Page 68 of In the Dead of Night

Sonia glanced at her sister as if to gauge her reaction.

“Come in,” Sara said.

The older woman entered the bedroom. Her eyes skimmed over Sara and her mouth curved into a rare smile. “My goodness, you’re stunning.”

Uncertain what to expect, Sara remained silent. Sonia went to her side, took her hand. “It was Mom’s dress.”

“I remember it well,” Laurel said. “I was her bridesmaid of honor.” She laughed. “My dress wasn’t nearly as lovely.”

Laurel seemed to gather her composure, then spoke. “I owe both of you an apology. If your parents were here, I’d owe them an apology as well.”

Sara had suspected Laurel would come around. She just hadn’t expected it so soon. She saw the same surprise on her sister’s face. “Thank you,” she said.

“Your mother was my best friend,” Laurel said. “I loved her like a sister. It hurt to believe she betrayed me. Hurt even more to lose her.” She toyed with her beaded bag. “I let that hurt turn me into a bitter old woman. Thanks to you, Sara, I don’t have to be that way any more.” She extended her hand. “Thank you for exposing the truth. I hope you’ll accept my apology for being so awful to you. I hope even more that we can become friends.”

Unable to speak for the emotions crowding into her throat, Sara reached out. Laurel took her hand and squeezed. Tears filled the woman’s eyes, but she turned away and quickly left the room without speaking.

“Don’t cry or you’ll ruin your makeup.”

Sara choked out a laugh and turned to her sister. “Thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t miss my little sister getting married for the world.” Sonia hugged her tightly. A second knock at the door made her roll her eyes. “What now?”

The door swung open. Sara’s heart did a little jig in her chest when she saw Nick standing in the hall. He looked strikingly handsome in his black tux.

“Don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” Sonia said.

“I couldn’t wait,” he said. But every ounce of his focus was on Sara. She took his breath away, and for a moment he couldn’t find his voice.

“You’re stunning,” he heard himself say.

As if realizing they needed a moment together, Sonia started for the door. “You’ve got five minutes, guys. I’ll be in the hall.”

Nick didn’t hear her leave. Didn’t hear the door close. Before he even realized he was going to move, he was across the room and reaching for his wife-to-be. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”

Sara went into his arms. Wrapping his arms around her was like coming home after a long and grueling trip. For the span of several heartbeats all Nick could do was hold her, take in her scent and thank God he’d found her again after all these years.

“If I didn’t know better, I might think you missed me,” Sara whispered.

“Desperately.”

“Me, too.”

“Was my mom nice?”

“She’s kind and sweet and sad,” Sara said. “We’re going to be just fine.” Smiling, she brushed her lips across his. “Did I thank you for saving my life the other day on the cliffs?”

“A couple of times.” But Nick knew that while he might have saved her life in a physical sense, it was Sara who’d saved his in all the ways it counted. For months he’d been so blinded by grief that he hadn’t been able to open his heart. Sara had changed all of it.

Pulling back slightly, he looked into her eyes, felt the floor tilt beneath his feet. “I just came up to tell you I love you.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“I loved you even when I was twelve and you were seven. That kiss sort of sealed the deal.”

A laugh bubbled up from her throat. “Who would have thought?”

Nick gazed into her eyes, loving her so much he could barely contain the joy burgeoning in his chest. He wasn’t sure why he’d been compelled to see her when they were to be married in just a few minutes. He knew they had their entire lives ahead of them. But that was the way things had become between them, and he wouldn’t change it for the world.

Downstairs the first notes of the bridal march began to play. “What do you say we go get married?”

“Best idea I’ve heard all day,” Sara said and walked with her husband-to-be toward the door.