Page 52 of The Truth

And there had been… sixteen one hundred dollar bills folded inside.

She’d tucked them right back.

Blood money. That was it was.

That money would burn on her father’s soul for eternity. She was sure of it.

She didn’t notice Ayla until the other woman stepped into view from around the corner of the building, near the flowerbeds. The girl had dirt all up her hands. Dinah just looked at her. And waited.

“Hello.” Ayla looked at the bag in her hand. “What do you have there?”

She looked… incredibly young. When Dinah got up close to her, she realized… Ayla was very young. Younger than she’d realized. “How old are you?”

Not exactly a polite question, but… she needed to know. But the other woman certainly didn’t have to answer.

She tilted her head and studied Dinah, so curiously. “Twenty-three, almost twenty-four. How old are you?”

“Twenty-seven, but I feel forty-seven right now, actually. I… I’m sorry. I’m being rude, aren’t I?” Dinah pulled in a deep breath. “Is Reverend Hiller inside? I am a woman on a mission. In the midst of an epiphany, actually.”

That was Reverend Hiller’s truck right there. He’d obviously brought this girl here. Twenty-three. Almost twenty-four. Just like Judah. So young. Entire life ahead of them, and Dinah was only a few years older. So why did Dinah feel so old right now? “I need to talk to him. I’m having a real problem and… I just need to talk to him.”

“He’s inside, with Reverend Riordan. I’m sure Gunn can fix just about anything, you know. Probably really great at helping with epiphanies, too. I imagine. I had one about him myself today, you know.”

“Yes, I think he can.” Dinah paused. She didn’t feel angry at this girl any longer.

Because Dinah didn’twantReverend Hiller.

She didn’twanta man tied to the Hope Life Church at all.

Not… right now. Maybe not ever.

She wanted to find out who Dinah Davidson wasfirst.

Maybe… maybe she wouldneverwant to find a man to marry at all. Maybe she was going to have too much fun living for herself now, that tying herself to a man forever never happened.

Maybe she would be just fine just beingfree.

She looked at Ayla, for real, this time. “Take care of him, okay? He’s one of the best men I have ever known. He deserves someone to love him completely.”

Ayla grinned at her. She really was a sweet looking girl. “I plan to do that forever, you know. There are… Oreos in the cabinet, by the way. I think he hid them there for later. Orange soda in the fridge. I’m going to play with flowers for a while. I love how making things grow makes me feel.”

“I love flowers, too. I used to dream about opening a nursery somewhere. But… I probably won’t. Too busy working… ”

And… she’d have to work even harder now. Money would be tight for a long, long time. She was staying in the house her brother Judah had bought three years ago.Hehad bought their house. He’d told her,hisname was the one on the deed. Not their father’s like she’d always thought.

It was Judah’s, and her father couldn’t do anything now to take it away. And Judah told her she couldstayright there, forever, if she wanted. Or… she could pay him back for it someday. For the purchase price.

She was going to do it, too. Going to make the house her own. She’d paint it and fix it up and make itbeautiful.

She’d told him that morning she was going to buy it from him someday. Then… it would beall hers.No matter what.

“I think you should go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? You fail? Fall down? Well, you just get yourself right back up again. Trust me… I do it all the time.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. He’s in his office?”

“Yep. Two far too beautiful preacher men are just waiting inside.”

Ayla started to lower herself to the ground where the flower bed was waiting. Dinah reached out a hand and helped her down.

---