The house that had once been her prison was barely recognizable. A facelift and some interior remodeling had turned this ugly memory into a place of hope and redemption. When Mabel, Grant’s only living relative and sole heir to his fortune, had said that she wanted no part of this property or the money that Grant left behind, she’d told Samantha to do something good with it. It hadn’t taken long for Samantha to realize what that good thing was.
The Locke-Daniels Retreat was a thinly-veiled front for a women’s shelter. Several small cottages had been added to the acreage, each with its own little yard and driveway. The front of the property, which was open along a half-mile stretch of the highway, featured a long, high fence and a manned gate disguised as an information office.
From an outsider’s perspective, it was an elite neighborhood that was nearly impossible to get into. But for the women and children that called this place home, whether temporary or indefinitely, this was a fortress that promised safety and security.
There were just shy of thirty cottages in all, including the original three houses that had already been on the property. Each two to four-bedroom cottage had about a half-acre plot, with the remainder of the twenty-five-acres being used for the guards’ quarters, a small health and wellness center, a community center complete with a vegetable garden, and a large playground.
The guards were all shifters, personally vetted by Detective Bruce. They had all passed a rigorous background check and were as committed to the safety and well-being of the residents as Samantha, Jacob and Dylan were. The result was a secure environment where everyone pitched in and everyone knew that they were safe.
The money Grant had amassed was close to half a billion dollars, including the sale of his house and cars. He’d been a whiz with investments and had taken the ten or so million that his parents had left behind so long ago and grown it into the substantial estate that he’d left behind.
Samantha got a sense of satisfaction from the knowledge that Grant would absolutely abhor what she and Mabel had done with his money. But it would do such good for so many, and Samantha was happy about that.
“Are you almost done?” Jacob asked, offering his hand to her to help her up from the ground.
“With this one. We have a few more to plant now that the construction crews have finished building and remodeling.”
“Are you excited?”
“Yes and no. I’m sad that a place like this needs to exist, but I’m glad we could do it. If I’d had somewhere like this to hide when Grant was stalking me, I would have felt so much safer. And what better place to heal than in the beauty here?”
“It was the perfect plan. I’m glad you thought of it.”
“What about you? Are you excited about the new, responsible lifestyle?”
“I am. I must say, I never thought that I would get so excited ordering enough sheets and blankets for almost one hundred bedrooms. But my favorite purchase has to be the stuffed animals.”
“That was Detective Bruce’s idea. He said that he keeps a few in his car for emergencies. I shudder to think about what some have seen, but something as simple as a stuffed animal could really help.”
“I think some of the guards are amused that I got lions, tigers and bears.”
“Oh my,” Samantha said, then burst into giggles.
“I thought it would be nice to send them with a piece of us, even if they never realized that they were being protected by shifters.”
“Where is Dylan?”
“He went on a massive grocery run to fill the pantries. That was one of the only things that we couldn’t order en masse online like we needed to. Everything else has been delivered and the guards are assembling furniture until our first client shows up.”
“I hope someone is videotaping that.”
“It is just as hilarious as you’re imagining. I had to leave because I was laughing so hard. Good thing they’re good at their actual jobs.”
Samantha leaned against him, loving the smell of the sunshine and freshly planted earth that flowed around him.
“Thank you, for making this a reality. I can’t believe how much good we’re going to do in this city.”
“If it works well, we might franchise it out. We can’t be the only ones that think this is a great idea.”
“What about the website?”
“The dating site?” he teased, knowing full well what she was asking about.
“No, the in-house site for residents.”
“It’s up and running. We have to test it, but so far, it looks like it’s going to do what it’s meant to do. We’re going to add more features, but for now, they can order anything they need in-house and have it delivered by a staff member.
That way, if they don’t feel safe leaving to buy perishables and other things that we don’t have available in the community center, they can get them from a secure location without giving their personal information out and risking their safety.”
“This is amazing. I think we’ve thought of everything.”
“No, you’ve thought of everything. Samantha, every time we think we have you figured out, you surprise us. You’re an amazing woman, and we’re so lucky to have found you.”
“I believe I found you, but that’s neither here nor there.”
Jacob swung her into his arms and planted a rough kiss on her lips.
“You are so feisty.”
“You like it.”
“No, I love it. We both do.”
“Are you ready for tomorrow?”
