Hallie was calm. “Shelly, I don’t know what’s going to happen in my life, but I’m not worried about it. You see, I’m finally beginning to realize that I’m worth something. I’m good at my job and I’ve met people who genuinely like me, and that’s made me feel the best about myself that I have since I was a kid.” When Shelly started to speak, Hallie put up her hand. “And as for Jamie, I’m in love with him. Deeply and totally in love with him.”
“You think that matters to a man as rich as he is?” Shelly was very angry. “I don’t care how much weight you lose, he’ll still leave you. When his leg heals he’ll walk away and you’ll never see him again.”
Hallie stood up and looked down at her stepsister. “That’s his choice and if he does, I’ll survive it. It’ll take me a long time to recover, but I will. And the next time I won’t be afraid that you’re going to show up and take a man away from me. Shelly, you may be beautiful on the outside, but the inside of you is quite ugly.” She took a breath. “Braden is on the island and I’m going to ask one last favor of him. I want him to come get you and take you someplace far away from me. I’ve had all I’m going to take of your belittling me. And I am never again going to be afraid of what you can do or say to me.”
Turning, Hallie walked out the back door into the garden. She was shaking all over, but she felt very good. Right now, all she wanted was to see Jamie.
She was almost to the gym when he came up behind her and picked her up. She clung to him.
“I heard it all,” he said, holding her tightly. “The ladies locked me in the tea room, but I’m glad because I saw you, heard you. You were wonderful. Stupendous. I am so proud of you.” He was kissing her neck. “Deeply and totally in love with me, are you?”
Hallie laughed. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
He pulled her away to look in her eyes. “I understand things now, and I’m glad you didn’t believe all that about me. Let’s go out to dinner and drink champagne and celebrate.”
“What about your meds?”
“I haven’t taken a pill in two days.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but don’t tell my doctor that. I’m sure I’ll be back on them again.”
“And who is your doctor—and so help me, if you tell me it’s Raine, I’ll start screaming.”
“It’s not. It’s his—”
“I’ve had all the surprises I can take in one day,” Hallie said as she kissed him.
“Then let’s go eat, drink, and be merry.” He took her hand in his.
“Wait!” Hallie said. “I have to call Braden and tell him to come get Shelly.” Suddenly, she halted. “I don’t have to take care of Shelly anymore, do I?” She looked at him in wonder. “Since I was eleven years old, I’ve had to look after her. In my household, she came first in everything. Even when she was in California trying to become a movie star, I had to send her money. Once I had to—” She broke off. “But all that’s over. I don’t know how to describe it. Nothing has changed but everything has. I’m done.”
“Good,” Jamie said, “but rather than leave her alone in the house, I already called Braden. He’ll know how to take care of everything.”
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“You think so?” Hallie was surprised. “I want to hear what you two talked about this morning. What made you go from being jealous every time his name was mentioned to singing his praises?”
“We just talked is all. Where is that ring you had?”
“Last time I saw it, it was on the coffee table in the tea room. You want me to get it?”
“No!” Jamie said. “I just got out of being locked in that room and I saw Shelly go in there. Hallie?” His face turned serious. “I don’t mean to be a scaredy-cat, but let’s turn this house over to the Kingsley branch of the family. I think they’re more used to ghosts than my side is.”
“Yes, let’s,” she said. “Now, where are you taking me for dinner?”
“A picnic in bed?” he suggested.
Laughing, Hallie put her arms around his neck and looked at him. “Is any of this for real? You, your family, all this talk of us and we and the future? Will it last?”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s very real. I’m not going to run off as soon as my leg heals, and you’ve seen that my family adores you. Your stepsister certainly has a backward view of the world. She doesn’t seem to consider that her mercenary attitude is what gets her tossed aside. Let’s go to dinner and talk about our future. Like that idea?”
“Yes,” she said, “I do.”
“Interesting choice of words,” he said and they laughed.
Chapter Twenty-three