Page 122 of Jep

“Maybe on the odd occasion when the danger has passed, and I don’t need you there to save my life.”

An awkward pause filled the space like a vacuum, siphoning the essence out of everything they wouldn’t say.

“Looks like God used these events to give us both exactly what we wanted,” Jep said, looking at the ground.

“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“You haven’t really had time.”

“There you are,” Bailey said as he hurried up to Jep. “We’ve got one of them on the ropes. He’s gonna crack. You want in on this?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way. Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.” He looked at Em. “I should?—”

“Yeah, go. This is more important than us reminiscing about the times we almost died.”

“I hope you’ll come out to visit the workshop sometime.”

“I’d love to…when I can get away from work. But things will be pretty busy for a while after everything…”

“Yeah, well…whenever you get the chance.” He bit his lip. “I guess I’ll see ya around.”

She nodded as he jogged off after Bailey. The best thing she could do now was to say goodbye and be done with it. There was no point holding onto something that would never be. And with everything that was happening, the chaos of the investigation, they probably wouldn’t see each other again or even have to say goodbye.

Chapter 27

Emery laida pile of daisies across her lap once she’d gotten comfortable on the boulder beside her aunt.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Carla said. “I’m glad we’re doing this.”

“I wish we could have done something more formal.”

“Jade would hate that, and you know it.”

Em laughed. “She would.”

“You understand why they can’t release her body right now, right?”

“I do. But this doesn’t feel like it’s enough.” Em leaned against Carla, resting her head on her aunt’s shoulder.

“It’s enough that we can come here and remember your sister for the good she did. And we can keep coming back as long as we want to.”

“I loved this spot growing up.”

“Even though you almost drowned here?”

“Maybe because of it. My big sister being the hero and coming to my rescue.”

“Where did it happen?”

“Right over there.” Em pointed upstream to a shallow area of the creek. “The water was higher then. I remember the rockswere underwater. And they were slippery. If Jade hadn’t been here to save me—” She ran her fingers along the scar on her head.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here with you right now.”

“And she did it again.” Em smiled sadly. “Right at the end. It breaks my heart that she didn’t know Jesus.”

“Well…we can’t know that for sure. She came to church a few times. Who knows what decisions she made then or even right at the end.”

“She hated church.”

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