Page 136 of Irons

Mom wouldn’t let go of me and to be honest, I didn’t want her to let go either. Wrenly returned with a roll of toilet paper and put some in moms hand, but she wouldn’t let go of me.

“You saved both of our lives that day.” I kissed the top of her head. “By keeping his case open and in the public eye, they didn’t come back for me either. You made it too risky for themto come get me.” I wouldn’t add that if they were determined enough she would have made it easier for them just by not keeping me with her. By not always keeping me safe. “Every single person involved in his disappearance and eventually murder faced very long painful deaths.”

I kept her in my arms as she became stiff as a stone. “There were photographs on a computer. The person who owned that computer was the first to go, then his brother who supplied them to him. That led to a couple who at one time led some dangerous gangs. It wasn’t Bobby that was targeted at first, it was me and you. The woman who wanted me planned to take me from you when you were still pregnant, but her husband became obsessed with Bobby. She wanted you because she couldn’t have babies of her own and she wanted to be there when I was taken out of you. It was a gang initiation that day. The woman was angry that her husband hadn’t followed through with abducting you before I was born. The boy you helped with a cut knee decided to spare us because the woman had plans for you despite the fact that I was already born. He was supposed to take all three of us, but you showed him kindness, so he spared us and just took Bobby. The wife was angry, and eventually became jealous because the man was spoiling Bobby. Mom, they lived an hour from us for four years.” My mom just listened and held on to me. “The husband left town on gang business, and she sent Bobby away with the man that killed him. It was painless, they poisoned him then made sure he was gone before they put his body in the ocean. There’s no evidence of what I’m telling you. I just need you to take my word for it. They all saw justice, even the boy that took him. That’s all I can give you. I’m sorry I can’t give you more, mom. He was seven when he died, that’s all I know.”

“So, it wasn’t sexually motivated?” Charlie asked.

“It didn’t appear to be.” I lied. If there was anything I was going to leave out of the story, it was that part. “They couldn’t have children, but they wanted your sons, mom. If you wouldn’t have been nice to that boy, all three of us would be dead. The man watched us for years, but there was some hardship between their gangs and the Cartel, so the man and woman took off and went into hiding, but they were found and handled. They all died knowing it was justice for Bobby.”

“Are you sure Bobby’s gone?” Mom asked.

“I was briefly shown a video that proved what happened to Bobby. The wife had it made to show her husband in an attempt to hurt him. It showed Bobby.” I cleared my throat. “Bobby peacefully falling asleep and by the time they were in the ocean on that boat, it was apparent that Bobby had passed away.” Moms legs gave out and I thought she passed out at first but she was just letting it all out, or letting it go, I wasn’t sure.

Epilogue

Wrenly

One Year Later

I handed him the book then sat down next to him on our sofa.

He smiled when he looked over at me. “I hope you’re happy with them.”

I gave him a nod and he looked back down at it.

“Damn you’re gorgeous.” He was smiling as he studied the photo of me in my wedding dress looking out the double doors towards the castle grounds in Ireland we were married at three months ago. We finally received the printed version of our photos.

The fire in the fireplace crackled and popped and it was a cozy evening at home together. He turned the page and smiled fondly at the photo of Heather fixing my veil. The next photo was of Addie in her little flower girl dress. “She actually looks like an angel.”

Yeah, a fallen angel. I thought to myself.

He turned the page, and I saw his eyes soften at the photo of his mom fixing his bow tie. “My mom really is a pretty lady, isn’t she?”

“Very much so.” I was thankful for Paula, which a year ago would have been a shock.

“Still hotter than Morgan fucking Rossi.” He joked as he flipped from the photo of her as one of my bridesmaids.

He turned the pages a few more times and laughed. “As Addie would say, Uncle Clint is a pussy.” My dad was crying when he walked me down the aisle.

“Dare you to turn the page.” I prompted him and he did. “Then what do you call that guy?”

He lost his smile. “We’re not going to talk about that.”

I laughed. “Your brother tried so hard to console you.” Brock was his best man.

He flipped to the next page, obviously still embarrassed that he cried so hard at our wedding. Then he got to the part where we were introduced as husband and wife, and he kissed me. “Best moment of my life.” He leaned over and pecked my lips.

He turned the page and stared at it for a minute. “What?” He leaned in closer as if the photo wasn’t clear enough.

He studied the photo of Pugsly, the name Addie gave our dog, and tilted his head. Hanging from Pugsly’s mouth was a pair of knitted baby booties.

“Pugsly!” I called for him and he came in with the little crocheted bag and stood in front of Travis. He took it and looked inside. His eyes grew as he pulled out the positive pregnancy test. Suddenly his head moved really fast, and he looked at me with wide eyes.

“Are you serious?”

I nodded. “I saw Zoey today.”

He grabbed me and kissed me before he put his face in the crook of my neck. He was crying, and saying thank you over and over again.

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