CHAPTER 224 Together Forever
*Joy*
The New Salem Town Hall buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses, the air sweet with champagne and the tang of fresh-cut flowers. Fairy lights twinkled along the rafters, casting a golden glow over the crowd celebrating Lisa Brent’s election as the new mayor. I stood near the dessert table, my white off-shoulder Bohemian dress swaying as I sipped bubbly, the bubbles tickling my nose. Beside me, Xavier looked like he’d stepped out of a magazine, his khaki slacks and crisp white shirt rolled at the sleeves, showing off tanned forearms. His dark eyes sparkled with that easy charm that had stolen my heart. After Liam’s death, we’d 'stopped' hiding our love, stepping into the light as a couple, free from New Salem’s shadows.
The town was still reeling from the fire that gutted the old boys’ gym six weeks ago. The police found five charred bodies—Liam Cohen, Dan, Jack, Noah, and Sheriff Combs. They called it a double-cross, whispering that Liam, cornered by the FBI, had killed his crew for snitching, then torched the place to cover his tracks. A backdraft caught him, they said, tearing his body apart so badly the coroner needed dental records to confirm it was him. The FBI bought the story, closing their case, and New Salem mourned its golden boy while I sipped champagne, my secrets safe.
Lorenzo Ortiz was another ghost. We tipped off Doña Veronica, the formidable matriarch of the Angels of Death. She knocked on her half-sister’s door, and just like that, Lisa’s parents vanished—no note, no text, not even a whisper. Surprisingly, Lisa accepted her parents' fate, knowing full well Lorenzo's death was an unsanctioned hit.
The boys—Xavier, Sebastian, and Cristos—sat down with Doña Veronica, striking a deal to keep the peace. Sebastian, ever the opportunist, saw New Salem’s chaos as a chance to expand his business, setting up shop in the town’s underbelly. Nicole, back from the hospital and strapped to a wheelchair, took Dan’s old job running the drug trade. Her rehab would be long and expensive, but she knew every corner of New Salem’s shadows, making her the perfect fit.
I made sure Mrs. Jensen, frail but stubborn, was moved to a top-notch care facility. With her gone, Xavier and Sebastian tore into her house—ripping up floorboards, cracking open walls. Just as we’d guessed, Noah had stashed his dirty money there, bundles of cash stuffed between studs and hidden in the basement behind a steel door with a biometric lock. Good thing we’d lifted Noah’s handprints before I ended him.
The money wasn’t for us. We funneled it to Mrs. Jensen’s care, Nicole’s rehab, and Abigail’s hospital bills—until her mother made the heart-wrenching choice to turn off her life support. Abigail’s funeral was quiet, the church filled with sniffles and the scent of lilies, a heavy reminder of the cost of this town’s sins.
I slipped away to California after, landing just in time for the NBA draft’s electric buzz. My parents were waiting, fresh from their Europe trip, their faces a mix of worry and exasperation. “Joy, you ignored our calls for weeks!” my mom said, arms crossed in our sunny kitchen.
I slid the deed to the Ol’ Taylor House across the counter, its paper crisp and official. “I bought it back,” I said, grinning. “Our old home in New Salem, fixed up and ready. You can go back anytime.”
My dad stared at the deed, his eyes soft but sad. He pushed it away. “Home’s where your heart is, Joy. Family comes first, not some old legacy.” He paused, his voice heavy. “We kept calling your office. Your secretary said you were out of town on business. Were you in New Salem?”
I shrugged, keeping it light. “Maybe. The house was dirt cheap, so I grabbed it, spruced it up a bit.”
My mom raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. “And what else? Spill it, Joy.”
I laughed, leaning against the counter. “Okay, fine. Liam and his little gang got in deep with the FBI. Messy stuff—drugs, deals, you name it.”
“And Theodore Cohen?” my dad asked, his voice low.
“Heart attack,” I said, waving a hand. “It’s all online. Google it if you’re curious.”
My dad chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe we’ll visit next year then. For now, I’m happy here with my two favorite girls."
Back at the Town Hall, the music shifted to a lively jazz tune, pulling me from my thoughts. Xavier nudged me, his warm hand brushing mine. “Hey, you okay, sunshine?” he asked, his voice soft, his eyes searching mine.
I grinned, linking my arm with his, the fabric of his shirt soft against my skin. “Of course, love. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You had that faraway look,” he said, tilting his head. “Like you’re carrying the world.”
I squeezed his arm, my heart lighter than it had been in years. “Just thinking about what it took to get here. Some of it’s sad, sure, but right now? I’m the happiest woman alive.”
Xavier’s grin turned mischievous. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, and my breath caught. He flipped it open, revealing a Harry Winston diamond ring, its facets catching the fairy lights like tiny stars.
“I talked to Sebastian and Cristos,” he whispered, his voice warm but teasing. “We all love you, Joy, but three grooms might be a bit much. So, we agreed I get to give you my name.” He leaned in, his whisper tickling my ear. “I should’ve asked you years ago, back when I first told you I loved you. Marry me, Joy. Make me the luckiest guy in New Salem.”
Tears pricked my eyes, but my smile was wide. “Yes!” I said, my voice breaking with joy. The crowd nearby gasped and quickly surrounded us, watching Xavier’s proposal unfold.
“Yes? You'll marry me?” Xavier asked, dropping to one knee, his grin boyish and bright. He held up the ring, the crowd holding its breath.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I shouted, laughing as he slid the ring onto my finger, the cool metal a perfect fit. The room erupted in cheers, glasses clinking, and Lisa squealed, rushing over to wrap us in a hug.
“This is an engagement party now!” Lisa yelled, grabbing a champagne bottle and popping the cork, foam spilling over her hands. “More bubbly for everyone!”
Cristos strolled up, his suit sharp, a playful glint in his eyes. He kissed my cheek, handing me a fresh glass. “Congrats, Mayor Brent,” he said to Lisa. “How’s it feel to run this crazy town?”
Lisa groaned, fanning herself dramatically. “Like I’m gonna faint or have a heart attack! You guys better have my back!"
“Always,” Sebastian said, winking as he joined us, a glass raised. “To Lisa, the boss of New Salem, and to the two lovebirds. Where’s the wedding gonna be this time?”
I laughed, leaning into Xavier’s warmth.
“Anywhere, as long as we’re together...forever."
The crowd cheered, and I felt a lightness I hadn’t known in years. The ghosts of New Salem—Liam, Noah, Pete, the gym—were gone, burned away. I’d clawed my way back from that night ten years ago, rebuilt myself, and now I stood here, surrounded by love, with a ring on my finger and a future I’d chosen. The past was ashes, but I was alive, and that was enough.
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