Page 27 of Echoes of Eternity

Seeing the front door, she longed to leave, to escape.

Walking over to it, she paused with her hand on the doorknob.

Silence invaded the moment, lingering. She wanted Ryan to stop her, but he didn’t.

Then she went out.

Walking down the steps and into the yard, she stopped and leaned over as she tried to catch her breath.

She began to pray.

“God . . .” It was all she could say in the moment. Tears flowed as she looked up at the night sky and raised a fist. “I need something. Anything, God!”

Just then, Ryan opened the front door.

Lowering her fist, she turned and saw him sit down on the front steps.

Sensing that he wanted to talk, she wiped her eyes and walked over to him. She sat down beside him.

He started to talk but struggled. “I . . .”

She turned toward him. “Just tell me, Ryan. I’m your wife. You can tell me anything.”

He folded his face into his palms and shook his head.

She moved closer, wrapping an arm around him. “What’s wrong, Ryan? Why won’t you talk to me?”

“I met her.”

“Who?”

“The woman my father had been supporting.”

“What?” Emily stood up and positioned herself in front of Ryan. “What are you talking about, Ryan?”

“The bank transfer. I didn’t tell you the details I figured out, but that transfer was to a woman. My dad was sending her money. She lives in Spokane, and I went to see her today.”

Weakness brought her back to her seat beside him. “Really? Frank did that?”

Wiping his tears, he let out a sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “What’s even more messed up is the fact that she knows my mom.”

“How? What?”

“I don’t know how. But she called her Roni. That nickname isn’t even common knowledge.”

“That is strange. Did you tell Jason?”

“No. He looks up to our dad so much . . . I didn’t want to break his heart. I told him on my way home that it was just the Rescue Mission bank account.”

“Why can’t you be honest?”

“I’m scared. I don’t want it to change Jason, change the way he saw our dad. And this town would freak out. If this got out it would soil my dad’s name and legacy.” Ryan composed himself as he shook his head and stood up. He turned toward her. “Don’t talk to anyone about this, Em. You got it?”

“I won’t. What are you going to do?”

“There’s nothing to do. It was a manual transfer, so I just never did another one.”

“So, you’re okay with keeping it secret from everyone? Even your own siblings?”