Page 120 of Reclaiming Adelaide

“Come on, sweets. Let’s do something else to take your mind off everything.”

She sniffled again, making me search for a tissue and handing it to her when I found them tucked inside the cubby.

“Can... we see their graves… when everyone’s gone?”

“Whenever you want. You let me know, and we will.”

She pecked a kiss on my cheek before the chauffeur opened our door, and we shuffled out with Adelaide wiping her tears and me straightening my wrinkled suit into place.

I wrapped my hand around her waist and walked her through the front door.

“God. Really you two? Get a room,” I said as we stepped into the living room. Charity and Max quickly separated from each other, her hand wiping her mouth with her fingers as Max adjusted his pants.

“We didn’t expect you to be back so soon.”

“Good thing I was. I don’t need you desecrating my furniture.” I turned to Adelaide, who broke away from my hold and took the first step down the stairs. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

It took me a moment to pull my gaze from her sagging shoulders, and when I did, a sinking feeling settled into my bones with a startling realization—if she ever disappeared from this world, it’d be the start of a slow and torturous death for me.

“Listen up. I have a job for you,” I said, turning back to Charity and Max, who had straightened themselves up.

35

Irubbedmyshakinghand into my chest in a futile attempt to alleviate my stricken heart, which shattered faster than anyone could glue it back together.

How could I leave them there for everyone to gawk at their coffins like they were a roadside show? What kind of daughter was I? I should have stayed, but the thought of Auntie Mable pulling me in front of all those people drove panic to my bones and forced my legs to carry me out of there.

I reached behind me, my fingers digging for the zipper, but it disappeared as if it never existed. My arms burned as I ran my fingertips along the seam, searching for the elusive piece of metal. A strangled cry tore from my lips as I stomped my feet.

“Do you need help?”

I whirled around to find Jake standing in the doorway with a smirk.

God, I wanted to kiss him and slap him all at the same time. How could he smile on the worst day of my life? Why would he want to be my rock after everything that’s happened between us?

I swallowed the pained lump in my throat and nodded. “Please.”

He took two lazy strides and gripped my shoulders before turning me around. “Hold on,” Jake whispered in my ear, his knuckles trailing from my shoulder to my wrist. Then, with a quick tug at the neckline, he tore the dress from my body, the ripping material trailing along the stagnant air around us. A soft metallic tink hit something in the room as he let the dress fall from my body to pool on the floor.

“That’s better.”

“You didn’t have to ruin it.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against his chest with his lips nibbling along my neck. His soft, warm lips kissed down my shoulder. “Now, you’ll never have to see it again. And you won’t feel guilty for getting rid of it.”

How did he know me so well?

“Stop that,” I said, elbowing him playfully.

“Stop what?”

“Getting in my head.”

He wrapped his thick arms around my naked frame and hugged me tightly. “But you make it so easy.”

I hung my head, accepting my defeat, then pushed his arms off me. “We should get to work.”

“Adelaide.”

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