Ever After

lindy

Elliot was killed on the front porch after a stand off with Levi, just before the police had arrived. Heidi called as soon as she heard the shots. Madeline was found dead just outside of Lindy's bedroom. Levi was killed by the police. Lindy was sent to Chicago to live with Madeline's sister, hours away from Brady, Heidi and Gentry.

The goodbye was tearful and Madeline never had a will. If she had, she'd left Lindy to Heidi and Elliot - but she didn't. Lindy, being only seventeen, was handed over to her aunt Kate whom she'd only met three times her entire life and who's lifestyle was vastly different from the life she was accustomed to on the ranch.

Lindy fought. Brady fought. Heidi went to court, but ultimately custody fell to the next of kin. Even though she was only three months shy of graduation and her 18th birthday, Kate whisked Lindy away to Chicago without a second glance after the funerals were over.

In a matter of just a few short weeks, Lindy went from planning a future with Brady to no contact. She wrote. No reply. Lindy wrote through her first year of college and after her first book was published, but never got anything back. He never wrote her. She gave up. Lindy's heart was broken, so she turned to the only thing she knew how to do - write.

Kate never called her Lindy, just Lindon. She caught the attention of a publisher during her first semester in college and her career took off. Her love stories turned to dark, crime and psychological thrillers.

Oliver was a colleague of Kate. A lawyer. A lot older than Lindon at 35, but he was safe. He was handsome, single, rich and caught the eye of Kate for Lindon. She set the two up. He was a gentleman from the very start and was the first man Lindon had let into her life since Brady. One downfall to Oliver - he was a flirt to everyone, not just Lindon.

He's just a charming man. Kate had reassured after Lindon voiced her concerns. She assumed Kate was right - Lindon had lost all of her spitfire, stubborn attitude after moving to Chicago. She was a meek, people pleaser now and took Kate's word for it. He can give you the life you've always wanted.

This penthouse apartment with designer shoes and any materialistic thing she could want was not Lindon's idea of paradise - this was not the life she'd always dreamed about. Lindon had dreamed of taking over the ranch, having a bunch of wild, barefoot kids with Brady and dying old writing her love stories. That's not the card she was dealt and she supposed she'd settle for a boring, comfortable, lavish lifestyle with Oliver.

"Have you been up all night?" Oliver's words echoed through the cold, modern apartment. Lindon smiled widely.

"I got it done!" She grinned.

"That's fantastic, dear." Oliver smiled as he tightened the cuff links on his suit. "When can I read it?"

"Already emailed you a copy. Let me know what you think." Lindon poured the two a cup of coffee, black for her. That's the only way they ever drank it back home.

"Shouldn't you be getting some sleep?" Oliver raised an eyebrow as he poured French vanilla creamer into his cup.

"Looking at wedding dresses at 10." Lindon said, sipping the piping hot coffee. "Then I'll sleep."

"Alright, I'll be home late tonight. Meeting with a couple of big wigs about an upcoming merger. Don't wait up, you obviously need some sleep." He chuckled, kissing the top of Lindon's head.

After Oliver left, Lindon began tidying the apartment. He'd had a cleaning service when she first moved in, but she let them go. Oliver was upset at first and that was their first argument. Lindon didn't see the point in having strangers come to clean their home when she worked from home on a flexible schedule and could do it herself. After rinsing her coffee cup and putting a load of laundry in the dryer, she hopped in the shower.

The warm water flowed over her black hair and down her back, Lindon relaxed into the warmth of the rain-like shower head. Her high was slowly coming down and the tears began to fly just like the warm water around her. Why did she schedule a bridal appointment on the day of her mama and Elliot's death?

Lindon knew why. She knew she'd need a distraction, but the thought of her mama not being there broke Lindon's heart. Lindon thought back to the dreams she had back home.. how the situation would've been different if she'd still been there and her mama was still alive. Her mama, Heidi and Lindon's friend (also Gentry's off again, on again girlfriend), Sadie, would be in the only dress shop in town, oohing and awing over the small selection of dresses. Lindon always assumed she'd choose a flowing, simple, boho-like design.

Lindon rinsed the shampoo out of her head and squeezed her brown eyes tightly together. There wasn't any sense in wondering what could have been. That was long gone, this was her life now. She needed to be happy. Lindon knew why she couldn't get the what-ifs out of her head: she wasn't over Brady. She didn't think she'd ever truly be; but, he didn't want anything to do with her. When she moved to Chicago, he reminded her that it was only temporary, he'd visit and write and in three months she'd be back home. After a year of no contact, with countless attempts on Lindon's part, she gave up. The radio silence from Brady broke her heart, but she assumed he'd moved on and found someone else. However, when no letters or visits came from Heidi or Gentry, she knew what the reason was. Her father, after all, was the man that killed their dad and the love of Heidi's life. How could they welcome the daughter of a murderer back into their lives, as a constant reminder? She felt like they blamed her.

Lindon slipped on a cream colored lounge set which cost more than her prom dress in high school.  She wanted to be comfortable since she'd be changing in and out of dresses a lot. She thought it was ridiculous spending this type of money on something so basic, but Oliver insisted she have the "best".  Lindon's phone dinged.

Hailey: Rise and shine, we got a wedding dress to pick. Or have you even been asleep? 

Lindon met Hailey in college. She was a nursing major and they had a basic, English 101 class together. Hailey was struggling. Bad. Lindon, who correcting grammatical errors came naturally too, offered to help tutor her. They'd been best friends since and she was to be the maid of honor in the wedding; actually, the only one of the bridal party she truly knew. Oliver's cousins were the rest of her bridesmaids.

Lindon: mind ya business. I'll be there in 15.
Hailey: I'm picking up coffee for you and Cruella. Idk what to get those other girls.

Cruella is what the two called Kate. It was a joke, but accurate with her upturned nose and affinity for fur coats.

Lindon arrived at the bridal shop right on time, but of course Kate had a comment. "Not very becoming of the bride to be late to her own appointment."

Hailey scoffed. Kate meant well, but she was hard to deal with. Lindon had to remind herself constantly that she had her best interest in mind, but Lindon half felt that Kate was living vicariously through her and didn't really care what she wanted.

This idea was solidified when Lindon tried on the first dress. It was beautiful and exactly what she had imagined marrying Brady in - except she wasn't marrying Brady. It was a beautiful, boho style off the shoulder gown with flowing see through sleeves. The lacework was sewed into beautiful, delicate flowers. Kate snarled her nose. "What, you don't like it?" Lindon kind of snapped. She loved this dress.

"It's not what I would choose." Kate shrugged.

"Good thing it's not your wedding." Lindon mumbled as she continued to admire the lace.

Hailey but her lip. "It's beautiful, don't get me wrong. But, I think Oliver might would like something more form fitting." Lindon cocked her head to the side at Hailey's comment, wondering how she knew what Oliver would like. She pushed her insecurities to the side; she was her best friend, of course she knew what Oliver's tastes were - she was around them enough to know.

"Yeah, maybe..." Lindon trailed off. The closer the wedding became the more she began to doubt, but what could she do? A life with Oliver would be comfortable. She wouldn't have to worry about making ends meet, she could focus on her writing.

Lindon hoped she was making the right decision.