Page 195 of Debts and Desires
Officer Jameson gave a press release on what had happened with Jed. He told them they were gathering evidence, but it was with no doubt that Reverend Jedidiah Black was guilty of the murder of Jennifer Pfieffer and Cara Collins, Carter’s mom.
Carter and I stood side by side, watching as the authorities combed through Jed’s dilapidated house. He had the key from years back and let them in with a smile on his face.
As the days passed, more harrowing details of Jed’s atrocitiescame to light. He had documented everything, even the night he had drugged his own son and framed him for rape.
The discovery of Jenny’s remains had sent shockwaves through the community, prompting victims to come forth to speak out against that monster. Once he recovered from the wounds I’d inflicted, he would never see the outside of a cell again.
They also found a letter addressed to Carter from when he would’ve been about fifteen. It was from his mom. It was uncovered in one of his many journals that Jed had murdered her after she sent that letter to Carter. She had been hidden, safe up until that point. He found her, brutalized her, and buried her in the church’s cemetery under what would’ve been their joined headstone from when they were married. No one had ever noticed he had inscribed her death date.
The years of abuse Jed inflicted on the girls of this town came to light, and Carter’s reputation was expunged once and for all.
And slowly but surely, life returned to normal.
87. DREAMS COME TRUE
August 27
Carter had been acting strange all morning. He was wearing a black, long-sleeve button up, a nice pair of black slacks, and black dress shoes I’d never seen before.
“I had no idea you owned something other than jeans. Or boots,” I joked. He only rolled his eyes. “What’s the occasion?” I knew it had to do with our meeting a year ago today. I just wanted him to admit it.
“Can I take you somewhere? Show you somethin’?” he asked.
“Yes?” I raised a brow. “Where?”
“Just go on up into the guest room and put on that dress I got ya.” I crossed my arms. “Please.”
“That’s better.” I kissed his cheek and headed up to the room.
A creamy white lace sundress and white flip-flops waited for me. It was beautiful. It had me wondering what he had up his sleeve this time. The dress fit me perfectly, accentuating my thirty-nine week baby bump.
When I came downstairs, he pulled me in for a kiss.
“You look good enough to fuckin’ eat,” he said, pawing my ass.
“Oh?” I grinned, reaching between us and grabbing his growing hardness. He groaned, closing his eyes as he rested his forehead against mine. When his eyes opened, we stared at each other for a long while before he finally pulled away.
“C’mon,” he said. “Let’s go.” I followed him out to the truck.
About an hour later, we were in Macon, pulling in front of the courthouse. I looked at him with confusion as he put the vehicle in park.
“Why are we here?” I asked. Carter ignored me, getting out of the truck and coming around to my side. He opened my door and helped me out. He led me forward, to just in front of the truck.
“Fun fact,” he said. “There was a gentleman that was murdered in the courthouse there back in the day. Heard a rumor you can see him sometimes.” Blood rushed to my ears. He knew how much I hated ghost stories. He learned as much at the fair.
“Carter, stop.”
“I’m serious. It’s what I’ve heard. Usually in the upper right there, see?” He pointed, and of course I looked. I searched the windows, but there was nothing.
“See anythin’?” he asked. Rolling my eyes, I looked back at him, ready to tell him off, only he wasn’t standing.
Carter was on one knee.
My eyes widened, my hands covering my mouth.
“I’ve gone over this in my head about a thousand times, been tryin’ to find the perfect time, the perfect place. Truth is, any of it’s perfect, even right outside a haunted courthouse on a dirty sidewalk. Know why?”
“Why?”
