Chapter 11

CHAPTERELEVEN

Cora sat around the table with The Refuge staff and guests at dinner that evening, enjoying Robert’s delicious food and reflecting on her day. She was even more impressed with this place than she’d been before, and that was saying something, because she’d already been enthralled by what she’d seen online.

The Refuge truly was a place where people could come to relax. To get away from whatever demons they had in their heads and lives. Table Rock had exceeded all her expectations. She could imagine what it would look like when there were leaves on the trees in either the summer or fall. But even with the bare trees, the view had taken her breath away.

She’d stood on the rock looking out over the vista for at least ten minutes, feeling…small. She’d never been much of a nature girl. Growing up in the city and having lived there all her life, she hadn’t really spent time camping or hiking in the woods. Standing on the edge of that rock and looking out at the miles and miles of forest suddenly made the things she experienced on an everyday basis, annoyances that could put her in a bad mood for hours, seem so petty.

“You feel it,” Pipe had whispered from next to her.

Cora could only nod.

“I come out here when things get to be too much. Being out here reminds me that we’re here for such a short time. That my life is fleeting. It grounds me.”

Cora understood perfectly.

“You’re lucky,” she said softly. “To live here, I mean. This is…it’s so beautiful I can’t put it into words.”

“Yeah,” Pipe had agreed. Then he’d taken a step closer to her, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body seep into hers, and they gazed out at the beauty that was all around them in silence. His hand moved, tentatively touching the small of her back once more, and Cora hadn’t been able to stop herself from leaning into him.

How long they’d stood there, she had no idea, but even now she could feel the echo of his hand on her back. Every minute she spent around this man, the more she wanted to be near him. It was as if she’d found a missing part of her soul. It was corny. Unbelievable. Ridiculous.

And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Pipe was hers.

Lara would be eating it up. She’d be encouraging Cora to go for it. To not be scared of what she felt. She was the romantic of the two of them. The one who always saw the best in people. Who fell in love at the drop of a hat.

Just thinking about it made her frown. As the others continued to eat, Cora’s concern for her friend filled her yet again. Lara was in her current situation because of her naiveté. Cora had tried to warn her that something about Ridge made her nervous, but Lara had disagreed, and they’d gotten into that big fight as a result.

Eventually, Pipe noticed her silence. “You okay?” he asked quietly from next to her.

Cora blinked and realized she’d been inside her head and completely oblivious as to what was going on around her for who knew how long.

“Yeah. Just worried about Lara.”

“Tomorrow we’re going to talk plans,” Pipe told her. “Tex is supposed to get back to us with any new intel he was able to find, and we’ll figure out how to get in touch with Lara and find out what’s going on.”

It wasn’t going to be that easy, Cora knew that. She wasn’t going to be able to walk up to Ridge’s door, knock, and leave arm-in-arm with Lara for an ice cream run or something. Ridge had gone to a lot of trouble to make Lara fall so quickly. Quick enough to agree to move to Arizona without warning…if she’d even agreed at all. Since Cora hadn’t been able to talk to her friend to find out exactly how the move happened, she wasn’t sure of anything at this point.

“Okay,” she said belatedly. “I appreciate you keeping me in the loop, but it doesn’t make my worry for my friend go away. Lara is…she’s not like me. She grew up sheltered. Her family is loaded, Pipe. She never understood what it was like to go to bed so hungry it feels as if your stomach is eating itself. Or to go to sleep knowing the second you do, someone might come into your room and touch you inappropriately. Didn’t have to wonder when her next shower would come or if she’d be living in an entirely new house from day to day. And I never wanted her to experience that stuff. Ever. Now I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s happening. That she’s suffering some of the things I endured as a kid…and she’s completely unprepared for it.”

Instead of responding, Pipe stood up, then reached down and grabbed her hand, pulling Cora to her feet as well. “We’re done. We’ll see you guys in the morning,” he told his friends.

“I’ll be here early, if you wake up and want some company,” Alaska said. “I need to work on the website a bit and do some scheduling.”

“And I’m always up early too,” Henley said. “I take Jasna to school and then head to my job in Los Alamos. If you need anything in town, let me know and I can grab it before I head back here around lunchtime.”

