-ly gorgeous,” I said. I’d curled her hair in big loops and piled them on top of her head like a princess.

  She grabbed my hands and jumped up and down, laughing. The moment reminded me of countless ones just like it I’d had with Britt and a brief sadness flashed into me, but I didn’t dwell on it.

  There was a light tap on the door. “Z?”

  “Coming. Go wait downstairs.”

  I heard Luke’s footfalls take the stairs, then I extended my arm to Krissy and we made our entrance. The crystal chandelier overhead lit the room to a heavenly sparkle. At the bottom, Weston stood in all black, a periwinkle shirt and a black tie. He held a lavender corsage. His smile gleamed. Next to him, Luke’s grin grew with each step Krissy took closer to him. His blue eyes shined against his black tuxedo and baby blue shirt. “Man, this prom thing is top shelf.”

  Krissy giggled.

  Weston slipped his arms around me. “You’re beautiful.” He pressed his lips to mine in a quick kiss. Then he brushed his fingers over the scratches I’d tried to hide on my cheeks and chin. His brows knit over troubled eyes, and he lightly kissed each spot.

  After our corsages were pinned in place, we were out the door and off to dinner. Prom was traditionally the night of nights, and I wasn’t sure what to expect from Weston. We could have eaten at Taco Bell and I’d have been giddy.

  The night air wasn’t as cold as it had been. Maybe spring was finally on its way. Overhead, the sky was clear and sprinkled with a handful of stars that appeared tossed into the black heavens like glittering confetti.

  I had a fleeting thought wondering where Matthias was and I closed my eyes, drawing in a breath of night air. Wherever you are, I hope everything is ok.

  I love you.

  It was getting easier for me to think about loving both Weston and Matthias simultaneously. I’d doubted I could share my heart with two souls, but Matthias, as always, was right when he’d said the heart had room for many loves.

  Weston held my hand and we walked to his truck, Krissy and Luke following us.

  y y y

  Weston and Luke took us to The Bungalow, a quaint twenties-style reception house in Pleasant Grove. The cottage was nestled deep in a bed of bushes and hundred-year-old trees, decorated in millions of sparkling twinkle lights.

  The parking lot was empty when we pulled in. “I thought this was a reception place?”

  Weston smiled across the darkness of his truck. “Tonight, it’s just for us.

  My mom knows the lady who owns it.” He wagged his brows. “She helped me set it up.”

  A grin spread on my lips. “Nice.”

  Luke and Weston opened our doors for us and Krissy and I got out of the truck. Weston held my hand and we walked beneath an awning of green twinkle lit ivy to the wide arched wooden front door. The bungalow looked like something Snow White’s seven dwarfs might live in with its dark greenish brown exterior and curved roofline. The diamond paned, crank style windows revealed charming lace curtains and delicate lamps centered on cozy tables inside.

  Weston opened the door and the scent of cinnamon and baked bread filled the air. My stomach grumbled. I hadn’t eaten since we’d ice skated.

  I tried not to think about what had happened last night, and instead focused on what was happening. Weston looked so radiant and happy, I wouldn’t mar one second of the night with my worrying about whether or not I was going to see Albert again.

  A tall, slim woman with dark hair pulled back in a sleek knot met us in the entry. Her flattering black slacks and turtleneck sweater reminded me of something Audrey Hepburn might have worn. The woman floated with grace over the hardwood floors as we followed her to two tables, dressed and ready for our dining luxury.

  Luke and Krissy sat at one, Weston and I at the other.

  White lacy table cloths, linen napkins, a spring bouquet in the center surrounded by crystal goblets and pink china—the table was too beautiful to eat on. “Wow,” I whispered after being seated.

  “Like you, I thought it was only a reception center. Mom told me they do special stuff like this, so I thought, why not?” Weston placed his cloth napkin on his lap.

  “So, you and your mom… things are better?” He hadn’t said much and I didn’t want to pry or bring up something painful, so I avoided the topic.

  He snorted, shrugged. “We’re being civil. I have to say, since that whole blow up, things haven’t been as intense.”

  Maybe Brady was gone for good. I hoped so. “You’ve taken control.

  That’s cool.”

  “Damned right.”

  I laughed, and glanced out the window into the vine-covered patio lit with pink and white lights. My heart stuttered. Albert stood watching me from against the farthest wall. How long had he been there? Why hadn’t I sensed him—felt him? My stomach churned. Weston continued talking, but I didn’t hear what he said, fixated as I was now on Albert’s presence and worrying about what he was going to do.

