Open Doors (Suncoast Society #27)(34)

And then…

He’d left. Abandoned her.

With him had left her heart, her love, her sweet, soft service, the easy laugh and gorgeous smile.

Marcia had been worried about anorexia at the rate Tilly had lost weight—and Tilly hadn’t been obese to start with—but Loren had assured her it was okay, that she was eating.

But Tilly hadn’t been living, she was only surviving.

She’d taken her inner pain and worn it as a coat of broken glass, and very few people ever got to glimpse the sweet, loving slave now hidden deep inside the darkest recesses of her soul.

Ross went quiet for a moment, composing the rest of his thoughts. Around them, despite all the people there, they all hung on his every word, the room dead silent.

“Not all of you have known Tilly as long as Loren and I have,” he said. “Those of you who have, you’ll understand what I’m about to say next. Loren and I have met Landry. Talked with him. We’ve seen Tilly and him together. And the reason we’re signing off on this and not talking her out of it or trying to have her committed is because for the first time in several years…” He trailed off, taking off his glasses and wiping at his eyes.

Marcia would swear he was close to tears.

“For the first time in several years,” Ross finally continued, “Tilly is wearing a smile that actually reaches her eyes. I saw Tilly again, not Mistress Cardinal. Our Tilly. So I’ll take a chance on this guy. And if it doesn’t work out, I’m sure several of you will give me alibis and help me hide the body.”

“Damn straight,” Gilo said.

A nervous titter swept through them. Not because he was joking.

But because they would all pitch in to help.

“But,” Ross continued, “please don’t focus on Landry and his cancer tonight. He’s requested that since we’re doing this for Tilly, that we focus on her and her happiness. And he also requests that, for the most part, we basically ignore Cris tonight.”

“How the hell do we do that?” Marcia asked.

“This is about Tilly,” Ross reminded her. “Just keep remembering that. Landry genuinely feels badly about what happened and feels like he’s ultimately responsible, even if he isn’t.”

“Not as badly as Cris’ll feel if I get my mitts on him,” Marcia muttered.

Derrick placed his hands on her shoulders. “Sweetie, believe me, we all want a whack at Cris. Let. It. Go.”

“Easier said than done,” Gilo said.

“Treat Cris like you would Booster,” Ross said. “Just ignore him.”

“I don’t want to kick Booster in his nuts,” Gilo said. “I like him.”

“Booster’s neutered,” Tony reminded him. “He doesn’t have nuts.”

“We could probably arrange that for Cris,” Gilo said. “Easily.”

Carl, with his slave wife, Penny, were recent members to the club. Carl was a retired veteran who’d been injured in a car accident not long after returning home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Now confined to a wheelchair, Carl’s black Lab service dog, Booster, had become a popular fixture at the club.

Carl always made sure, before they left for the evening, to take a few minutes to let Booster have “playtime” of his own, able to romp with his friends outside in the parking lot while Penny held a twenty-five-foot rope with a leash snap clip on one end. Otherwise, Booster normally stayed in “work” mode, bringing implements to Carl, who used a laser pointer to indicate which one he wanted.

Carl had proven to all of them they had no excuses when it came to enjoying life.

Unfortunately, Carl and Penny wouldn’t be there today, because their daughter was graduating from college. They had driven up to Atlanta for the weekend to attend the ceremony.

Ross glanced at his cell phone again. “They’re here.” He disappeared into the office.

Marcia and Derrick went to take their places. She leaned in. “I’m still not sure this is a good idea,” she whispered to him. “I don’t know if Tilly can survive another loss if Cris dumps her again. She damn near didn’t survive it the first time.”

“I trust Ross and Loren. If they think this is okay, then who are we to do anything but support our friend? If it does go tits-up, she’ll need all of us more than ever. So I won’t alienate her by not supporting her in this.”

She couldn’t argue with that logic.

Her cell phone, which she’d tucked into the pocket of her skirt, started vibrating. Loren. “Hello?”

“We’re almost there,” Loren said. “ETA five minutes. Is the groom there?”

“I think so. Ross just went into the office.”

“Good. Tell him to get into position, please.” Loren hung up and Marcia started toward the office, but Derrick snagged her arm.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Loren said they’re five minutes away, and to go tell Ross.”

“Abbey,” he said to their friend, “would you mind telling Ross that Loren and Tilly are almost here?”

“Sure.” She looked a little puzzled, but went to do it.

Marcia wrinkled her nose at him. “Why’d you do that?” she asked.

He smiled. “Because I don’t feel like having to bail you out of jail for assault.”