Page 87 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

– 55 –

DAISY ANN

Daisy Ann stood in front of the large tombstone that bore the image of her father. She ran a hand over the cool stone and took in the words.Beloved husband and father. Loving grandfather.She inhaled deeply and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“We got her, Daddy. Justice is being served. You’d get a kick out of this. It was a poacher’s camera that sunk her.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t bring you back, though. I like to think you’re with Mama. The two of you dancing together in heaven.” Daisy Ann placed the two sets of flowers on the graves next to each other. White orchids for her mother, and yellow roses for her father—the flowers he always gave Daisy Ann on birthdays. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I should have been there. I would’ve stopped her.”

It wasn’t your job,she heard him say in her mind, and she realized it wasn’t. Her father had been a brilliant man, but easily ruled by his heart. Because he was a man of his word, genuine to his core, he always believed the best in others. Amber was a master manipulator, expert at homing in on others’ vulnerabilities and using them to her advantage. If Daisy Ann had tried to intervene, no doubt Amber would have found a way to damage her relationship with her father. She realized now that she’d been carrying around a burden of guilt that didn’t belong to her. Her father would have made his own choice whether or not Daisy Ann had been around to try to talk him out of it. How many times had he reminded her that theworld would turn without her help? It was a hard lesson to learn, but it was time she stopped trying to shoulder everyone else’s load. She supposed it wasn’t the worst trait—trying to control things, to make things safe and good for those you loved. But it rarely worked, and she had to accept once and for all that she wasn’t all-powerful.

What she could now rest in was the fact that she’d left no stone unturned in proving Amber’s guilt. No matter what the outcome of the trial, Daisy Ann now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’d been right and that all the energy and time she’d put into her pursuit had been worthwhile. The toll it had taken on her and her family was not for nothing. That was a comfort in and of itself.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Mason behind her. He opened his arms and she fell into them, weeping, letting all her sorrow and regret flow until there were no more tears.

“How’d you know I’d be here?” she asked her husband.

“After all these years, I know you pretty well, babe. And I know your daddy is proud of you. He can rest in peace now. We can all have some peace now.”

She took his hand and they walked together to his truck and got in. As they drove away, she looked up at the sky, imagining her parents smiling down at her. No matter what happened now, she would look ahead. She was finished letting Amber contaminate her happiness. She wouldn’t attend the trial—she’d leave it to the prosecutors to do their job. Daisy Ann had done all she could do. She’d found the truth. Her part was over. And one way or the other, she knew in her heart that justice would prevail. She wouldn’t waste one more precious moment of her life thinking about Amber.

She heaved another sigh and smiled at Mason. “I hope Birdie’s making a big roast for Sunday dinner. I’m starving.”

– 56 –

DAPHNE

Our return to California was put on hold by a few weeks due to Jackson’s condition. I’ve been cleared of all charges, and the lawyers have assured me that based on the evidence that came to light against Jackson, he has no chance of ever regaining custody, even though the criminal charges were dropped. It’s all moot now anyway. He can’t even take care of himself. If Chloe hadn’t awakened and called the police, Jackson would likely be dead. The police have no leads or any idea what the motive was. Taking care of all the paperwork and finding a long-term care facility for Jackson has been all-consuming but everything is settled now, so I can finally leave. There’s just one more piece of business awaiting my attention.

I enter the living room, and I smile when I see Jax. He’s sitting on Tallulah’s lap and they’re building a tower with blocks. The woman standing there looks nervous; she’s twisting the strap of her handbag in her hands and looking at the floor.

I walk over to her. “Mrs. Crump?”

She looks up. “Florence, please. Thank you for seeing me. After everything that’s happened, I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

“None of this is your fault. Can I get you some coffee or tea?”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m fine, thank you.”

“Why don’t we go out on the deck and talk.” I turn to Bella. “You and your sister keep an eye on Jax, please.” Since Jackson isincapacitated and Amber charged with murder, temporary custody has been awarded to his maternal grandmother, Amber’s mother. And if Amber, by some miracle, is able to beat the charges against her, she’d still have to go back to Missouri and face prison time there for those charges.

We sit across from each other, and I wait for her to begin.

“I hope you know we don’t approve of the things Amber’s done. We did our best with her…” She sighs. “I never could have imagined she would kill someone. It’s just unbelievable. That poor man and his family. I didn’t even know she was married…twice. I should have looked harder for her. Tried to stop her. Maybe so much of this could have been avoided.”

I can’t imagine what she’s going through. To have your daughter disappear and then just a few years later discover the trail of horrors her actions left behind…it’s beyond comprehension.

“Florence, you can’t blame yourself. She’s an adult. No matter how hard we try to shape our children, sometimes they are who they are from the moment they’re born. I won’t pretend to understand what you’re going through, but I don’t believe anything you could have said or done would have changed a thing.”

She nods. “Thank you. The reason I’m here. It’s about Jax. He has a brother back in Missouri. Did you know that?”

“Yes, I did know.”

“We don’t get to see little Matty as much as we’d like, but we’re happy to raise Jax and it’ll be good for the boys to have each other. We don’t have much in the way of material things, don’t need much anyway, but I do want Jax to have everything he can. Has his father made any provision for him? I understand he’s in a bad way from the assault.”

“Um, well, I do know that there is a significant amount of money in a trust for little Jax. I’ll have the lawyers get in touch with you.” I don’t mention that it’s the money Jackson tried to hide from Amber that Daisy Ann has returned tome.

“Thank you. That’s wonderful. And a relief. Clark and I aren’t getting any younger, and I do want to make sure Jax is always taken care of.”

“Of course. Florence, I have something I want to ask you.”

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