“I’m not going to fight them.” Grady grasped Linx’s bandaged hand. “I needed to know for sure. There’s no way I could rip her away from them, no matter how much I loveher.”
“Me either. I never knew I could love someone so much.” A tear trailed from the corner of hereye.
“Same here.” Grady swallowed, touching his chest. “She’s truly our little angel—the best of both ofus.”
“Yes, God really blessed us, didn’tHe?”
“And he blessed me with you. I love you, Linx Colson.” Grady air kissed Linx, but she leaned forward and their lips met, tender and full of love, comfort, and hope for a blessedfuture.
“And this black heart of mine loves you, too, GradyHart.”
* * *
“Happy birthday to me.Happy birthday to me,” Jessie danced around Linx’s wheelchair. The staff had agreed to let Jessie have her birthday party in one of their conferencerooms.
Both Linx and Grady’s large families crowded around, clapping and singing as Jessie got hugs fromeveryone.
“Miss Linx, I got to sit in a fire truck,” Jessie bragged. “On Fourth of July. Mybirthday.”
“Did you wave at everyone?” Linx asked, her chest filling with pride at how quickly her daughter had bounced back from the terror of the fire, with the held of Miss Sharon. Of course, she would continue therapy for a while, to make sure no lingering effects hauntedher.
“Yes, and I’m a real fire sur-vi-vor.” She made muscles with both arms as she enunciated each syllable. “All because of WonderWoman.”
“You are a survivor,” Linx said, “because you’re smart and you’re not going to let any strangers trick you,right?”
Mrs. Patterson had pulled Linx aside and told her that Salem Pryde, under an assumed name, had joined the church a few months ago. She’d seemed harmless and volunteered in the nursery, gaining the trust of all the church members and of course, Jessie, who’d talked her ear off about the tiny puppy Linx rescued at theshelter.
On that fateful Saturday, Salem had spied Jessie opening the gates and letting out the dogs, then again when Jessie came back that afternoon, whining to her mother about wishing Ginger could be hers. She’d simply waited until everyone was gone, broke into the center easily through an open window, stole Ginger, and let the rest of the dogsout.
She was going to frame Linx for the kidnapping and murder, so she texted Becca, having already fooled her into thinking that phone number belonged to Minx and told her that she missed Linx. Becca had then texted her Linx’s phone number. Easypeasy.
Salem knew it was the optimum time to strike. She could kill two birds with one firebrand—burn up Grady’s place and frameLinx.
It was mincemeat pie for her to show up at the church with the puppy under her skirt and lure Jessie into her fairy wagon, the old VW van she had which was covered with moons andstars.
Linx shuddered at how diabolical Salem turned out to be, and what a close call they all had by not communicating face to face, but relying on textmessages.
“I won’t talk to any grownups unless Mommy and Daddy say it’s okay.” Jessie stood straight and tall, proud of herself. “And I promise I won’t run away to join the circus or play withfairies.”
Despite her bandages, Linx reached out and hugged Jessie to her chest. “Did you walk in the dog parade? I want to hear all aboutit.”
“I did!” Jessie squealed. “I took Ginger on her first walk. She kept tripping over her leash and then bitingit.”
“She wanted to hold onto her side of the leash,” Linx said. “I bet you did great. How about holding the dogpictures?”
“I held every picture up high and all the dogs got lots of money.” Jessie clapped her hands. “Ginger got the most money. Ten thousanddollars.”
“Wow!” everyone in the roomexclaimed.
“The other dogs did well, too,” Grady said. “Nessa is back at the center sorting everything out. If you’re checked out tomorrow, I’m sure you’ll meet a lot of the new owners. Even Bob gotadopted.”
“Really?Who?”
Linx’s father raised his hand. “Bob’s just my style. Grumpy butlovable.”
“Oh, Dad!” Linx reached for a hug. “I’m so happy for him. He’s really a wonderful dog. You’ll lovehim.”
“I already do.” Her fathersmiled.