“I’ll be sleeping,” Reese said with a sheepish grin. “I’m not a morning person, unlike these weirdos.” She grinned. “And this kid in my belly is making me extra tired.”

“Yeah, sure, it’s the kid who’s keeping you up at night and making you tired,” Henley quipped.

Everyone laughed, and Cora smiled weakly. These women were being so nice to her. They were essentially strangers, and yet they’d offered their help without hesitation. It was a little disconcerting, and she felt as if she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like they’d discover something about her they didn’t like, and figure out she wasn’t worthy of befriending.

Pipe shook his head as if amused by the women, then began to pull her toward the door. “Tell Robert thank you for me!” Cora called as she was towed away.

“No thanks needed,” Robert said as he came into the large room from another door on the other side of the room.

Cora wanted to protest, tell him that he definitely needed to be thanked for the amazing food he’d made for dinner, but Pipe didn’t give her a chance. He was walking fast, holding her hand in his with a firm grip. Though Cora had a feeling that if she gave him any indication she wanted him to let go, he’d immediately loosen his fingers.

But she had no desire to let go of his hand. Even though he was walking fast, he was making sure she was right by his side. That he wasn’t taking steps so big, she couldn’t keep up. He was considerate, observant. And even though it was dark outside, and she knew there were critters big and small in the forest around them that would completely freak her out if she came face-to-face with any, she felt as safe with Pipe as always. He wouldn’t let any bear, moose, or Chupacabra eat her.

A grin formed on her face at her thoughts. It was hard to believe that with everything going on, with how worried she was about Lara, she could still smile.

Pipe led them to his cabin, which he’d pointed out earlier. But instead of going to the door, he led her around the side of the structure. To Cora’s surprise, when they got to the back, instead of the deck she’d assumed would be there, like she’d seen on some of the other cabins, she saw only a tiny little stoop off the back door.

More interesting was the sturdy-looking spiral staircase near the rear corner of the cabin.

“Pipe?” Cora asked as he led her toward it.

“Up,” he said in response.

Again, Cora’s lips twitched. But she did as ordered and stepped onto the first step.

The staircase was narrow, and she concentrated on not tripping as she headed upward. When she reached the top, all Cora could do was gasp.

There was a rooftop deck.

From the front, the structure looked like any other cabin she’d ever seen. But this deck was…it was literally breathtaking.

It wasn’t huge, maybe ten feet by ten feet, but it had a sturdy railing all around it, and Pipe had put two Adirondack chairs in the space. There was a low table between the chairs, and a circular rug that she assumed was waterproof.

While she was checking out the space, Pipe headed to the left side of the deck and flipped a switch. Colorful fairy lights came on, illuminating the space, but with a soft light that wouldn’t ruin her night vision.

“Sit,” Pipe ordered. “I’ll be right back.”

Cora turned to ask him where he was going, but he was already stepping onto the staircase and heading back down.

Too enchanted to sit, she wandered over to the railing and looked up. There were trees all around the cabin, but the space directly over her head was completely clear. The night was crisp—and she gasped, literally gasped, at a sight she’d never seen before.

She stared at what seemed like millions of stars shining overhead.

She’d heard of light pollution, and intellectually, she knew that looking at the night sky from an apartment in the city couldn’t compare to what it might look like in the wilderness, but she’d had no idea the difference would be so profound.

The stars seemed brighter. Closer. More awe-inspiring. Cora didn’t even want to blink, afraid she’d miss something.

She must’ve been staring at the stars for longer than she thought, because she jerked in surprise when she felt a touch on her back.

“Sorry. It’s just me,” Pipe said in a low, rumbly voice, even as he took a step away from her, giving her space after scaring her.

Cora turned and smiled at him. “This is…it’s amazing, Pipe.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “The chairs are perfect for star gazing if you want to sit. I brought up some blankets since it’s a little chilly out.”

It was more than a little chilly, it was actually kind of cold, but Cora didn’t care. She nodded and headed for one of the chairs, lowering herself and leaning back. Pipe was right, it was a great star-gazing chair because when her head rested on the back, it was at the perfect angle to look upward without craning her neck.

He shook out a blanket and draped it over her before sitting in the other chair. They didn’t speak for a while, until Cora turned her head. The small lights around them let her see the man at her side.

To her surprise, instead of looking up at the sky, Pipe was staring at her.