“So ready. The question is, are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
They walked hand-in-hand down the street, surveying the neighborhood around them, so proud of this monumental undertaking they had accomplished. They stopped at the community garden, kneeling beside the female figure in the large, floppy sunhat digging in the dirt.
“Did you get those flowers planted?” Mabel asked.
“I did. But I hope you’re going to be in charge of that, because I’m not a good plant parent.”
Mabel laughed.
“I’ll make sure that they get cared for properly when there’s no one in the house to tend to them. I chose local flora so it shouldn’t be hard to keep them alive.”
“You’d be surprised at what Samantha can kill with a little water and love.”
The wind rushed out of him when her elbow connected with his gut.
“Don’t be a jerk. I didn’t mean to kill the house plants.”
“House plants?” Mabel said, “You killed them all?”
“I did.”
“Maybe you should stand over there,” Mabel joked, pointing to the edge of the garden.
“So what all did you plant?”
“Anything that grows from the ground that will thrive up here.”
“What’s over there in that fenced-off area?”
“That is going to be a five-acre orchard in a few years. Right now, it’s a sapling nursery.”
“I can’t wait.”
“It’s going to be a full time job.”
“Did you want me to hire someone to help you here?”
“That would be good, but I was actually getting at something else.”
“What?”
“I think I want to live here full time. My house is lonely and it holds so many memories. Since I’ll be here from morning until night anyway, I thought it would be better if I was always here. Is there room in the guards’ dorm? I don’t need much, just a bed really.”
“What about one of the two-bedrooms?” Samantha said.
“I don’t want to take away from a woman who might need it.”
Samantha sighed, taking her friend’s hands in hers and looking into her eyes, ice blue eyes that saw into the depths of souls and still saw the good in everyone she met.
“This place was made for people like you. You’ve been through a lot. I think being here and sharing your story will only help the people here.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, eyes brimming over.
“I’m beyond sure.”
*
Samantha stood in the meadow, letting the sunlight drench her skin as she stood in the field. She felt elated, the birdsong and the gentle breeze only adding to the perfection that was the day. Samantha leaned over, flowers clasped tightly in her hands, arm through Harold’s.
“I didn’t realize there were going to be this many people.”
“Shifters are a tight-knit bunch, and you’re marrying the Locke twins,” he whispered back. “I think half of these people are here to see what kind of woman it took to pin them down and make them grow up.”
Laughter bubbled up from Samantha’s throat and she had to fight to quiet the sound. She’d opted for a pale lavender dress that flowed to the ground and behind her. She’d spent hours perusing wedding magazines with Mabel when she decided that she was going to do this her own way, and that included wearing a dress in a color that she loved.
“Are you ready?” Harold asked.
“I am.”
He nodded to the violinist, a tiny wisp of a woman who twirled elegantly as she played, moving through the crowd as they waited for the wedding to start.
She smiled and began to play the Bridal March. Heads turned and all eyes were on Samantha. Harold led her slowly down the aisle, taking his time and soaking up the moment along with her. He’d been honored when she’d asked him to give her away, and he wasn’t about to rush it.
But Samantha didn’t notice their slow pace; she was already lost in the sight before her. Dylan and Jacob waited for her at the front of the crowd, Dylan in a crisp, off-white tux and Jacob in a dark gray one. On the hanger, Samantha had been skeptical about their choice of colors, but now that they were wearing them, Samantha had to admit they both looked extra dashing.
Harold handed her over to the pair and took his place beside the men as their best man. Samantha hugged Mabel before taking her place between the two men. Mabel’s Maid of Honor dress was silver with lavender accents that complimented Samantha’s dress. The thin straps did little to hide the scar that Grant had left on her collarbone, but Mabel had picked it, saying that the dress was beautiful and that she was the sum of all her experiences, good and bad alike. She wouldn’t hide from her past anymore and Samantha couldn’t blame her.
The change in Mabel was astounding, and Samantha was so happy that her friend was finally herself again. She knew it was the center; having a purpose had changed everything for Mabel. Samantha was amazed once again by the power its presence had. It was almost two weeks away from opening to the public, yet it had already positively altered Mabel’s life.
The wedding officiant started, his soothing voice fading into the background. Samantha was already lost in the moment, so happy that she wanted to laugh and cry all at once. After looking for so long, she’d finally found her place in this world.
With Dylan and Jacob by her side, Samantha had found her home.
THE END
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Her Tiger Twins Page 19