Page 39 of Bourbon Bliss
“I guess it makes sense for her father to try to protect her,” Jonah said.
“I know, and I don’t mean to be callous about it,” Cassidy said. “I just don’t think the Hollis Corner police department did their job as well as they should have.”
“I can’t believe this,” Scarlett said. “Callie’s alive.”
The room went quiet for a long moment. It seemed as if everyone was struggling to digest this news. This had deep ramifications for the Bodine family. Their father’s name would be cleared. Not to mention what it was going to mean for the town as a whole.
Bowie put his arm around Cassidy, and she leaned against his chest. Scarlett shook her head slowly while Devlin rubbed her back. Jameson held Leah Mae’s hand in both of his.
Jonah stared at the floor. He’d arrived in town around the time his late father had become a person of interest in the case. I’d always had the impression he didn’t think much of the man he’d been named for.
“You all right, Gibs?” Scarlett asked.
All eyes moved to Gibson. His arms were crossed and his icy blue gaze was fixed on something near his feet.
“That’s it, then,” he said, his voice a low growl. I couldn’t tell if it was a statement or a question. He turned and walked out the door and it banged shut behind him.
“Please don’t tell me he’s mad because Dad’s innocent,” Scarlett said. “I mean, I know he was involved if he gave her a ride. Don’t know what he was thinking there. But he didn’t do anythingterriblywrong. Callie could have told him anything to convince him to drive her to Perrinville.”
“Giving a teenage girl a ride out of town ain’t exactly good judgement,” Bowie said. “But it certainly doesn’t seem like he did anything malicious.”
“Gibs needs to let go of some of that anger he’s so keen on holding,” Scarlett said. “It ain’t healthy.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know if that’s possible at this point,” Bowie said.
“Why didn’t Dad tell anyone?” Scarlett asked. “All those years, he knew the truth and he never told. Why would he do that?”
“Maybe he was afraid he’d be a suspect,” Bowie said.
“Or maybe he’d been drinking,” Jameson said quietly. “He could have been worried about getting in trouble for that, too.”
“Could have been both,” Bowie said. “What I don’t understand is why he kept her sweater.”
“Maybe he thought it would be important someday,” Jameson said.
Scarlett pounded the couch cushion with her fist. “I’m so angry with Dad right now.”
“I suspect he harbored a great deal of guilt over keeping that secret, whatever his reasons,” I said.
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Scarlett said. “Thanks, Juney.”
“That must have been a terrible secret to keep,” Jonah said.
Everyone went quiet for a moment. Jonah himself was a secret their father had kept. I was about to point that out when Jameson spoke.
“Do you reckon Mom knew the truth?”
“I bet she didn’t,” Bowie said. “She’d have made Dad come forward. And we already know he kept things from her.”
Jonah cleared his throat.
Bowie patted him on the back. “I think I speak for everyone when I say I’m glad you’re one secret that’s no longer hidden.”
“Hell yes to that,” Scarlett said. She reached over and squeezed his arm. “Even if you are yet another brother.”
Jonah smiled. “Thanks, Scar. Thanks, y’all.”
Scarlett sagged against Devlin. “I feel like I’m in shock. I don’t know what to think right now.”