“What?” she asked with a small frown.

“You like?” he asked.

“Duh,” Cora said. “What’s not to like?”

“Hard chair, it’s cold, it’s dark, and it’s not like the sky is as entertaining as a TV show would be.”

Cora snorted. Honest-to-God snorted. She would’ve been embarrassed at the sound, but was feeling too awed at the moment. “You know, if someone had asked me what I expected to get out of winning a dinner at that auction, I never in a million years would’ve said ending up here at The Refuge, sitting in the dark, staring at a night sky I’ve literally never seen before in my entire life, snuggled in a warm blanket, with a man who has more layers than I ever would’ve thought.”

His lips twitched, and it was only then that he turned his attention upward. “When I feel my thoughts overwhelming me, I come out here and look up at the sky. I was on a mission once. It was in the desert in Iran. We’d entered the country stealthily and were waiting for the next phase of the mission to start. It was absolutely silent, only the sound of our breathing and the occasional shifting of someone on the sand. I was focused on what was to come when I happened to look up. I literally gasped when I saw the stars. Out there, with absolutely no light pollution, I’d never seen anything so bloody beautiful in my life.

“When I got here, before our houses were built, I camped out a lot. I felt more comfortable outside, without four walls around me. I’ve gotten much better with that trapped feeling, but I knew I wanted to build a rooftop deck. Somewhere I could go to see the stars when my PTSD flared and I needed space. I’ve slept up here more times than I can count. Being able to look up and see the stars, to know the world is so much bigger than my problems are…it helps.”

Cora sighed and turned her gaze upward again. She thought about what he’d said for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, it does help.”

In the ensuing silence, she argued with herself for a few minutes…before mentally shrugging. She’d always been impulsive. Saying things she probably shouldn’t. Doing stupid crap. Why would tonight be any different?

Cora stood with the blanket still wrapped around her and took the few steps over to Pipe’s chair. She felt more than saw his gaze locked on her. Without a word, she turned sideways and sat on his lap.

To her relief, he didn’t ask her what she was doing. Didn’t throw her off his lap. His arms encircled her as she lay her head on his shoulder and snuggled close. Her legs were hanging over the arm of the chair, and to be honest, it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable position, but Pipe was warm, and she was content.

“Is this okay?” she whispered after a moment.

“It’s perfect,” Pipe reassured her.

Smiling, she relaxed into him.

As far back as she could remember, Cora had kept her emotions to herself. She’d found that it never helped to cry as a child. She was still removed from one home and placed in another. If she acted out, she was labeled “difficult” and, once again, moved to a different home. If she admitted she was depressed, she was taken to the hospital and given pills. She’d learned it was easier to keep what she was feeling to herself. And while it had been a very long time since she was in the foster care system, much of what she’d learned during that time had become a lifelong habit.

She was able to talk to Lara about what she was feeling, but that was literally the only person she’d opened up to in years. Until now.

“I’m scared,” she admitted in a barely there whisper.

Instead of immediately telling her that everything would be fine, Pipe asked, “Of what?”

Cora snorted. “Everything.”

“Break it down for me.”

She sighed. “That Lara’s already gone. I know the statistics…when women disappear for so long, it’s unlikely they’re found alive.”

“I’m not saying that’s not a possibility,” Pipe started…and while Cora didn’t like what he was saying, she appreciated that he was being honest, wasn’t trying to sugarcoat the situation. “But this doesn’t feel like a normal kind of kidnapping. Michaels didn’t keep it a secret that he was in Arizona, and that Lara was with him. If he did want to hurt or kill her, I’d think he would’ve just done it in DC. What else?”

“I don’t want you or your friends to get hurt. I convinced you to help me and if anything happens to any of you, I’m not sure I could live with the guilt.”

“What happens from here on out is not your responsibility,” Pipe said sternly.

Cora merely shrugged. “You can say that, but it doesn’t mean I won’t still feel as if it is.”

“We’re going into this with our eyes open,” Pipe told her. “We aren’t thinking we can just walk up to the door of this guy’s mansion and ask to speak to Lara and that will be that. We know it’s likely to be much more of a bloody mess.”

Unbelievably, Cora smiled.

“What’s that smile for?” Pipe asked.

“I thought the exact same thing earlier, about walking up and knocking on Ridge’s door and asking to see Lara.”

