Uncovering You 11: The Lost Chapter Read Free Page B

eyes nearly pop from my head. Before they get the chance, Robin swings down and joins Fey on the ground.
    I’m flabbergasted. Fey and Robin…I thought I’d lost them.
    “Surprise,” Jeremy whispers behind me. I feel his hands come around my waist. “I hope you like it.”
    I stare at them, almost in a daze. Fey looks around, sees me, gives a little wave. She looks nervous, but it’s not anywhere close to how I feel.
    They’re not the only ones on the helicopter. Robin turns back and helps someone else down. My breath catches. It’s my mom. Followed by Dr. Telfair, and Charles.
    Of course, I’d seen my mother in the hospital when I awoke. She stayed for about a month, but then went back home. She and Conner had actually fallen in love and were living together, though not married. It didn’t matter that he was Jeremy’s mole or not. That’s how they met, but it didn’t preclude true feelings from developing.
    “Lilly!” my mom calls out. Her voice breaks me from my trance. I unhook Jeremy’s arms and run toward the gathering.
    She meets me first, swallowing me whole in an enormous hug. She frames my face and beams at me. “You look so much better,” she gushes. “So much better!”
    I smile back, then see Fey from over her shoulder.
    Tears fill my eyes as I approach her. She squares herself to me and smiles, putting on a strong front. But I can feel her uneasiness. Robin stands beside her, his arm over his wife’s shoulders. His smile is genuine, and he looks back past me, at Jeremy, and nods.
    “H—how?” I manage. “How did you get here? How is this possible?”
    Fey looks at me. She bites her lip.
    And then she springs forward, the iciness vanquished, and holds me tight.
    “Robin did it,” she says. She starts to cry against my shoulder. “I never stopped thinking about you, Lilly. Not once! Your mother—she told us everything that’s happened. I couldn’t believe it. But look at you! You’re here, you’re alive.” She holds me by the arms. “You’re alive , Lilly, and I forgive you for everything that happened, and I’m sorry for everything I said, all the horrible things I told you, and, and, and…”
    She starts blubbering. “Fey, it’s okay,” I say. “It’s okay, and you’re here, I can’t believe it!” I glance back at Jeremy, who’s smiling at me from the distance, both hands in his pockets, and giving us space. “You don’t need to apologize. I don’t—I didn’t think I’d ever see you again!”
    I start to cry too, but they’re happy tears, tears of disbelief. This is all astounding.
    I let go of Fey. Robin comes over and holds his hand out. He looks much older than when I last saw him. Not in a bad way. Before, he always seemed like a boy. Now, he gives the impression of a man.
    “Lilly,” he says.
    I forego his outstretched hand and simply grab onto his neck to hold him close. “I never forgot your note,” I whisper, for his ear alone. “I never forgot that you said I could come to you if I needed help.”
    He smiles at me. I greet Charles, who I saw last two months ago, and then Dr. Telfair, who inquires about my progress. I tell him it’s been great.
    Jeremy comes to us then. He slides a hand around my lower back. “What do you think?” he asks, smiling.
    “Jeremy, this is amazing,” I effuse. “I can’t believe you did it. This is what you’ve been working on? How? How is it that Robin and Fey are here?”
    “It all began with the man over there,” Jeremy says acknowledging Robin with an approving glance. “He authored an editorial piece that made the cover of Forbes last month. It detailed my sudden disappearance. He didn’t believe the story of my death. And his research was quite extensive. It impressed me—as did his intimate knowledge of Stonehart Industries. It was almost like,” he adds, with a wink directly at me, “he had a vested interest in the company.”
    I look at Robin. Before, such praise would have made him blush. Now, he