Chapter 216

I pulled back from the kiss at once and hid my face into Logan’s shoulder.

Logan looked over toward where the noise came from. “They weren’t taking a picture of us,” he said.

With his reassurance, I glanced and saw a woman taking a picture of her friend wearing a sapphire broach necklace. Then she turned her phone so the woman could see.

“I love how it sparkles,” the woman said.

“It will be even better with the ring-light,” the friend said.

The woman agreed.

My cheeks reddened slightly with embarrassment. “I’m sorry,” I said to Logan.

“Hazel, they could have taken our picture, though. It would have been fine,” Logan said. “In fact, per Mabel Fritz, that’s exactly the kind of attention that we want.”

“I know. It’s just… reflex,” I said. “As your assistant, I was used to standing behind you, always outside the range of camera. It’s hard to change.”

“Then I’ll just keep holding onto your hand, making sure you’re beside me,” Logan said. “You aren’t hiding in the shadows anymore. You are my wife, and I’ll make sure the whole world knows it.”

I dropped my head back onto the shoulder.

“It will get easier in time,” Logan said. “In time, you won’t even remember how nervous you are now.”

“I hope so,” I told him, and meant it.

Back at the apartment, we packed our things and loaded up the car for our trip back to Russford. Our plan, drive there, arriving in the evening. Stay the night. Visit the Christopher’s in the morning. And then return.

Dylan helped us load the car. “I don’t trust the police out there,” he said. “Drive the speed limit. Abide every single traffic regulation. Don’t give them a reason to pull you over, but if they do, record it, understand? I’d hope my lawsuit shook off some of the corruption, but we can’t count on it.”

“We won’t make trouble,” Logan said, shaking Dylan’s hand.

“Like hell you won’t,” Dylan laughed. “But at least try to make my life easier, alright?”

I gave Dylan a quick, sideways hug.

“Be careful,” he told me.

“We will,” I replied.

Logan and I entered the car and drove away.

Sticking strictly to the speed limit slowed our travel time somewhat, but we were better for it. We didn’t run into any trouble and still made it to Russford at sunset. Logan parked by the grocery store, near the outside stairs to my apartment.

“I’ll get the bags,” he said. “You go unlock the door.”

Agreeing, I exited the car and rushed up the stairs. Grabbing my keys from my pocket, I unlocked my door and pushed inside. I flicked on the light.

Then stopped.

Everything stopped.

My apartment had been ransacked. My table and chairs were overturned. My couch had been slashed. My television was broken on the ground. Every drawer and cabinet in my kitchen had been opened.

My heart jerked in my chest.

My ring.

I rushed through the living room to the bedroom. Unfortunately, it looked as terrible as the rest of the apartment, drawers pulled out, clothes everywhere. My socks were scattered all over the floor.

The drawer that had held them was empty.

Dropping to my knees, I combed through the debris, searching for the little velvet bag in which I kept the ring.

“Hazel?!” came Logan’s voice from the living room.

“In h-here!” I shouted, my voice breaking. A lump was rising up my throat, choking me.

Logan ran to the bedroom, then stopped in the doorway, watching me. “What are you doing?”

“It’s gone,” I said. Tears welled in my eyes, threatening to fall. “The ring… It’s not here.”

Logan walked to my side, then lowered himself down beside me on his knees.

“It was in a bag. Little, black velvet. I can’t find it,” I said.

“I’ll help you look. It has to be here.”

Together, we searched every square inch of the bedroom, even under the bed and other furniture that hadn’t been totally destroyed. Coming up empty, we extended our search into the bathroom and the living room.

Then the kitchen. The foyer.

Every nook. Every corner.

The ring just wasn’t there.

Sitting in the middle of the living room on the carpet, looking around at the destruction of what was once my home, I finally allowed the sense of defeat to overtake me. It pulled me down into a cold dark pit.

Logan’s beautiful heirloom ring, gone before I even had a chance to properly wear it.

Logan came to me as I sobbed. He wrapped his arms around me.

“It’s just a ring,” he said. “I’ll buy you another.”

That wasn’t enough. My home had been violated, my things tore through and destroyed. The taking of the ring was the insult cherry atop the shit cake.

Lowering my forehead to Logan’s chest, I cried and cried. Wordlessly, Logan held me through it.

We collected what we could of my belongings and loaded up the car. I didn’t want to spend the night in this broken place, which Logan agreed with, so together we drove to the Christopher’s. They weren’t expecting us until the morning, but I hoped they wouldn’t mind when we knocked on their door.

It was late by now, so they didn’t answer right away. Logan knocked again, louder.

“Alright, alright, keep your shirt on,” Frank grumbled from inside. He flipped the lock and opened the door. Seeing us, his eyes went wide. “Son. Hazel. We weren’t expecting you so soon.” Looking at us closer, he added, “What the hell happened?”

“Can we come in?” Logan asked.

“Of course, of course. This is your home as much as ours.” Frank stepped to the side and allowed Logan and I to shuffle inside. “Tammy! It’s Logan and Hazel!”

Tammy rushed out from one of the bedrooms. She was in her pajamas with a simple fluffy housecoat on top.

“Oh, goodness! What happened? Hazel, have you been crying?”

I wiped at my cheeks. My tears had dried up but I imagined my eyes were still red from my crying. Funny how Tammy could tell even in the dim light of the living room. A mother’s instinct, perhaps.

“My apartment…” I started. I wasn’t able to say anymore.

“Someone entirely ransacked the place,” Logan said. “They didn’t steal anything but the family ring I had given to my… wife.”

Tammy and Frank both jerked in surprise.

“Your wife?” Frank asked.

“I knew it!” Tammy said. She turned toward the kitchen. “This calls for champagne.”

“This isn’t a celebration, Tammy,” Frank said. “The kids are upset.”

“All the more reason for a drink,” Tammy said. “Good for the nerves.” She glanced back at me and Logan. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“No,” I said. A drink sounded good right now, actually.

“That would be fine,” Logan said. His arm slipped around my waist. “Better than, maybe.”

“Give me just a moment,” Tammy said and disappeared into the kitchen.

Frank sighed. “You’ll have to forgive her. She was hoping…” More seriously, he looked at me and Logan. “I think we can assume your grandfather was responsible for turning over Hazel’s apartment, especially given what’s been on the news.”

“Could he have been looking for the ring?” I asked. “Why?”

“It was my grandmothers,” Logan said. “If he wants to cut me out, he’s going back all the way. It’s a shame. If grandmother could see the man he became…”

Feeling tired, I moved to the couch and sat down. Logan quickly took the seat beside mine.

Leaning into him, I asked, “Will your grandfather ever let us know peace?”

Logan took my hand and, bringing it to his mouth, kissed the spot on my ring finger where the heirloom would have rested.

Frank watched us for a minute in silence. Then he stepped forward and said, “Maybe it’s time we had a talk.”