Page 86 of Kandie Shoppe

“She’s gone,” he says just as the front of the building collapses in burning timber and ash.

“No.” My heart craters at his voice, sounding so broken.

A bloodcurdling scream has us jerking around. Two figures obscured by black smoke are at the barn window.

We both scramble up, racing to that side. Nikki thrusts Joi out the window, then hurls herself out just as the back part of the barn collapses, much like the first.

Skirting around the people, making room for him, Mathias rushes to her side.

“Let me pass,” Mimi says, pushing through the people. Carefully and slowly, she assesses Nikki. “Her neck’s not broken. She’s been shot,” she tells us. “What’s the ETA on the EMTs?” No sooner than she asks do they arrive putting both women on spine boards loading them into separate ambulances.

People mill around speaking in low tones. Searching the crowd, I see Kandie. She stands on the edge of the clearing, her face ashen in shock.

I can tell she’s been thrown back to that night all those years ago.

Slowly, I jog over to her. Eyes wide, shivering, she still stares at the whole tableau like it’s a nightmare made real. It is — for both of us.

“She’s alive, wildcat. Nikki is alive,” I tell her, not sure if she was able to process everything happening when we came upon the building ablaze.

“What?” Deep brown eyes raise to meet mine.

“Nikki is alive. They are taking her to the hospital.” I don’t mention Joi.

“She is?” she pleads, hope spreading across her face for the first time.

“Yeah.” I pull her into my arms. “Let’s go make sure she’s alright.”

“O-okay.” Feeling her nodding safe in the shelter of my arms, I lead her away from the destruction and hopefully into the light.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Kandie

“Mom wants to see us.”

I look up to Ulysses’ grim face and a knot tightens in my stomach. Nodding jerkily, I get up from the recipe I was going over that Mama-Pete gave me years ago when she saw my fascination with baking. I bookmark the recipe for hummingbird cake before closing the book.

I don’t say anything, just take his big hand in mine and let him lead me to his new F-250. The insurance totaled the last one, so he just bought a new one with all his new Shelby money. This one is even better than the one he had before. The seats are a tad bit softer leather. The display is top tier. I don’t remark on it, not wanting to remind him of how I burned up his last truck today of all days.

When we pull up to the Shelby-Love Hospice Center, he turns to me, his jaw working. “Appreciate you coming with me. I asked her about the letters. She wanted to tell us why she did it together. You deserve the truth, but if you don’t want to hear what she has to say. I’ll understand.”

I know it’s taking everything in him to ask me to do this.

“Your mom loves you, U. It doesn’t matter why she did it. She wanted to protect you.” Reaching over, I cup his jaw, pressing my lips against his. The soft press of reassurance spurs him out of the truck. Jogging around to my side, he opens the door, helping me descend without having to hop down from the runner. Interlacing our fingers, he takes me in to see his mom.

“Hey, darlings,” Marlene says, her voice surprisingly strong when we enter.

“Hey, Marlene,” I say, my voice barely a whisper. She’s lost so much weight it takes me a full minute to take in how small the once vibrant woman is now, so very small and frail in the bed.

“Hey, Mom.” Letting go of my hand, he goes over to his mom, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

I follow suit, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“I know I have a lot of explaining to do.” She looks from one of us to the other. Her eyes begging for understanding.

I press my lips together, wanting to know so badly but not wanting to upset her.

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