Chapter 9 - The Festival of Lights
The Montauk boardwalk was a vibrant tapestry of flashing neon lights, the sweet scent of caramel corn, and the joyful screams of children riding the ancient wooden carousel.
For the first time in six months, Rory Starks walked openly among ordinary people without his security detail breathing down his neck—though three discreet black SUVs remained parked near the entrance just in case.
Lily and Rose ran ahead, their hands sticky with pink cotton candy, pointing excitedly at the glowing games booth where giant stuffed animals hung from the ceiling in colorful rows.
“Daddy! Look at the big panda! Win it for Veronica!” Rose yelled, tugging furiously on Rory’s sleeve.
Rory laughed, stepping up to the carnival game booth. The carnie running the stand looked nervously at Rory’s imposing frame and dark tattoos, hastily handing over three baseballs with shaking hands.
“Hit the three stacked milk bottles, mister, and the panda is yours,” the carnie stammered.
Rory picked up a baseball, weighed it in his hand, and casually pitched it.
Clang. The top bottle flew off the platform. Clang. The second bottle spun into the air. Clang. The third bottle vanished off the table.
The carnie’s jaw dropped. “Holy—winner!” He immediately unhooked the giant, fluffy panda bear and handed it over.
Rose cheered, while Lily immediately grabbed the panda’s paws, examining them closely with wide, suspicious eyes.
“Is it buzzing?” Lily asked, poking the panda’s stomach.
Veronica stepped up beside them, gently patting the panda’s fluffy belly. “Completely normal stuffing,” Veronica assured her with a wink. “Just cotton and fluff. No monsters allowed in this park.”
Lily smiled, satisfied, and hugged the massive stuffed animal tightly against her chest.
Rory watched the interaction, his heart swelling with a warmth he had never known was possible. He looked at Veronica, who was laughing as she wiped a smudge of pink sugar off Rose’s cheek. Under the warm glow of the carnival lights, the harsh lines of her professional exterior melted away, revealing a radiant, compassionate woman who had brought light back into a house that had been plunged in darkness.
“You know,” Rory said quietly, stepping closer so his voice was masked by the carnival music, “for a woman who started out changing sheets, you’ve managed to completely take over my entire life.”
Veronica turned her head, her eyes sparkling with playful defiance. “Someone had to, Mr. Starks. Otherwise, you and your daughters would still be held hostage by a teddy bear.”
Rory smiled, reaching out to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered softly against her cheek for a beat longer than protocol allowed.
“Rory,” she whispered, using his first name without the formal title for the first time.
May you like
“Yeah?” he murmured.
“Let’s go on the Ferris wheel.”
