Once the romantic ballad came to an end, they took a moment to enjoy the calm. They gazed into each other's eyes seeing their past, present and hopes for their future. The devotion, passion and warmth in their stares drew them closer together.
Mark pressed a deep and tender kiss on Sidney's perfect lips. Her fingers got lost in his silky thick salt and pepper hair as he gently pulled her body against his. Their touches and kisses grew in fervor.
When they separated to catch their breaths, he cupped her face, "Shall we take this inside, Miss Prescott?"
The flirtatious spark in her dark eyes matched her voice, "Or, we could take advantage of this beautiful night by making love right here."
Stunned and intrigued, he slowly blinked and slightly leaned forward, "You're serious?"
Nodding, she explained, "Jae and Navi are coming back tomorrow morning. And the rental house next door is empty until next month. So, it'd be a real shame if we didn't take this opportunity to live a little."
His lips split into a wide smile, "I've said this a million times before but it doesn't make it any less true, you're the world's best wife!"
She pecked his cheek and fisted the front of his t-shirt with both hands, "Mmm, and I never get tired of hearing it. I love you, so much!"
"And I love you, Mrs. Kincaid." His mouth captured hers as he guided them to the patio's dark grey sectional sofa.
Although their relationship was still strained, Sam was grateful when her mother offered to help pay rent for her and Tara's home. There was no way in hell they were going to live in the rundown studio apartment that she and Richie shared. They deserved a fresh start in a beautiful and safe home that had no ghosts from their pasts. Both sisters immediately fell in love with the apple red 1,000 square foot ranch home.
The scrumptious scents of homemade beef empanadas and Mexican wedding cookies filled their charming abode. When Sidney had invited them to her potluck style cookout, they were surprised and initially hesitant. One video chat with Chad and Mindy eased their concerns. It comforted them to know that their friends would be there instead of just Sidney's inner circle.
They agreed to bring savory and sweet appetizers. Creating the treats from their mother and late grandmother's recipes filled them with warm nostalgia. As complicated as their relationship was, Sam only had fond memories in her mind whenever she made her mother's empanadas. Smelling and tasting the savory pastry brought her back to the times when they were still a happy family. There was no pain or anger, just love and celebration.
Their late abuela's cookies were always a favorite of Tara's. Until her death, Estrella made sure to make the sweet treats for Tara's birthday. She remembered being shorter than the kitchen counter when her abuela allowed her to help make the cookies. A burst of joy came to her heart as she recalled sitting by Estrella on a stool and rolled the cookie dough into powdered sugar. Her abuela would tap her white powder covered finger on Tara's nose causing her to giggle every time.
As tempting as the cookies looked and smelled, Tara fought the urge to pop another one into her mouth. She placed the blue lid over the large plastic food storage container and snapped it shut. While she set them in the insulated thermal bag, she heard Sam walking down the hallway behind her.
"Hey, do you have everything packed?" Sam picked up her container of empanadas off the counter and placed in the bag next to the cookies.
Tara nodded, "Yeah, I double checked and just in case, I'm bringing along two inhalers."
"Good but don't forget your phone charger." She tipped her head to the right at a nearby outlet.
"Right, thanks!" As she unplugged the charger and placed it into her purse, she asked. "Sam, what do you wanna get out of this weekend? I mean, I'm excited to see Chad and Mindy again. And we haven't gone on a vacation together since we were kids…"
After a beat and a breath, she answered, "Sid tells me that she's happily married with kids and I believe her. I-I just need to see it for myself. To know that it's real and that it's possible to move on after going through the shit we've experienced."
Nodding, Tara replied, "I get it. She went through this shit so many times and not only is she still standing but she's thriving. Maybe she'll tell us what her secret is?"
Her full lips pulled into a grin, "Here's hoping. We better get going or else traffic will be hell."
Sidney stood in front of her walk-in closet's full body mirror looking at her reflection. In long loose waves, her chest-length dark locks framed her flawless face. The light blue maxi dress's soft fabric felt lovely against her flawless skin. Her toned arms were on full display while the dress's high scoop neck revealed her clavicle. Around her elegant neck was a silver lotus flower necklace, a gift from her late mother. She gently gripped the flower pendant and fondly remembered her sixteenth birthday party. The effort her mother put into planning and executing parties was a skill passed down to Sidney. Having that same interest and talent made her feel closer to her mom. From behind, she heard Mark release a slow whistle bringing her gaze to mirror where she saw his smiling face.