Pipe tightened his arms around her for a moment. The hug felt good. “What else are you scared about?”

Cora debated for a second whether to say what was on her mind, but since it was dark out, and she was feeling braver than usual, she blurted it out. “You.”

Every muscle under her stiffened. “Me? You’re scared of me?” Pipe asked, sounding completely shocked.

“Yes.”

“Stand up, Cora,” he said in a strangled tone.

But she refused. She burrowed into him deeper. He was strong enough to stand with her still in his lap and physically put her away from him, but she hoped against hope that he wouldn’t.

“You make me feel things I never have. Never thought I would,” she said quickly. “Lara’s the romantic. She’s always seeing Prince Charming around every corner. Every man she meets could potentially be ‘The One’ for her. Me? I’m the exact opposite. I see a monster in a man’s body when I meet most guys. I’ve learned the hard way that people aren’t who they seem to be on the surface. But the more I’m around you, the more it feels as if you’re exactly who you portray to the world.”

“A fucked-up freak covered in tattoos because it was the only way he could feel anything other than a detached kind of fog?” Pipe asked a little harshly.

“See? Most men wouldn’t even admit that was why they’d gotten tattoos. They’d probably just say they looked badass, or they liked the designs or something. But not you. You’re more genuine than anyone I’ve ever met. And…around you, I feel…safe,” Cora said softly. “And it’s my feelings for you that scare me.”

Little by little, the muscles under her relaxed, and she went on. “I like the way you look. I liked that at the auction, people were a little scared of you. I totally would’ve won my bid if bitchface Eleanor hadn’t done what she always does, try to put me in what she sees as my place…beneath her, simply because she’s pretty and has money.”

“You’re safe with me,” Pipe told her.

“I know. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think so. Can I admit something else?”

“Of course.”

“I know I’m not supposed to want a protector. I’m a modern woman, and I don’t need a man. But traveling here opened my eyes a lot. Usually when I’m going about my business, some men stare. They think it’s their right to say whatever they want, no matter how inappropriate, or to undress me with their eyes. Or they dismiss me completely. They look through me, as if I’m not important enough for them to notice. But when I’m with you, no one treats me disrespectfully. I felt as if I could relax for the first time in public. It’s…I know that’s not a popular thing for women to want, or think, but I can’t help it.”

“No one will even think to look at you with disrespect when I’m around.”

“I know,” Cora said with a small nod. “That’s what I’m saying.”

“I think most women are probably a happy medium between you and your friend Lara. They don’t think every person they meet could be their other half, but they don’t think they’re out to get them either,” Pipe said after a comfortable few minutes of silence.

“I agree.”

“You don’t have to be afraid of me, Cora,” Pipe said in a tone she couldn’t interpret. “You’re in no danger from me. Physically, emotionally, or in any other way. There’s something about you that I…” His voice trailed off.

“Yeah,” Cora agreed.

“You feel it too.” It wasn’t a question.

She nodded against his shoulder.

“The timing’s not great,” Pipe said, and she could clearly hear the humor in his tone now.

“Right? Like…thanks, universe, for putting a guy I think I might actually be able to trust and who I want to get to know better in my path, right when the shit’s hitting the fan.”

Pipe chuckled, and the sound vibrated through her. One of his hands moved from around her to clasp the back of her neck gently. Cora tilted her head so she could see his face. He was so close. She could feel his warm breath against her cheek. Smell the coffee on his breath that he’d drank with dinner. Her body began to tingle under the blanket. She’d never felt this close to a man before. As if she wanted to melt into him.

“One thing I’ve learned over the years,” Pipe said, “is that you have to grab hold of opportunities when they present themselves. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been in the middle of an intense op, and suddenly something utterly unexpected happens. Kids start a pick-up game of football, we come across a choir practicing and singing the most beautiful songs ever, someone randomly gives up intel that turns out to be vital to getting out of a particular situation alive. In every case, when I’ve gone with the flow…kicked around that football, stopped to listen to a song, took information we were given seriously…things turned out all right in the end.”

“And when you didn’t? When you stayed the course? Focused on what you were there to do?” Cora asked.

“Things went to shit,” Pipe said flatly.

“So…you’re saying we shouldn’t ignore what we’re feeling,” she said with a small smile.

