“What turned you into this person?”
“Everything led me here. That slut, the one I tried to kill with a knife, who got me sent to prison. She did me a favor. It was there that I discovered my true value. What I do…” She was smiling and staring into space. “It’s art.”
“Whatever you say.” Amanda wheeled Trent from the room then, unable to stomach another word out of that woman’s mouth. Before coming here she’d considered showing her Christine Lane’s photograph, humanizing her, but theeffort would have been wasted. She hadn’t benefited from her stint behind bars; she came out worse than before.
The only positive in all of this was she and Trent had done their part to set things right. Justice would prevail, the guilty would be sent to prison, and for that she would sleep soundly when her head hit the pillow tonight. But before she got there, she couldn’t wait to go pick up Zoe. She was going to squeeze her until she complained. A week apart was far too long.
EPILOGUE
Saturday, one week later
Amanda and Zoe were at Libby and Penny’s house, but the plan for today had changed a bit because the memorial service for Christine Lane was booked for that afternoon. Amanda had every intention of going and standing by Spencer’s side. She hadn’t spoken to him since she brought him in, and it was on her to make things right between them.
Libby came into the living room holding a tray of pink lemonade, which elicited a squeal from Zoe. Amanda smiled as she ran a hand over her daughter’s blond hair. She’d gone on for hours last week after being picked up from her grandparents’ house.
“They spoiled me, but I missed you, Mom! You’re the best!”
Amanda chose to forget that Zoe was angling for a later bedtime.
“Here you go.” Libby had set down the tray on the coffee table and was handing a glass to Zoe.
“Thank you.”
Amanda’s heart swelled at the girl’s manners, and she satback while Libby settled next to her fiancée. She took Penny’s hand.
Zoe slurped her lemonade. “Ahhh,” she exclaimed and wiped her upper lip.
Everyone laughed.
“Zoe,” Libby said, “there’s something we’d like to ask you.”
“What?” Short and clipped. Her beautiful eyes were on the pink lemonade in her glass.
“You know we’re getting married. We’d love for you to be involved in the wedding.”
“You want to marry me too?” Zoe scrunched up her face, and the adults laughed again.
“No. We’d like you to take part in the celebration. What would you say to walking down the aisle ahead of us, tossing out flower petals?”
“Whoa. That sounds amazing. Wait, would I be able to wear a puffy dress like a princess?”
“Absolutely, whatever you’d like,” Penny said.
“Mom?” Zoe turned to Amanda. “Can I?”
“If you want to,” Amanda told her.
“Then, yes, yes, yes, I’ll throw those petals like a boss.”
This girl!And wherever had she picked up that phrase?
Amanda walked across the graveyard toward the modest gathering under the white awning. It was calling for rain that afternoon, and they were ready if it did. She wasn’t alone as she took brave steps across the grass. She had her five siblings with her. It had taken little effort to get them there to support their half-brother.
A white coffin was above the gravesite with flowers laid on top. Next to it was an A-frame sign with a large photograph of Christine Lane.
Amanda’s throat constricted as the pain from losing Kevin, Lindsey, and her unborn son washed over her. Her sister Kristen put a hand on Amanda’s shoulder as if she’d sensed her sadness. Amanda clamped hers over it.
“Amanda?” Emma Blair said, causing Amanda to turn around.
