Page 124 of The Kidnapped

“We’ve got to hit the road,” Kenna said to Hollis.

“Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course,” Kenna replied. “Even if you and I hadn’t formed a friendship, Hollis, I loved your mother. Olivia had the kind of strength I only hope I can possess half of. She was an inspiration to parents going through the same thing, and I’ll always be grateful for knowing her.”

Hollis was doing a good job of holding in her tears, likely feeling like she needed to put on a brave face, but Raleigh knew they’d fall later, and she’d be there to hold her.

“I’m sorry about your mom,” Aaliyah said as Ripley stood behind her with both hands on her daughter’s shoulders.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Hollis said, smiling at the little girl.

“Mom said she was awesome,” Aaliyah noted.

“I did say that,” Kenna added, laughing a little at her daughter.

“She was awesome,” Hollis agreed.

When the three of them left, Hollis stood still and waited. More people came up to her to pay their respects, including Sandy, until finally, it was just Hollis, Raleigh, and Olivia.

“What do you need?” Raleigh asked, taking Hollis’s hand.

“I need to go. I can’t watch them put her in the ground,” Hollis replied.

“Okay. Let’s go home, babe.”

“I can’t go to her house,” Hollis told her.

“My place, then?” Raleigh suggested.

“Yes, please.”

“Can we stop by your mom’s house to get you some stuff? You don’t have to go in, but I think there’s something you should see.”

Hollis nodded reluctantly and they drove in silence over to Olivia’s house. The church service had been lovely, and there had been arrangements along with an enlarged photo of Olivia taken before the cancer next to the casket, but Raleigh had made a request of the church, and they’d been able to accommodate it.

“Will you trust me?” she asked Hollis when they arrived.

“It’s okay, Raleigh. I’m fine. I just don’t want to spend the night here yet.”

“Okay. Let’s go.”

They got out of the car, made their way to the house, and Raleigh unlocked and opened the door. Hollis walked in first and then stopped. Raleigh knew why.

“Oh, my God,” Hollis said.

Raleigh moved in beside her, letting the door close on its own.

“People wanted to pay their respects, so they sent her favorite flower,” she explained.

In the living room alone, there were over thirty potted sunflowers or bouquets of them that Raleigh had put into water that morning while Hollis had been sleeping at her house. Hollis had been taking sleeping pills to get through the tough nights, so Raleigh had known she wouldn’t wake up if she left for a bit. When the flowers had begun pouring into the church, they hadn’t had enough room for them, but knowing they’d be sent home with Hollis anyway, Raleigh had asked that they be taken to the house the day before since Hollis was staying with her.

“There are more in the kitchen, and I put some in her room, too.”

Hollis turned to her and asked, “How many are there?”

“I counted over a hundred,” she replied. “Most are from people who’d been at the funeral, but some are from the ones who couldn’t make it. Some of the cards weren’t in envelopes, so I was able to read them. Your mom helped a lot of people, Hollis.”

“What do you mean?”

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