She wanted to weep because he smelled like Irish Spring soap, same as ever. He’d done a terrible thing, but he’d been a wonderful father. “I love you, too.”
“I’m sorry,” he said to them both when they’d stepped apart. “For what I did. I wish I could shield you from this.”
“It’s okay, Dad,” Natasha answered.
Genevieve nodded, because her mouth was shaking.
He disappeared toward the master bedroom.
Genevieve took Natasha’s hand and squeezed, then the sisters let themselves out. Without a word, they set off for their houses in their respective cars.
The road rose and fell beneath the tires of her Volvo.
Natasha and Dad had come to the decision to confess. Mom had been against it. Genevieve hadn’t provided her opinion, nor had anyone asked for it.
Her opinion was torn down the middle between her mom’s stance and her dad’s. She understood her mother’s reaction because no part of her wanted the truth of Russell’s death to come to light. She’d prefer to continue on with her life as if everything were fine and normal. As if she didn’t know how Russell had died.
However, she could acknowledge that Dad’s approach was the ethical approach.
There’d been a time when her right vs. wrong meter had been almost as strong as her sister’s. Then her ministry had grown. The stakes of her actions had increased. Layers of silt covered her meter as it became more and more important to maintain the image of the funny, wry, girl-next-door Bible teacher with a flair for clothing and interior design and Instagram photos.
Her old, neglected meter was telling her that Natasha and Dad were correct. Confessing to Russell’s family was the right thing to do.
It was also the thing that would bring destruction down on herself, her sister, her mother, and her father.
Luke
The sisters and Ben keep praying out loud. Every time they do, my chest burns with anger. My parents have taken my brother and me to church all our lives. They sent us on this trip because they wanted us to follow the Bible and help others. They trusted God. They believed that we’d be safe.
God reacted by sending an earthquake because He obviously doesn’t care anything about us.
We’ve been down here for six days now. Either Ethan turned and escaped the building when it started to shake, the concrete crushed him, or he found a space like our space. We’ve survived in this room because we have water. Even if he was able to find space, he won’t have water.
The only way he could be alive is if he turned and escaped.
A small part of me won’t give up the hope that he turned and escaped. But in my bones, I know that he didn’t.
I know that he’s dead.
I keep trying to blame God for Ethan’s death, but I can’t.
Because if Ethan’s dead, I know that I’m the one who killed him.
Chapter Twenty-two
How didit gowith yourparents?Sam texted Gen that afternoon. She’d told him that she and Natasha were planning to confront their parents today, and he’d seen her car at the guesthouse when he’d arrived home a few minutes ago.
Scrolling dots appeared, letting him know that she was typing.
Then the scrolling dots vanished without a reply.
His mood darkening, he went to the orchard to continue pruning the apple trees of diseased and overcrowded growth. Why was Gen avoiding his question?
Finally, abingsounded to signal a new text. Ripping off one of his gloves, he reached for his phone.
It’s not good, Sam, what happened all those years ago.
His heart sank.I’ll be right there. He took off his other glove and set his boot on the rung below, then stopped as another text arrived.
