Christy let go of my hand to wipe her eyes. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”
She knew where Tally was? I looked up at her, even though she was a blur.
She spoke to Holden like he was the only one there. “Remember how I was the principal of Seddledowne High for a short stint?”
He rubbed her knee. “Yes, babe. I remember.”
She made eye contact with each person for a brief second. “This stays in this room. If you can’t keep a secret you need to step outnow.”
“That would be me.” Peyton lifted an unapologetic hand. “It’s the ADHD. My mouth runs like a faucet. Chronic gossiper right here. Closet pre-Christmas gift opener. Do not trust me with anything. I’ll go check on the kids.” She stepped out and closed the door behind her.
The room went silent and Christy began. “When Tally’s records arrived at the high school, they were hand-delivered with strict instructions?—”
“Hand delivered?” Silas looked bewildered.
“Hand delivered,” she repeated. “Because…” Her fingers balled into fists. “The Hawkins are in the Witness Protection Program.”
The room spun, the truth hitting me like a physical blow. Witness protection? How was this real life? How was that possible? My wife—my beautiful Tally—had never truly been mine. Not if she could disappear like a freaking ghost at any moment.
But we’d made a vow. That had been real. Last night was the realest night of my life. There was no way the whispered declarations in the darkness of our shared bed had been a lie. I couldn’t believe it. I wouldn’t.
Had Tally made up her story of pointing to a dot on the map? When she’d told me about how they’d decided to cometo Seddledowne, it had felt like fate. Like God had led her to me. Had it been a lie?
“I was the AP and I never knew about this?” Silas said, looking as rocked as me.
Christy’s eyes were full of apology. “I wasn’t allowed to tellanyone.” Her hand was on my shoulder. “But I was sure she’d told you.”
I shook my head, lifted the hem of my shirt, and wiped my eyes.
Anna dropped to her knees in front of me. “If she didn’t tell you, then she couldn’t. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to.” I could see the pain on her face. Tally hadn’t told her either.
Learning that Tally had left because she had to gave me back some of my air. For the last half hour, running up and down the beach, there was one thought and one thought alone that had plagued me:you made love to your wife and it was so horrible that she ran away afterward.
“Witness protection for rape?” I asked Christy and everyone sucked in a collective gasp. We hadn’t told them that part.
“Rape?” Mom asked, horrified.
“No.” Christy squeezed my hand again, focusing on me. “It’s much bigger than that. Her stepdad was a judge.” I hadn’t known that. Tally had told me nothing about him. Why hadn’t I asked more questions? Because the questions hurt her. “A judge who also happened to be a drug dealer. When Tally told her mom who the father of her baby was, it was the push Kim needed to get them out of there. As soon as they got to Seddledowne, Kim went to the feds for help. It took down the entire cartel, except for her husband and stepson. Turns out that being a crooked judge paid off. Her ex husband is still walking free today. And her stepson went to jail, but only for rape. Hence the need for protection.”
My family was pin-drop quiet.
So the story about Tally closing her eyes and pointing to Seddledowne, the part where God had led her here, was real. Apparently, the feds thought it was a good place for them.
“Did she know that you knew?” I asked Christy in a hush. It was the best I could do.
She shook her head. “No, she didn’t. She doesn’t. I wasn’t supposed to talk to anyone about it. Not even them.” She placed a hand against Holden’s cheek. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
He smiled at her with so much adoration. “I’m sorry you had to carry that alone.” The fact that they had each other was a rusty scalpel leaving jagged wounds. I had no one and nothing but this hollow void in my chest.
“Wait.” Lemon held up a hand. “How do you know that’s what’s going on here? So yes, witness protection, but what happened that they had to leavenow?” I should’ve been the one to ask the question but I was dazed, still trying to catch up.
Christy’s eyes lifted slowly and I followed her gaze to…Ford. Who looked like he wanted to hide. She offered him a look of compassion. “I know you were only trying to help, but I think you accidentally outed them.”
His eyes moved to me, begging for forgiveness. I knew he cared about Charlie and Theo. He’d loved having them around. But the knowledge that he’d done something to chase them all away lit an ember of rage in my chest.
I stood. “What did you do, Ford?”
His hands went to the top of his head. “It was supposed to be a wedding present. Set you on the right path so the two of you could turn your writing into a career. So you could go ahead and buy the house.”