He embraced her waist from behind and kissed her cheek, "You look incredible, Sid! And we match!"
She brushed his strong forearms with her hands and admired how his fitted blue t-shirt matched her dress. His black chinos and white sneakers perfectly represented his casual and modern style. "Thanks, and now I see why all the moms, gay dads and nannies at the park always check you out."
With a scoff he countered, "I can say the same about the dads and teenage boys whenever you wear your skintight tank tops and yoga pants."
"It's safe to say that we both still go it." She held his face and touched her lips against his until her phone chimed. A wide smile came to her mouth when she looked at her phone and saw Martha, Mindy and Chad at their front door.
Mark blinked, "They're about five minutes early and got here before Mel, Trip and our kids?"
"Martha's been really excited about this party. Come on, we don't wanna keep them waiting." Sidney grabbed his hand and led him out of their closet.
Koa, Poppy, Remy and Oreo eagerly stood by the door and wagged their tails. In a confident and commanding tone, Mark held up his hand told them all to "sit" and "stay" and smiled when they obeyed. Sidney complimented the pack of four before opening the door.
"Hi Sid! You look great and your home is incredible!" Martha chirped and held her arms open.
Sidney embraced her, "Hey Martha and thanks! This is my husband, Mark."
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Martha." He gave her a warm smile and accepted her hand into his.
"And it's great meeting you too! Now I get why Sid keeps you a secret." She sheepishly chuckled.
"You're too kind! And we're so happy to have all three of you with us. Please, come inside." He stepped aside and gestured to the living room.
Mindy stepped inside along with her brother and immediately bent down to the dogs' eye level, "Oh my god, they are so cute! What are their names?"
"From left to right, Koa is our senior citizen, next to him is Poppy followed by Remy. Last but not least, this giant lap dog is Oreo!" She explained then told the pack, "OK!"
They happily crowded around Mindy and greeted her by licking her hands and face.
A smiling Chad held up two black insulated bags and asked Mark, "That's perfect! Because we brought Oreo cookie balls! And some bacon wrapped shrimp. Where do I put 'em?"
"Hand the Oreos to Sid then just follow me, I gotta get the steaks and chicken legs on the grill." He nodded at the 18-year-old and watched him hand one of the bags to Sid.
"Hey Sid, where's your bathroom?" Mindy asked as she stood up. "As cute as your dogs are I refuse to smell like puppy breath."
With a small laugh, she answered, "Down that hallway, second door on the left! Martha, would you like something to drink?" She asked as they entered the kitchen.
"Oh, um, anything white. So, when are your kids coming?" Martha sat down on one of the breakfast bar's stools.
Sidney placed the Oreo cookie balls into the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of white wine, "They'll be here soon with my in-laws. And Gale can't make it. She has to pre-tape some interviews; she's doing press for her book about Dewey."
Nodding, Martha answered, "I like that she's honoring Dewey. I hope the book does well, the world should know how truly heroic and sweet he was."
While pouring her drink, Sidney replied, "I couldn't agree more! Everyone needs to see that anyone with heart and courage can be a hero. Here." The moment Martha grasped the glass, she heard a familiar voice coming from the intercom.
"Mom, we're home let us in or else I'll climb onto the roof again!" Angie hollered.
Martha giggled as she stood up, "She's sassy and sounds a lot like how Mindy was at that age!"
"Yeah, she's our little drama queen. Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone." Sidney grinned and led the way out of the kitchen.
After Sidney hugged Angie and Elle then took Beckett from Mel's arms, she introduced everyone to Martha. Both sisters politely shook her hand and exchanged pleasantries. Seeing an old friend from Woodsboro happily interact with her children brought a radiant smile to her face. Martha's blue eyes lit up while she spoke to the girls. The sparkle in her stare reminded her of Randy's blue gleeful gaze whenever he spoke about his love of movies. A part of her heart warmed at the beautiful image while a piece of it broke for her late friend.
