Page 136 of Echoes of You

I scowled at him. “Now you’re stealing the food right out of my mouth?”

Maddie let out an exasperated sigh. “There are only two of us, and I made a massive casserole. Not evenyoucould eat the whole thing.”

“I might want it for leftovers,” I argued.

“I’ll make you another one.”

“You might not want to get in the habit of offering that,” Lawson said. “Nash will never let you out of the kitchen.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled, pouring a third glass of orange juice.

We moved to the table with our plates and drinks.

Lawson took a bite, his eyes widening. “This is amazing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome to join us any time,” she said with a smile.

“No, he’s not,” I clipped.

Maddie threw a piece of biscuit at me. “Stop being rude.”

Lawson waved her off. “I’m used to it.”

Maddie turned her gaze to him as she picked at her biscuit. “Did Adam talk?”

“He wouldn’t shut up. Even after we read him his rights, he kept talking all the way to the station and as we processed him. It was only after he called his lawyer that he clammed up.”

“I guess there’s some self-protection under the crazy,” I muttered.

Lawson leaned back in his chair. “Before he called the lawyer, he told us where he put your father.”

Maddie swallowed hard. “Adam really killed him?”

I took her hand, squeezing gently, wanting to remind her that she wasn’t alone and never would be.

“I’m afraid so. The coroner confirmed identity this morning.”

Maddie nodded. “Did you tell my mom?”

“I went by there before I came here. She didn’t take it well.”

Maddie stared at her lap. “She loved him. Even after everything he put us through, she still loved him.”

My thumb swept back and forth across her hand. “That’s not love.”

She looked up at me. “No. It’s not, is it?” She held my gaze for another beat, the silence containing so much. “I’m relieved and refuse to feel guilty about that.”

“There’s no reason you should,” Lawson said, his voice strong and even. “That man put you through hell. We got the photographs from the P.I., and they confirm that Jimmy was the one who attacked you by the lake. I’d say this was Karma coming back for him.”

I grunted in agreement. “Tell me that investigation firm is getting dinged for their part in this.”

Lawson nodded. “We reported them, and I’d guess several of them will lose their licenses over this.”

It wasn’t enough, but it was a start.

“I do have some good news,” he added.

Maddie squeezed my hand and then released it. “We are ready for all the good news.”

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