Page 50 of Angels and Skulls
She rubs her tired eyes and lays against my chest, blinking slowly until her eyelids close. I close mine too, resting my cheek on the top of her soft hair.
Dan nudges me. “Let’s go sit by the lake.” He motions to Willow, letting her know we have Aspen.
I nod, letting him pull us down to the dock.
We sit on the bench Katie just put up last year in memory of Bill. Aspen snuggles in as we settle. It’s well past her nap time, so I’m sure she’s pooped.
“I thought it would be quieter for her down here,” my husband says.
Again, all I can do is nod as tears still stream down my cheeks. I must look a mess.
He takes a tissue out of his pocket and gently begins to wipe my face. “This has been quite a day,” he says.
“I’m still having a hard time believing she’s alive.”
“What did the letter say?”
“It was basically an apology. I don’t know, Dan. I’m trying not to be angry with Rachel, but Jenny’s missed so much of Jackson’s life … and now Aspen’s.”
“You can’t lay all the blame on Rachel.”
“I know. I’m just so confused. We compared dental records and everything. It seems cruel for her to have falsified them. I’m sorry. I know she’s your cousin.”
“Rachel was ripped from her family when she was kidnapped as a child. Sure, the parents who adopted her gave her a good life, but I think it left her fearful. She was afraid of losing her family, and none of us noticed.”
Tears spill from my eyes. “Oh, you’re right. That’s so sad.”
Dan chuckles as he wipes my face again. “Baby, this is why I love you. Always wearing your heart on your sleeve.”
I stare at him. “Do you remember the day Jackson showed me the dragonflies and I almost jumped in the lake?”
His brows furrow, and it makes me smile. My husband is my biggest protector. “I remember.”
“I was so confused when I found out the man she had talked so much about was here. He recognized the necklace.” My fingers trace over it as Aspen’s little snores fill the silence. “Raffe was so angry that day.”
Dan tips my chin with his knuckle. “Do you remember how scared you were when you discovered Jackson was your brother?”
My cheeks heat, because I do remember. If it wasn’t for Dan, I don’t know if I’d be here right now. I wanted to run …
“Oh,” I say quietly.
“He’s in shock, but he’ll come around. We both know it.”
“Jenny loved him,” I whisper.
Dan tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and places his hand on Aspen’s back. “And he loved her. He never quit looking for her.”
“Until …” I begin, but he places a finger over my mouth to stop me.
“This is not on you. You made the logical conclusion that she had jumped off that bridge while you were away in Paris. The dental records confirmed it. The rest is on Rachel.”
I nod because he’s right. How could any of us have known? I’m not sure how she did it, but that really doesn’t matter. What matters is Jenny is alive.
“I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
Dan smiles. “There’s my girl,” he says before placing a soft kiss to my lips.
Chapter Nineteen
