Page 40 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

“It doesn’t make sense. What kind of husband wouldn’t want to solve his wife’s murder,” the other says.

My mouth falls and my hand flies up to cover it.

“Not unless he’s a suspect himself. Dean won’t investigate him. He’s a godsent in the office.”

My heart stops, and I nearly choke on my own saliva. I manage to hurry away as quickly as I can, so they don’t notice I was listening. Thankfully, I chose to wear flats instead of heels.

My breath quickens, and nausea coils through me as I try to process what I heard. How is it possible? My father would never do something like that.

When Dad’s speech comes to an end, he looks at me. “Summer also wanted to say a few words.”

Everyone turns to look at me, and my body tightens.

How can I stand up there and talk in front of all these people now?

Chloe senses my nerves and leans into me. “You got this. You’re doing it for Mom.”

I’m doing it for Mom.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before opening my eyes again. I stuff my feelings down and put a smile on my face before walking next to my mother’s urn.

My heart races as I look over the crowd and see everyone staring at me. An unsettling feeling grows in my stomach. My eyes meet Chloe’s, and she lifts her two thumbs to remind me that I got this.

I lick my lips and clear my throat, pulling my paper out of my pocket and looking over my words for a second before I read them out loud.

“My mother was a wonderful woman. A wonderful Mom and a wonderful wife. She filled our home with laughter and love…” I pause, needing to gather my thoughts for a moment. My throat feels like it’s closing in on me.

The sun blazes down, a bead of sweat trickles down my forehead. “Uhm…” Clearing my throat, I take yet another long breath.

I can do this. It’s for mom. She deserves to have a good speech from her daughter. Then, I remember what my father said to me.

“I lost my temper and told them both to get out of the house.”

“This was the night she was found.”

My stomach twists, and my eyes well with water. Clamping my eyes shut, I wait a minute, crumple the paper, and stuff it back into my pocket. I stand taller, making sure to look at everyone here.

“You know… My mom was the best mother there ever was—the best mother I could have asked for. She made mistakes in her life, maybe more frequently than a handful of us here today…” I huff a little. “But we all make mistakes. There isn’t a single person here that is perfect. She didn’t deserve this, and I guarantee whoever did this to her… whoever killed her…” My eyes manage to fall on my father who doesn’t look pleased with where this is heading. “Damn you to hell. I will find out who did this to her.”

Chapter Fourteen

Summer

Mom’s funeral ended over an hour ago. I couldn’t get myself to come home right away, needing to take the time to breathe—to think. I have spent the last hour walking around town, drowning myself in music. It seemed like the appropriate way to get out of the box my mind has trapped me in.

I’d certainly rather be trapped in the lyrics of the music than my thoughts that are consuming every cell in my brain.

Chloe offered to stay with me, but what good would that do? Her company has been and always will be the best company I could ever have, but I wouldn’t be happy with myself if I dragged my best friend down along with me.

I need to clear my head and gather myself so I can figure out what I’m going to do about my father potentially being part of the reason my mother is dead.

I’m not positive what those officers said was true, but the only way I’m going to find out the truth is if I take it upon myself to figure it out… even if that means sneaking around my father to do so.

Except, right now, I do not have a single clue how I’m going to manage that.

But the one thing I do know is that I need to keep Chloe out of this because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she were to get in trouble—or worse.

Walking into my bedroom doesn’t feel the same anymore. I take two steps inside before my eyes fall on the gift Chloe gave me this morning. A sudden sting in my chest grows. I should have had her at least meet me here so I could open this with her.

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