Page 34 of Blessings in Disguise

“That explains it. The forms showed she didn’t sign them. Oh, Caleb, if that’s true, she is still your wife.”

Anger spurted through him. “Son of a bitch. Can’t that woman leave me alone?”

* * *

“You’re all good men. You’ve paid your debt to society.” Jackson smiled at the five boys seated in front of him in the smallauditorium Pathways used for special occasions like this. They were dressed in navy blue gowns and mortar board hats.

Gemma scanned the group of people gathered here. Someone was in attendance for each of the boys: Bryce’s mother, Freddie Pecorino with Maisy, Louis Gomez’s abuela, Timmy O’Malley’s father and Quentin Wright’s dad. Gemma knew how much them showing up meant to the students.

Jackson continued, “But now, after today, the real test begins. What will you do with your life? All of us here at Pathways hope we’ve given you the tools you’ll need to make healthy choices once you leave us. You’ve been taught an extensive array of skills and had training in the areas you were interested in.”

The boys hung on each of his words.

“Please use them, guys…”

Gemma half listened to the rest of the speech. Her gaze landed on Caleb. He looked absolutely fine, which was a problem. Because he wasn’t fine. After the initial shock of finding out hiswifehad come to town, he’d asked Gemma to leave so he could talk to Maisy. The dismissal cut her to the core. She was still hurting over it today.

And worried. Marlena Shepherd had come back to claim her husband. Would Caleb forgive her cheating on him?

The irony of that was almost overwhelming.

An explosion rent the air.

The seats and the stage shook.

Scents of metal and wood burning stung her nose.

And then an eerie silence.

Which gave way to people standing, shouting, pointing to the back of the auditorium. Three rows of empty seats were gone, two more charred. Then it hit Gemma. A bomb had gone off. Dear God, this couldn’t be happening.

Jackson was still holding the mic. “Please, remain where you are for a moment. And listen to me.” His voice was calm but loud. “Check your rows and see if anyone’s hurt.”

A few seconds passed. Gemma crossed to Maisy. “Are you all right?”

“Uh-huh. A little shaken.”

Then Jackson said, “Call out if someone needs attention.”

No one.

He glanced to the left where Harry gave him the thumbs up. “My assistant called 911. We should move out of here. Like you would in a movie theater, proceed to the emergency exit on the left of the stage. Go to the gazebo. It’s a safe distance away from any building. Don’t panic. Get out of here safely.” He strode to the exit and waved the boys through. Diego and Annie accompanied them.

The rest of the adults left and some headed to their cars.

Gemma and Maisy stopped before they exited. Gemma said, “You have to leave, too, Jackson.”

“I won’t go without you,” Maisy stated.

“I’ll walk out with you. Now hurry.”

When Gemma reached the door, she turned around.

Caleb sat immobilized in his seat.

Oh, dear God, this had to conjure up his church getting bombed.

* * *

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