I direct him to the Keyeses’ house, holding my breath when he pulls up against the curb.
“Who lives here?”
“Hank and Trudy,” I whisper. “I just feel like I should say goodbye. Thank him for… saving Jackson. For helpin’ us.”
Michael unbuckles his seat belt, but I rest my hand over his.
“Actually, can I do this on my own?”
“Are you sure?” Jackson leans in between the seats.
“Yeah.” I nod, putting on a brave smile and opening the door before I can change my mind.
Shoving my hands into my back pockets, I walk up the path, my nerves on fire. Knocking on a front door has never been harder.
I bite my lips together, a small part of me hoping they’re not home but another desperate to do this before I leave.
Trudy answers the door after a minute or so. It feels like five hundred. When the door swings open, she kind of blinks at me, obviously surprised.
“I’m leavin’,” I blurt. “And I just wanted to… say thank you to Ha… to Chief Keyes.”
Her expression crumples a little, and I’m not sure why, but she starts blinking like she’s about to cry or something.
“Is he okay? I thought he got home from the hospital okay.”
“He did.” She nods. “Come this way.”
I follow her through the house. I’ve never been in here before, and I gaze at the family photographs gracing the walls. Such a happy picture that I was never part of.
An ugly emotion rises in my chest, but I squash it down. I can’t be in a place of resentment when I’m trying to show gratitude.
Shit, why am I doing this?
Stupid impulses.
I should just go.
I’m about ready to come up with an excuse, crossing my fingers that he’s sleeping or something so I can dart out the front door. But Trudy’s beckoning me into a room, and I have to follow.
Hovering in the doorway, I spot Hank propped up in bed. Pillows are piled behind him. He looks weak and skinnier somehow, but I’m sure his strength will return soon enough.
“Annie.” He gives me a kind smile that I’ve never seen used on me before.
It makes me antsy, so I stay in the doorway. “I won’t stay long. I just—”
“Please, come in.” He flicks his fingers, so I do as I’m told, inching up to the end of the bed while Trudy takes a seat on his right.
She’s always made me nervous, and my eyes flick over her face before I turn back to look at Hank.
He’s staring at me, and I squirm in my boots. “How are you feelin’?”
“Like I’m on the mend.” His voice is a little croaky.
Trudy takes his hand, and they smile at each other.
I scratch the side of my neck, then clear my throat. It’s time to say my piece, then get on out. “I’m leavin’ town. Michael’s grandpa is from Montana, so I’m takin’ Jackson up there. See if we can make a fresh start.”
They both look disappointed for some reason. Probably think I’m acting the fool.
I frown and look to the floor. “Anyway, I just wanted to come by and thank you for helping me.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I look up and notice this mist in his eyes, like he’s about to cry.
I don’t understand.
His chin trembles a little before he sniffs and croaks, “I should have been helping you all along. I knew you were ours the second I saw you. You looked just like your daddy when he was born.”
Trudy covers her mouth with trembling fingers.
And my heart stops beating.
“It’s just that… Emmett was on his way. He had big things ahead of him, and we just didn’t want to accept that he’d done something so mean-hearted. So selfish. We didn’t want to burden him with the responsibility of a baby. We wanted him to have the best shot he could, so we went along with his story.”
I can’t speak, so I just stare at the couple. Trudy’s got tears in her eyes. I didn’t think it was possible for that woman to cry, and I’m not sure where to look.
It’s like I’ve entered some parallel universe where Hank and Trudy Keyes have hearts.
It’s a weird place to navigate.
“Um…” I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear and look around the room.
“I know it’s too late to ask your mama’s forgiveness,” Hank rasps.
I glance back at him, unable to look away from those glistening eyes.
“When she died, I…” He lets out this short kind of gasp, and Trudy squeezes his hand.
“Can we ask your forgiveness?” Trudy’s voice trembles. “Can we tell you how sorry we are for turning our backs on you? For thinkin’ Dean was enough? For thinkin’ you didn’t need more?”
I still can’t say one word.
She covers her mouth again, her words muffled by tears and fingers. “Please, forgive us.”
All I manage is a gaping kind of nod. At least I think that’s what my head is doing.
It makes Trudy sit up a little higher. Makes her drop her hand and look at me like I’m important, so I keep nodding for a second longer.
“You’re gonna do good things, Annabelle Mae.” Trudy tries to smile at me, but her lips are all wobbly.
Hank nods with a grin. “You look like your daddy, but you’ve got all your mother’s strength. Her kind heart. Her tenacity. Her bravery.”
My nose starts to tingle, my jaw trembling as I work it to the side.
“Here.” Hank turns to get something off his nightstand. The movement makes him grimace and hiss.
Trudy jumps up and takes an envelope off the nightstand. They share a look before she hands it over to me.
I stare at it for a moment.
“Go on, take it.” Trudy waves it up and down, urging me to accept whatever it is. “I was planning on giving it to you next time I saw you. I was gonna drop by.”
My eyebrows wrinkle, and she can obviously tell I don’t believe her.
“I was.” Her voice grows firm. “I came and saw you and your boyfriend, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “I just…”
Words fail me, and all I can do is shake my head as I gingerly take the envelope off them.
“Open it.” Hank lifts his chin at me.
With shaking fingers, I rip the seal and nearly keel over when I spot the fat wad of cash. “What is this?”
Hank lets out a heavy sigh. “Eighteen years’ worth of child support. And it shouldn’t be comin’ in one bundle like this. Emmett should have been supportin’ you and your mama, and he’s gonna be paying us back for this.” He shares a look with his wife. I can’t decide what emotion they’re sharing. Maybe a mix of anger and regret. When he turns back to face me, he looks like he’s about to cry again. “We didn’t know about Dean, how he was hurtin’ you.”
I flinch and gape at him. “What? Who told you that?”
Hank’s eyes take on a dark shade, his anger clear. “You should’ve been able to come tell me that. I’m here to protect this town and all the people in it.”
My cheeks catch fire as I glance away from him. “I never told a soul. I figured no one would believe me anyway.”