Her core clenched when he smiled down at her. “Exactly.”

“So if we get the urge, we should drop down on Ridge’s front lawn and have wild monkey sex?” she teased.

Pipe burst into laughter. His head flew back and he chuckled, long and heartily. And Cora had never been as turned on in her life as she was right at that moment. His head tilted back down, and she could’ve sworn his blue eyes twinkled as brightly as the stars over their heads.

“I’m not sure I’d go that far. But maybe we could start with a kiss.” His thumb on the back of her neck caressed her as he spoke, making goose bumps break out on her arms. “You know, test the waters.”

“You think?” Cora asked breathily.

“Oh, yeah. And for the record…you’re the only woman I’ve brought up here. This is my place. Where I go when I need to relax, to get away from the world. My safe space.”

Cora’s heart turned over in her chest. She knew how big of a deal that was, that he was sharing it with her.

“Now it’s your safe space too,” he added.

“No,” Cora said with a shake of her head. “You’re my safe space. I have a feeling it doesn’t matter if we’re here, on a plane, in a coffee shop, or in a dungeon in some terrorist’s hideaway…I’m safe with you.”

“Bloody hell,” Pipe sighed. “I’m going to kiss you now,” he warned.

Cora smiled up at him. “Okay.”

But he didn’t move. Simply stared down at her.

“Pipe? I thought you were going to kiss me.”

“I am. I’m memorizing this moment first. It’s not every day that a man meets the woman he wants to marry.”

It was Cora’s turn to be shocked. “What?”

“I know. Too fast. But I’m not a stupid man. I know when I’ve been given a gift. Just as I knew I could take the time to play with those kids, or listen to a couple of songs. I’m forty-two years old. Too old to think with my dick. But old enough to listen to fate when she knocks me upside my head.”

“I don’t know—”

“Not today. And not tomorrow. I don’t care how long it takes, I’m gonna show you that you can be yourself with me, Cora. You can let down your guard, tell me all the things you’re feeling, good and bad. I’ll be your protector. I’ll be anything you need me to be.”

Cora knew she should be freaking out. Things like this didn’t happen to her. This was the kind of situation that Lara should be in. A man declaring that he wanted to marry her after only knowing her a single day? Before sharing even one kiss? Yeah, that was totally something that would happen to Lara, not her.

And yet, here she was. And surprisingly, the more she digested what he said, the more she was excited by the idea. “Okay. But I want it here. On your deck. At night. With the fairy lights on. Only us….and whoever’s marrying us. Everyone else can be down in the yard, cheering us on. And I’m not wearing a white dress.”

Where all this was coming from, Cora had no idea, but it felt right.

Pipe grinned. “Agreed.”

She smiled back. “Good Lord, did we just decide on how we wanted our marriage ceremony to go when we haven’t even kissed yet? We might not click. Might not have any chemistry.”

“Oh, we’ll click all right,” Pipe growled. Then his fingers tightened on her neck and his head lowered.

He kissed her as if he’d been doing it all his life. No hesitation, no tentative fumbling.

Cora immediately opened for him and wrapped an arm around his neck, urging him closer.

And he was right. They had serious chemistry. More than she’d ever experienced with anyone. The moment his lips touched hers, sparks flew.

Cora tilted her head, wanting to get closer. His tongue stroked hers as they spoke without words. His other hand came up and he palmed her face as he worshiped her mouth. She couldn’t describe it any other way. She held on to him for dear life, afraid she’d fly into a million pieces if she didn’t have him to cling to.

When he finally lifted his head, Cora almost felt bereft. She opened her eyes and found that he was staring at her as if he’d never seen her before. He still cradled her face in his hands, and the look in his eyes made her feel strong and weak at the same time…and so feminine.

“Pipe?” she breathed.

“Bloody hell,” he swore.

Cora giggled.

“Seriously, woman. That was…I don’t know what that was.”

“I think it’s safe to say we definitely have chemistry,” Cora told him.

“Yeah,” Pipe agreed before lowering his head again. This time, the kiss was sweet and slow, not quite as passionate as the previous one, but no less life-altering.

Cora’s nipples were hard and tight under her shirt, and she could feel how wet she’d gotten between her legs. From kissing, of all things. That had never really happened to her before.

