Page 13 of Impossible Rapids
“Please,” she added when Shawn sent her a surprised look. “I … have a lot to take care of in the next few weeks.”
Shawn nodded to her. Franz looked interested in her desire to be done with this meeting. He seemed to be doing all right at the moment, but she’d heard grief came in waves.
“All right.” Brandon pushed play.
“I know you’ll all have the best time rafting the river together and I pray you win the million dollars for Left Behind, darling Julie. You … are … my best!” she sang out.
Julie didn’t feel like the best right now. She felt like the worst.
“All right. Time to say goodbye.” Mercedes’s teal-blue eyes got even brighter. “Cash and Brylee, thank you for doing this one last favor for me. You are incredible together, and I’m so grateful that I matchmade you two wonderful people. I pray for happy love forever for you!”
Cash put his arm around Brylee and cuddled her close. Julie loved them together too. Mercedes had been their sole matchmaker? Julie had done the research on every couple and deserved a little credit. She hated how bitter she felt right now. That wasn’t her, especially not with Mercedes.
“Jagger … I love Bee too! I’m so glad Julie found her for you. Isn’t she brilliant?”
Ah, there you go. Mercedes remembered those long hours of legwork.
“Can’t wait to watch the wedding from heaven. Stay safe and watch over Hays, Shawn, Julie, and my dad.” Mercedes smiled. “And Hays … you are a sneaky one. When Julie found high school dance pictures with Elizabeth Oliver, we were both stunned. I feel everything is not as it seems, and you may have a second chance. I pray you can redeem your lost love. Keep Jagger and Shawn in line and watch over Julie and my dad.”
Julie caught an incredulous look from Shawn to Cash. Nobody thought much of Elizabeth. Her mother Catherine was in prison and better remain there. Julie regretted ever deep-diving Hays’s former love life. He probably preferred his past stayed in the past.
“Julie …” Mercedes sang out. “You are my true sister and best friend on earth. How can I thank you for all the time, all the love, all the devotion you’ve given me?”
Julie felt even worse for being annoyed with Mercedes. They were sisters and best friends. She had to somehow not get caught up on being left out of the wedding and not make designs on her friend’s husband.
“I’m praying your week on the rapids of Colorado will change your life and you’ll be singing my praises.” She winked, and Julie’s face went hot again. “You are seriously the best! Now that I’m gone and you’ll wrap up the filming, I want you to let the producers deal with the show and you go enjoy yourself. Shawn will be lonely, and he’ll need you. Take good care of him and my dad for me.”
Julie didn’t dare look away from the screen. She prayed everybody thought Mercedes meant Julie would take care of Shawn like she would Franz—as a friend and maybe an employee. Would Shawn keep her on as his assistant? She’d read some fabulous clean romance books by Jennifer Youngblood where the boss fell in love with his assistant. Her face went red once again.
“Love you, girlie! Mwah!” Mercedes blew her a kiss.
Julie’s eyes stung with tears. She’d cried desperately when Mercedes had passed four days ago, but she’d thought the tears had all dried up.
“Shawn … You are everything I ever needed. You’ve been there for me through thick and thin. I love you so much.”
Shawn stared at the screen, and Julie tried not to stare at him. Her frustration at them marrying and her embarrassment about longing for her best friend’s husband was pushed away for a moment. All that mattered was Shawn. How was he holding up? His love, his best friend, his wife was gone. Julie would comfort him. As a friend.
“Please take care of Jagger, Hays, my dad, and of course special care of our sweet Julie. They are all that matter. The money is not the most important thing.”
Her dad made a noise of dissent. Julie had never heard him disagree with Mercedes, but she knew as well as anybody how hard he’d worked to manage, grow, protect, and diversify his centuries old family legacy.
“All right. I’d better sign off before I ugly cry.” Mercedes’s voice pitched up, and Julie felt the tears leak out of her eyes. “Love you all so very much! Mwah!”
The screen froze on her beautiful face.
The room was silent.
Mercedes. The happy light of all their lives. Julie loved her far too much. She felt sad but also strangely calm and at peace.
Until she glanced over at Shawn and everything she’d just learned and the adventure Mercedes had set up for them were front and center in her mind.
Shawn and Mercedes had been married and now Julie was going to have to spend a week on a river with him. He was supposed to protect her and take ‘special’ care of her. How would Julie hide her feelings for him?
She felt like the biggest jerk even having feelings for him, and she was heartbroken over Mercedes dying, but honestly mad at her friend too. What kind of twisted ploy was this, telling Julie that Shawn would be lonely and need her, telling Shawn to take ‘special care’ of Julie? How awkward. Mercedes was probably up in heaven giggling to herself.
I am, Mercedes’s voice sang out in her head.
Well, you aren’t down here dealing with the mess and uncomfortable moments, now are you?