"This is the last red light then it's a straight shot to Sidney's home." Sam said with a little nod as she slowly pressed her foot on the brake.
Tilting her head, Tara stated, "It's probably like some kind of fortress in the middle of nowhere."
"It's on a lake. She made sure to tell me that it's private and safe but not a prison. And that their only neighbors are their close friends. We don't have to worry about a thing, Tara. Oh and they have a boat!" Her mouth cracked into a genuine smile.
"Cool, it'll be nice to get some fresh air and dip my feet in the water…Remember the last time we went to a lake?" A teasing smirk touched her lips.
"How could I forget? You were seven and got motion sickness when we took our rented boat onto the water. You threw up all over Mom! And that was after I got into the water where a baby turtle bit my toe! Dad thought it was hilarious as he took it off my foot." She chuckled and shook her head.
"And I was upset that Dad put back into the water because I wanted it as a pet. I named him Megabyte." A cute giggle sounded from her chest.
Sam was about to respond until she heard Tara's phone ping. "Who is it?"
Her dark eyes went to the phone's screen, "It's a text from Mom," she tapped on the message. "Um, she-she said that Dad called her."
Stunned, she glanced at her little sister and saw her face scrunch up, "What does he want?"
Tara took a breath, "To talk me but he wouldn't tell her about what…she refused to give him my number but she did give me his."
With the mood in the car taking a serious shift, Sam pulled over to side of the road. She kept the car's motor running, "Did she say anything else?"
Brushing a tendril of her dark hair behind her ear, glanced at her lap then met Sam's stare, "No. I haven't heard from Dad since he left. And it's almost been a year since we were attacked…Why would he call now?"
The confusion and lost look in Tara's eyes pained Sam. The last time they spoke about their father was a week before her eighteenth birthday. It was the last child support payment she received from him. "I wish I could tell you why, Tara. But only he can answer that."
All those feelings of anger, pain, loss and abandonment she had because of him were buried. Now, she sensed them bubbling up with his sudden attempt at contacting her. Half of her was incensed at him for putting a damper on what was supposed to be a carefree weekend. She also was upset for being curious about his reason for reaching out to her. As much as his desertion hurt her, there was still a piece of Tara that missed her father.
Crossing her arms, she asked her older sister, "Sam, should I talk to him?"
"Uh…Honestly, I don't know. But you don't have to decide right now. This weekend is about having fun and reconnecting with old friends and making new ones." She reached out and grasped Tara's hand, "Whatever you decide, I have your back. Always."
The supportive and gentle look on Sam's face comforted her, "I know and thanks." Grateful for her love and friendship, she pulled her into a hug.
Martha was holding Beckett in her arms as she and Sidney walked onto the patio. After planting a kiss on the toddler's forehead, she smiled and looked at her kids, "God, you two were so damn cute when you were Beckett's age!" Her and Sidney sat down on the sectional sofa.
A small grimace formed on Chad's mouth, "Aw Mom, please don't talk about how we used to be in diapers. We already have enough trauma to last us two lifetimes!"
Everyone laughed at her statement then noticed her attention turn to the sliding doors. Her jaw dropped when Mark walked in with his parents next to him. Before he could speak Mindy approached his father.
"Oh my god, you're Jack Kincaid!" She gripped his shoulder, "The Haunting of Beaumont Manor and The Curse of Elea's Emerald were my childhood! Oh and I'm Mindy!"
Jack was clearly flattered while he shook her hand, "Well Mindy, that's so nice to hear and it's great to know that your generation doesn't see me as some dinosaur." He chuckled and touched her shoulder. "Thanks for being a fan."
Chad chimed in from his spot on the sofa as he stood up, "I'm Chad and you're an underrated legend! And Elea was my first celebrity crush! I had her poster on my bedroom door. Can we please take a pic with you?"
"Of course! Mark, can you take it for them?" Jack asked as he stood in between the twins and placed his arms around their shoulders.
"Sure!" Mark held out his hand and accepted Chad's phone. He took several photos for the twins.