And she hadn’t missed Pipe’s erection under her ass. She had the sudden thought that if she moved, she could straddle his lap and all it would take was a little shimmy and shake and he could be inside her.

But as soon as she had the thought, Pipe lifted his lips from hers, cradling her against his chest once again. One arm went around her back and the other draped heavily across her lap as he clasped her to him.

“I was kidding about going at it on Ridge’s lawn, but now I’m thinking that’s not too far outside the realm of possibilities,” Cora said with a small laugh.

“We’re gonna find Lara, find out what the hell’s going on, then I’m bringing you back to The Refuge and making love to you up here on our deck. With the stars shining over our heads,” Pipe told her.

Cora squirmed. She wanted that. Badly. “Can we maybe bring up a space heater or something? Because the thought of getting naked in the cold isn’t very romantic.”

She felt more than heard his chuckle. “Yeah, love, we can do that.”

Intellectually, Cora realized that Pipe wasn’t declaring his love for her with the pet name, it was just something that British people called others, she’d heard it often enough on TV shows and read it in books. But still, something deep down preened and basked in the nickname. All her life, that was all she’d wanted. To be loved. And to hear that word from Pipe’s lips made her yearn for it to be true all the more.

They sat cuddled together for at least another thirty minutes before the chill in the air got to Cora. She shivered, despite being plastered against Pipe and under a blanket.

“Time to go in,” he announced.

Cora pouted. “But I’m comfortable.”

“Liar,” he said without heat. “You’re freezing.”

“I’m a little chilly.”

He snorted and sat up with her in his arms. Just as she’d thought earlier, he could totally stand while she was in his lap. But instead of standing right away, Pipe stared down at her with a look she couldn’t interpret.

Then he said, “Luckiest day of my life was when I pulled the short straw to be in that auction and met my stalker.”

Without giving her time to respond, Pipe stood and put Cora on her feet. He pulled the blanket away and turned her toward the stairs. “I’ll give the blanket back when you’re on the ground. I don’t want you to trip on your way down the stairs.”

Another shiver went through her, but it wasn’t from the cold. It was because he was being protective again. She carefully made her way down the spiral staircase as Pipe turned off the fairy lights and started down behind her. She looked up once more and gasped as a shooting star streaked across the sky.

“Holy crap, did you see that?” she asked as Pipe stepped up next to her.

“Yeah.”

“It was…I have no words. Amazing. Beautiful. Breathtaking.”

“Sounds like you have plenty of words to me,” he teased.

Cora smacked his chest as she turned to him. “Don’t make fun of me. I’ve never seen a shooting star before. Wait, it was a star, right, not a meteor coming down to explode and decimate earth?”

He chuckled, and Cora decided she loved the sound of his laugh. She wanted to hear it a lot more. “It was a star,” he reassured her. “Come on, let’s get you inside and warm. It’s later than I thought, and we have to get up to talk to the guys in the morning.”

“Pipe?” Cora said, looking up at him.

“Yeah?”

“The way you make me feel when I’m around you has nothing to do with gratitude, but you’re going to have to let me thank you. Lara’s the only family I’ve ever known.”

“Until now.”

“What?” she asked with a tilt of her head.

“The only family you’ve had…until now. You’ve got me, the rest of the guys, their women, and don’t think I missed how you’ve already got Robert wrapped around your finger. And Ryan too. I’m sure as soon as you meet Jess, Jason, Hudson, Luna, Carly, and Savannah, you’ll make them like you just as much.”

Cora pressed her lips together, trying not to cry again. “You don’t understand. This isn’t me. I don’t make friends this easily. I’m the weird chick, the one people don’t get and don’t click with.”

“Wrong. This is you. You’ve just had the misfortune to not have found your people yet. Here, we accept everyone just as they are. We’re all weird, love. Embrace it, and be exactly who you were meant to be. Now, I can see you shivering. Inside, woman.”

Cora let him push her toward the back door to the cabin. She felt off-kilter, but more optimistic than she’d been in her entire life.

She was going to find Lara, get her away from Ridge—because she knew deep down he wasn’t a good guy—come back to The Refuge, have that wild monkey sex with Pipe, and figure out the rest of her life after that.

She had no illusions that things would be quite so easy, but she truly believed that maybe, just maybe, she could finally be happy.