CHAPTER 54
Sibley
My mother is more present than she’s been since I first came home. Her voice is strong and doesn’t waver, even with the horrifying details of Jonathan’s death. We sit down in the living room, and we have a heart-to-heart that is more of a mother-daughter moment than we’ve ever had, and even with the morbid details, it’s a relief to hear them from her.
“That night, I ran back into the barn because I heard this terrible thud, this horrible, strangled scream, and I knew; I just knew.” Her eyes betray a hint of sadness. “Jonathan was on his back, looking up at the ceiling. For once, his eyes had fear in them, like he knew he had broken his body for good. Blood was everywhere, and I knelt beside him and tried to feel his pulse. He wrapped his hand around my wrist, and he whispered he needed to know if you were his.” She gives me a watery smile. “I lied and said yes.
“Talk about timing,” my mother says sadly. “That’s when Robert Fletcher, at the time a police sergeant, ran in. He saw all the blood, and he saw Jonathan had beat up my face, so he assumed the worst—that Jonathan was still in the middle of attacking me, since his hand was wrapped around my wrist. He didn’t have time for hesitation. He pulled out his gun and fired at close range.”
My mother shrugs. “If you ask me, Jonathan was put out of his misery. He would’ve been paralyzed if he even survived the ambulance ride to the hospital.”
My eyes widen. “What did you and Robert do?”
“We were both in shock. We agreed we would never speak of this again. We both knew what Jonathan was capable of. It was kind of good riddance, as harsh as that sounds. We assumed we had been the only two people in the barn that had seen what happened. Neither of us thought to check the loft. By the time an officer went up there, Alice had snuck off.”
My mother rests a hand on my arm. “Then I started getting letters that had details about that night. I thought they were from Soren. Soren was your identical twin.”
I’m ill prepared to hear this, but I’ve already been made aware.
Tears leak down my cheeks, and we both lean into each other. We’ve lost a lot over the years, our family broken seemingly from its conception. And mine.
We sit with our hands intertwined as she tells me about my twin sister, Soren.
CHAPTER 55
Deborah
Deborah clutches Sibley’s hand in hers. Sibley asks, “Did Edward really commit suicide?”
“They’re going to exhume his body.” Deborah bites her lip. “When he died, I was beside myself. I blamed myself for his death. That I wasn’t strong enough to leave Jonathan. That I even married him in the first place. But I had to stop blaming myself because I would’ve put you in danger and he wouldn’t have wanted that either. Even if Jonathan and I had gotten a divorce, he would’ve used you as a pawn. And when he found out the paternity, well, I shudder to think of the outcome.” She hands Sibley a tissue. “Did you know Edward left you his estate, Sibley?”
“I heard something about it. I would’ve rather known him as my father.”
“I didn’t know this, but the reason Edward moved back to town was so he could attend your school events. I’m comforted knowing he had at least some idea who you had become.” Deborah squeezes her hand. “I know he would be even prouder today.”
“And what about the farm?” Sibley sets her coffee mug down on the table. “What did you find out?”
“You were right, honey. There are laws in this state that protect farms that have been in the same family for generations, so that’s being taken into consideration, and additional compensation is part of this.”
“So what’re your next steps?”
“I’m still figuring that out.” Deborah winks. “I’ve got a whole house to move and a daughter that sorely needs”—Deborah doesn’t like the word rehab—“help. Tell you what, honey: I’ll make you a deal.”
Sibley clenches her jaw and waits for her to lay out the terms.
“I want you to focus on recovery.” Deborah hadn’t planned to say this, but it sounds appropriate coming out of her mouth. “I’ll come out to visit and stay with you, as long as it doesn’t impose on you and Holden. That way, I can help around the house and make sure you are taking care of yourself.”
“Promise?” Sibley’s mouth relaxes into a grin. “Because if you like the desert, Holden and I talked about building an addition onto the house or, you know, a mother-in-law suite, they call it, or a casita.”
“I think you both have a lot on your plate right now without worrying about me.” Deborah nudges her. “But I did hear about heritage laws from a sassy attorney, and I’m ready for a change.”
“I’m so glad you’re alive, Mother.” Sibley embraces her tightly.
EPILOGUE
Sibley
Holden receives a call as we’re standing in line, about to board the plane. When he holds his phone out to me, I give him a questioning stare.
“It’s for you.” He shrugs.
“Hello?” I say softly.
“Hi, Sib. It’s Chuck.” I’m surprised to hear from my old PI friend. “I heard you have a decent reason for not being out west. Some kind of family drama out on a farm?”
“That word doesn’t even begin to describe it,” I groan. “I thought running from my problems would keep them at bay; instead, I’ve managed to find myself deep in a whole new pile of shit.”
“Well, let me be the first to welcome you back
