Page 109 of Above All Else

My stomach roiled again. “What did she have inside?”

God, don’t let it be my dad.

He shrugged. “That was the fight. She wouldn’t let her see it. She tucked it down her shirt and walked out the door.”

I turned off the water and faced him. “She never told me they had a fight. She acted like everything was fine.”

“There’s a lot we didn’t know about her, I guess.”

“Like what?” I clutched his shirt in both fists. “Tell me. I need to know.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and pulled me in tight against him, hugging me, his scent engulfing my senses. “She was obsessed with your dad. Threatening to tell people they were having an affair.”

“What?” I tightened my hold on him but pulled away, staring him straight in the face. “She wouldn’t do that—my dad wouldn’t do that. Ew—my dad?”

“He didn’t—at least not... they kissed at the concert in the picture or sometime after it.” He shook his head. “I’m a little fuzzy on the details. Not that I want all of them.” A forlorn sigh fell from his lips.

“My dad confessed to this?”

He nodded.

“And my mom?”

“Said she was doing it to protect her family.”

My belly twisted like my guts were turning on a torture pike. “I... I don’t know what to say.”

“There isn’t anything you need to say, June. This isn’t your fault.” He cupped my cheeks, my fingers tight in his shirt.

“My parents.” Tears spilled down my cheeks. “Your mom.”

“Don’t worry about her.”

“She blames me.”

He pulled me in, his hand tucked against my skull. “She just found out who killed her daughter. She doesn’t blame you. She’s grieving all over again.”

“I hope you’re right, but I wouldn’t blame her if she did.”

“June. Where is she?” Linda’s weak voice fell into the bathroom, breaking my comforting hold on her son.

“I’m here.” I stepped around Carter and into the living room where she stood—her tears a permanent stain on my soul. I winced. “I’m so—.”

Linda stepped closer, her lips pressed tight, her chin trembling. In one quick motion, she pulled me into her arms and hugged me tight.

Epilogue

June

“Ihereby sentence you to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of Amber Morgan.”

Bang.

The judge’s voice echoed in the cavernous courtroom, his words hanging like a death knell. My breath caught in my throat, and Linda gasped beside me, her head leaning on Frank’s shoulder. The world around me slowed. Chatter dimmed to a mousy whisper. Carter’s warm hand burned against mine.

It was over.

After all this time.