Page 108 of Unbound

Walker lets everyone know we’ll talk to them in the morning, then he takes me outside and buckles me into the UTV, holding my hand as we drive back home.

After parking in the garage, he helps me out. My steps are slow as we go inside, because as much as I want my mom right now, I don’t want to see the look on her face when she finds out the truth.

I press one hand to my stomach as we make our way through the kitchen, going to where she usually spends her evenings tucked into one of the great room armchairs, a cup of tea at her elbow and Biscuit on her lap.

That’s where she is now, enjoying the last few minutes of life as she knows it.

Sensing our presence, she turns, face lighting up when she sees me. “You’re back.” She scoops Biscuit up and deposits her on the floor, collecting the empty mug on her way to greet us.

She only makes it a few steps toward me before the smile leaves her face.

“What’s wrong?” Her eyes bounce to Walker. “What happened?”

“I have to tell you something.” I swallow down the bile rising in my throat as she sets her cup on the counter, eyes never leaving my face.

“What is it?” My mom steps closer, taking my hands with hers. “Whatever it is, I can handle it. I promise.”

I don’t know if that’s true. Thinking my dad was having an affair clearly broke her heart. Finding out he died at the hands of his best friend will be devastating.

I know firsthand.

“I found out who’s responsible for dad and Donna’s death.” My voice catches as I reach out to urge her back toward the chair. “You should probably sit down.”

My mom’s brows pinch in confusion. “Just tell me.”

I know she’s not going to see this coming. I didn’t. Not once did I think the man who’d cried over my dad’s death with me was the one who ordered it. Tom has been there for me and my mom so much over the years, and now I have to wonder if it’s because he was keeping an eye on us so he would know whether or not we were suspicious about the strange circumstances surrounding that night.

I pull in a shaky breath, trying to quell the nausea still churning in my gut. “It was T⁠—”

The security system in Walker’s house chimes, cutting me off to announce someone has pulled into the driveway.

“It’s probably one of my cousins coming to check on you.” Walker leans to kiss me on the cheek. “I’ll go talk to them.”

“I can get it. It’s not for you. It’s for me.” My mother rushes past Walker. “This is perfect timing. That way you can tell us at the same time.”

Us? Did she invite Deidre over? It probably is a good idea. She and Deidre are both tied to this as well, and can support each other through the pain of learning the truth.

The door opens and my mother’s voice carries down the hall. “It’s so good to see you.”

A second voice responds, but it’s not Deidre Bradshaw’s.

I can hear the blood rushing through my ears, but I can’t move. I’m frozen in place as heavy footsteps come closer and the man my mother’s invited over comes into view.

Walker stiffens next to me, recognizing my father’s former friend from the photograph that was just displayed on Titus’s mantel.

Mom holds out one hand, gesturing to the man at my side. “Tom, this is Sybil’s boyfriend, Walker.” She brings the same hand to rest on Tom’s chest. “Walker, this is Tom. He was my husband’s best friend.”

35

Sybil

Ican’t speak. Can’t breathe. All I can do is stare at where my mom is touching him.

And she seems to notice, because the smile slowly leaves her face. Her eyes hold mine for a few heartbeats. After years of thinking my mom didn’t understand me—that I don’t understand her—I’m shocked at how well I can read her mind.

How clearly she can obviously read mine.

I see it the second she knows. The instant she puts it together, even without all the pieces. Her face changes, the color draining from her skin. I’ve always thought my mom and I couldn’t be more different, but it would seem I get my ability to connect dots from her. I wish I’d figured that out before now, because maybe we would have solved the mystery of my father’s death sooner.