Sidney politely warned them, "Remember you two, don't post your location."
"We know, Sid, but we are gonna tag Jack, if that's cool with him?" Chad asked him.
"Go right ahead! Just make sure it's at JackKincaidOfficial there's a million Jack Kincaids on Instagram."
Mindy suggested, "Maybe you could come out of retirement and adapt Sidney's story into a movie! Her manuscript is amazing, she can be the next J.K. Rowling but not a greedy transphobic bitch!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh, Sidney replied, "Thanks Mindy, but it's not even released yet. Let's not get ahead ourselves."
Jack answered, "As fun as that would be I'm happy producing the occasional movie and being a grandpa. But Kirby would be perfect to helm the adaptation, if it happens."
Mindy's dark eyes became big with excitement, "That would be incredible! I really hope I get to meet her someday."
Crossing her arms, Sidney said, "You will, she'll be here for Thanksgiving. And I appreciate the support but studios only adapt books that are hits. This time around, I'm using a pen name that has no name recognition or any obvious connection to me, it'll be a challenge."
Mark wrapped his left arm around her waist, "Sid, don't sell yourself short. Your story's great! Who wouldn't wanna read an awesome young adult adventure novel written by S.P.K Riley?"
Touched by his faith in her, she cupped his face and pressed a sweet kiss on his lips. As her thumb stroked his strong jaw, she said, "It's official, I'm keeping you around for another year!"
With a wide smile on his lips, he made a fist and pulled his elbow inward, "Yes!"
Chad interjected, "So, you're a badass FBI agent, son of Hollywood royalty and a total wife guy."
"And damn proud of it!" He said with a big nod.
Everyone shared a lighthearted laugh at their exchange then Sidney's phone pinged. "More guests are here and I need to welcome them, try not to miss me."
"That's impossible." He pecked her cheek. "Need a hand?"
"Thanks, but I can handle it and I'm pretty sure you to need flip the steaks." She tipped her head toward the grill.
"Shit, you're right. Thanks," he gave her another small kiss and quickly marched over to the grill.
Both sisters were in utter awe of the contemporary style home as they pulled into the driveway. Being from Woodsboro they had seen their fair share of big beautiful homes but none of them were like Sidney's abode. The Prescott-Kincaid home was breathtaking with its Brazilian cherry wood siding, curved rooflines, stone pillars and its many windows with steel shadow boxes around them.
"Holy shit, she told me that there plenty of room for us and Chad and Mindy but I didn't imagine this!" Sam said as they both got out of the car.
"Mark must be rich? I know that her dad was successful and they lived in a huge house. But you told me that she's been with Mark ever since those Hollywood murders..." Tara's brows creased as she wondered how Sidney was able to live in such a gorgeous home.
She opened the rear passenger door and pulled out her suitcase, "You can ask her once we get inside or right now."
Their eyes went to the home's front door where Sidney confidently strolled out and headed in their direction. Sam noticed an easy confidence her fellow survivor had in her stride and eyes.
With a welcoming smile, Sidney politely said to the sisters, "I'm so glad that you two are here. I hope the drive wasn't too bad."
Shaking her head, Sam answered, "Traffic was pretty good and, uh, thanks again for letting us spend the weekend here. Your home and this place are so beautiful."
Tara's mouth formed into a small curve, "We really appreciate it. And I know it's kind of nerdy but I'm subscribed to Architectural Digest's Youtube channel and they should do video about this house!"
Sidney gave her a gracious grin, "You're both so kind! We got lucky, the owner was really motivated to sell it, we just happen to be the first people who looked at it. And we've called this place home for, God, over twenty years now."
The younger Carpenter sister was clearly surprised, "Who would be crazy enough to sell this place?"
"This was supposed to be the former owner's romantic getaway for him and his wife but that fell apart once he caught her cheating on him. He sold us this place before he served her divorce papers. We bought this lovely home at a ridiculously low price." Sidney said with a small nod.
Shocked and a bit amused, Sam commented, "I get it. Revenge is definitely a strong motivator that could make you do illogical things."
Sidney picked up the insulated food bag from the car's back seat, "Oh I know. Come on, I'll give you two the grand tour."
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