  “You okay?” Weston’s gaze searched my face.

  I tore my attention away from Albert momentarily. “I—I’m fine. I could use some water.”

  Our water glasses were empty, and our waitress had yet to visit our table. Weston vanished in search of help.

  When I glanced back out the window, my heart jumped. Albert stood next to the table. Oddly, the submerging evil I usually felt whenever I was in his presence wasn’t in the air. I wasn’t accustomed to seeing him in anything but black. Last night, his suit had appeared lighter bathed in the brilliant light surrounding the being. His suit was even lighter now, a soft shade of dove gray.

  His shirt was the same color and—that hideous rope tie had been replaced by a simple, slim gray tie.

  His eyes had changed. I tried to figure out what was different. They were that Matthias blue, and still mesmerizing in their own way but I couldn’t put my finger on what was different.

  His attention lifted from me to something behind me, and I whirled around. Weston was heading my direction with a goblet of water. When I turned back, Albert was gone.

  I swung left. Right. But he wasn’t anywhere. Had I imagined seeing him?

  How bizarre.

  Weston sat next to me. “Drink this. You look kinda…pale.”

  “Thanks” I said, sneaking in long glances around the room just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating after last night’s events in the forest. “I’m fine.” I sipped the icy water. I hoped Albert wasn’t gearing up for more. I was tired. I was beat. I wasn’t sure where Matthias was, but I wanted my prom.

  y y y

  The Governor’s Hotel was in downtown Salt Lake City. The Victorian gothic architecture made for a stately building, surrounded by modern skyscrapers, making the historic hotel stand out. From the thirty-seventh floor there was an unobstructed view spreading out in every direction in colorful, twinkling lights.

  The Roof Ballroom was where prom was being held and after the valet parked Weston’s truck, Krissy, Luke, Weston and I joined the throngs of students in flowing gowns and sleek tuxedos parading into the four-story lobby on their way upstairs.

  Marble pillars held up an ornate, open balcony—the second floor—above the main lobby. A monstrous crystal chandelier hung with thousands of dangling, carved crystals.

  The place was stunning. I felt like a princess. How different it was to be at an event like this with someone special.

  I stole a glance at Weston, admiring the strength in his chin and the way his chestnut hair feathered at the back of his collar. We strolled arm-in-arm through the elegant, busy lobby to the elevators.

  On tip-toes, I kissed his cheek.

  His skin flushed when he looked at me, and his arm tightened around mine.

  In the cramped elevator, girls
eyed my dress. I kept my gaze on the floor numbers whirling past as the car sped upward.

  Once on the thirty-seventh floor the throngs of prom-goers threaded into the giant, mirrored ballroom where a DJ worked dance music from a small black stage. On one side of the room tables were set up with chairs and a refreshment bar was located near the door.

  Luke and Krissy, who had for the most part remained close by during our trek from the truck to the elevator, now stood staring at the room and its occupants.

  Music blasted from dozens of well-placed speakers, so I leaned close to Luke’s ear. “Having fun?”

  He nodded. He hadn’t let go of Krissy’s hand all night. “Good,” I said, and gave him a quick hug. I loved seeing him happy. I felt like the pieces of our family that had floated out into oblivion were finally gravitating back home.

  Weston tugged me away from Luke, shooting my brother a nod, which was returned. Then Weston led me onto the dance floor. A slow, haunting song played, and when Weston wrapped around me and his body moved in that easy rock next to mine, I started to float.

  “This is the best.” His warm breath in my ear sent feathers of warmth through my body. “Being here with you. This is the best, Zoe.”

  “I agree.” I rested my head against his chest, then thought better of it, not wanting to get my makeup on his black tuxedo. Besides, I never tired of looking at him.

  He studied me so intensely, I shivered. “What?”

  “There’ll never be anyone like you, that’s all,” he said. “The things you see, the way you are… you’re irreplaceable.”

  I knew how he felt. I felt that way about Matthias. “That’s nice of you to say, but—”

  “Don’t.” His brows knitted together. “I’m serious. I don’t think… I can’t…” He looked away for a moment, as if struggling with words. “I’m not sure I will ever be able to love anyone the way I love you.”

  Weston held his heart out to me at that moment, the most vulnerable part of a human soul. The responsibility was daunting, but I wasn’t frightened.

  “Don’t think about that right now. Be here now. That’s all.”

  His vulnerable expression remained exposed. He held me tighter, dipping his head against mine so his lips coursed my neck, but not in a kiss, he just kept them pressed against the pulse beating alongside my throat.