He sighed as he sat back in his seat. "It wasn't long before Jake knew that I helped you get away. When he confronted me about it, I told him he was crazy, that he didn't know what he was talking about. The deal I had made with the FBI… I needed to stay close to him. As much as it pained me to do so, I had to try and keep his trust. After a while, though, I was tired of lying, tired of letting him feel like he had that control over me. So when he confronted me again, I told him the truth. I told him I put you on a bus and that he would never see you again, that he would never touch you again. I knew the moment I told him I was either a dead man or I was going to have to kill him. Then he did something I never expected. He told me that he forgave me. He told me we could get past it." Mike stopped talking and shook his head. "But when I turned around to leave, he shot me, twice in the back. Believing him was the dumbest thing I've ever done."
I took in a shaky breath. I couldn't speak. I was at a loss for words.
"If I hadn't listened to the FBI and wore a bullet-proof vest," he continued, swallowing hard, "I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now."
"It was you, wasn't it?" My eyes stung with tears, knowing what he had done. What he felt like he had to do.
"After Jake thought he killed me, the FBI kept me in protective custody. They wouldn't allow me to make contact with anyone in fear of Jake finding out that I was alive and that the FBI was on to him. I'd been in hiding for a couple months when I heard a couple of agents talking about your case. About how Jake was wanted for attempted murder. It killed me to know that after all I had done, he had still found you. That he had hurt you again. So the next day, I left protective custody. I couldn't sit back and wait to get the news that he had finally killed you—I would've never forgiven myself—so I did the only thing I could do. I had to stop him and I did, for good this time." His face was serious, stoic, just like most of my memories of him.
"I wanted to come tell you. I wanted to tell you that you didn't have to live in fear anymore, but when the FBI found me, they placed me under surveillance and wouldn't allow me to make contact with you… not until a few days ago anyway... when they found his body. Then, when I finally had the chance to see you, I couldn't do it. I wasn't sure if that's what you needed or even wanted. All I wanted was to see that you were happy, and for the past few days, I saw that you were. You looked happy.”
So it had been Mike in the mysterious car following us.
When Mike finally stopped talking again, I blinked a few times, absorbing what he’d just told me.
It was over. Everything. My nightmare. My fear. My worry.
Epilogue
I WAS never the girl to dream about her wedding day. I never wanted to wear a big, poofy white dress. I never pictured my groom standing at an altar, waiting for me. I never imagined myself being walked down the aisle on the arm of my father. It never occurred to me to dream like that because, well, I never thought it would happen like that for me. A big reason for that was I had never found the right person, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with… not until now at least.
Lexi had dreamed about her wedding day. She knew what colors her bridesmaids would wear. She knew where she wanted to get married and on what day. Since her parents couldn't be there, she wanted to honor them by getting married on their wedding anniversary. She already had the dress of her dreams designed in her head… and it was the big, poofy princess dress. She had dreamed of walking down the aisle on the arm of her father. That was the saddest part about all of this. The one dream that no matter what we did, it would never come true. However, Reed was there to take his place.
Right now, as I glanced up at her, my heart ached. The girl standing in front of me had been through so much, yet she was still the strongest and sweetest person I knew. I wished I could make all of her dreams come true.
"How do I look?" Lexi twirled around, smiling.
"Absolutely beautiful. You look like a princess." I blotted my eyes with a tissue, soaking up all the tears. I took in a few deep breaths, trying not to totally lose it right here in the dress store.
"I feel beautiful." She beamed.
Right after I’d gotten myself under control, the sales lady came over and placed a veil on her head. Then I burst into tears all over again. I had been a blubbering mess the past few months, not to mention I felt as big as a house. I only had one more month until my due date.
"If you don't stop crying, I'm going to start." Lexi looked at my reflection in the mirror. She was still smiling, but I could see the tears forming in her eyes.
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I just can't help it." I sighed. "I can't wait until Reed sees you." I exhaled loudly, determined to get myself under control before he got there. It was Lexi's last dress fitting and she wanted him to see it before the wedding in a couple of days. I think she was hoping to avoid any tears on her big day. I'd already told her I couldn't make any promises and I was sure that Reed wouldn't be able to either. I mean, I was already losing it here in the store.
The sales lady turned to me and smiled. "Are you almost ready for your fitting?"
Even though I had been dreading this all week, I nodded and gave her a tiny smile. I'd had nightmares that the dress wouldn't fit me and I would not only be mortified, but I would ruin Lexi's big day. Not to mention, I felt like the dark-purple color Lexi had picked out for me made me look like a giant eggplant.
"It's in the dressing room when you're ready." She turned to leave. Then Lexi and I were alone again.
My eyes ran over her, starting at the veil on top of her head, all the way down to the bottom of the dress. I couldn't get over how beautiful she looked.
The wedding would be a small event, yet it was going to be a beautiful one. Christine and Sharon had coordinated it and let me peek at a few things, but for the most part, I was kept out of the loop. Christine wanted it to be a surprise for all of us.
I tried to get up off the chair, wanting to give Lexi a hug, but my large belly made it difficult. Lexi saw me and stepped over to help me.
"You are the cutest pregnant woman I've ever seen." She laughed.
I playfully glared up at her. "I don't feel cute."
"Well, you are, and you're going to look even cuter in your dress. You have to try it on, you know."
"I know," I said. "I just wanted to see you in yours first."
"Okay, well, now you've seen me. Come on, let's go. Reed's going to be here soon and I want him to see both of us all dressed up."
I waddled my way over to the dressing room and shut the door. My purple dress, which really looked more like a large purple sheet, was hanging there in front of me.
Gathering up my courage, I took off my clothes and stepped into the dress, fully prepared to have a huge mental breakdown when it wouldn't fit or zip up all the way. Much to my surprise, it fit like a glove. I breathed a sigh of relief and walked back out to the large mirrors where Lexi was standing.
Reed was already there, standing beside her, telling her how beautiful she looked. I was pretty sure I could see tears forming in his eyes. He caught a glimpse of me in the mirror and our eyes locked.
When I smiled, he turned around to face me and Lexi did, too.
"Oh, Emily, you look so beautiful."