My visit to speak with Levine that afternoon and my questions about Amanna having an affair must have tipped him off that I was beginning to put the pieces together. Still, if he hadn’t misspoken, if he hadn’t slipped to reveal that he’d planted the bottle of medicine to frame Phillip, I might never have known.
Lavender, reeling from the mind games Levine threw at her, was inconsolable, but eventually understood that her brother was gone and that the sheriff had been tricking her. It was as if she’d lost him all over again.
A search of Levine’s belongings gave more proof that he’d been behind the strange gypsy rituals in an attempt to throw off suspicion. A suicide note forged with Simon’s handwriting revealed his plan to dose Simon on the anniversary of Amanna’s death and then stage a suicide in the same place that she’d died. With one terrible act he would have taken revenge on the man he believed responsible for all of his misery. With Simon’s blackouts and strange behavior, Levine might have pulled it off.
A few days after, Simon and I took Lavender for a sail and celebrated her birthday. It was just the three of us on the Lotus, a pink birthday cake, and lots of quiet hugs.
So much sorrow. So many lies, and yet the Lord had brought us through the most dangerous storm of all.
Epilogue
I sat in a sea of rose-colored silk, the skirts of my gown pooled at my feet, and I ran a hand down the bodice, touching the beautiful bead work. My long hair fell in waves down my back, and I took a wayward lock in my fingers, twisting it.
Simon pulled me closer to him on the backseat of the town car as we made our way back to Shadow Bay Hall. He took my hand in his and brushed his lips across my knuckles. His golden hair and cobalt eyes were striking in contrast with the black tuxedo he wore. Just gazing at his impossibly handsome face sent my heart fluttering.
“They loved you at the gala,” he said and smiled. “You were the most beautiful woman in the room tonight, my love.”
“It was an amazing night,” I said. “I loved every minute, Simon. Thank you.”
“And the necklace?” His lips pulled into a grin, and he chuckled. “Anyone recognize it?”
My hand went to the blood-red ruby that dangled around my neck, and I shook my head, giggling. The Pharaoh’s jewel. “Nope.”
“More precious than rubies.” He slipped a finger under the delicate gold chain, caressing where it brushed my throat. He leaned forward, his lips at my temple, whispers hot against my skin. “I was lost without you.”
I looked into his eyes, the intensity burning there nearly overwhelming. Before I could answer, he held up a length of silk.
“What is that?” I asked, smiling.
“I have a surprise for you.” He held it up, just in front of my eyes. “But you can’t peek.”
“Simon,” I said, a bubble of laughter escaping my lips. “What is going on?”
“Only for a moment, love,” he said and gently used the silk to blindfold me. He held my hands. “We’re almost there.”
The car slowed, and the sound of gravel crunched before the car stopped.
Simon moved, the door opened, and I felt the cool mist of evening waft over me. He helped me out of the car, leading me forward and upward. I heard the familiar tinkle of chimes as we climbed the front steps to the door. A few steps more and then he was behind me, his fingers at the knot, untying the silk. It dropped from my eyes, and I gasped.
The solarium was lit from within, a hundred flickering flames bathed the glass in a warm glow. On the floor, a blanket of red rose petals traced a path from the foyer to the entrance. He took my hand and led me into the glass room, his eyes watching me intently.
“Do you like it?”
I nodded, my eyes filling, overcome. The interior of the once wasted room now brimmed with greenery and flowers spilling from every corner. White candles of all sizes lined the shelves, the tables, and the chandelier. Water spilled from the fountain, its surface polished to a reflective gleam.
“This…this is beautiful,” I said and twirled, and the skirts of my gown flared out in a soft rustle. “It’s like a dream.”
He pulled me close and gazed down into my eyes. “Before you, I thought that I was left to wander in darkness without hope of morning. Your faith. Your belief in truth and promises kept—” His voice broke, and he cleared his throat. “I couldn’t help but see the Lord in you. I couldn’t help but believe that maybe…” He pulled away, reached into his pocket, and knelt on one knee.
“Simon…” I breathed, my heart ramming in my chest.
“My first prayers in so long were for a hope with you,” Simon whispered and held the ring up, the pale metal glimmering in the candlelight. A rose centered with a single brilliant diamond. He took my hand in his. “You are my morning sun, Rosetta, and if you let me, I will spend my life loving you with all that I am. Please, my love, marry me.”
“Yes,” I said, trembling. I gazed at this amazing man who offered me so freely, so openly, his heart. Tears streamed down my face. I nodded, my heart soaring. “Yes, Simon. I will be your wife.”
He slipped the ring on my finger, kissed it, and gathered me in his arms. He scooped me up, held me to his chest, and his heart raced against my cheek. “I love you,” he breathed.
I closed my eyes, a silent prayer of thanks on my lips. For restoration, for blessings far and beyond what I’d lost. A love. A life. A child.
Thank You, Father.
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White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
www.PelicanBookGroup.com
May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Praise
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
Epilogue
Thank you
Raquel Byrnes Page 28