Page 37 of Everything She Feared

The necklace Tanner had given Anna.

He turned to face forward again, but unease rattled up Sara’s spine.

I shouldn’t have let her wear it here.

But Katie had insisted. As they dressed, she’d said: “Anna gave it to me, Mom. It’s so pretty. Please, please let me wear it, to show how I miss her so much, to help my heart.”

Sara had surrendered, but now, seeing Tanner’s reaction underscored her discomfort as they advanced in the line. Drawing closer to the family, they could hear people offering condolences. Then Tanner stood before Anna’s mother and father.

“I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice tapering, “for everything.”

Lynora looked at him.

Seconds passed before she accepted his words with a slight nod.

Chuck shook Tanner’s hand. “Thank you.”

Then Tanner nodded and moved on.

Upon seeing Sara and Katie, Lynora embraced them. “Thank you for being here today,” she said.

“It was a beautiful service,” Sara said.

“You look so nice, sweetheart,” Lynora said to Katie.

Light glinted off the gold heart of Katie’s necklace.

Lynora stared at it.

“That’s a pretty heart,” Lynora said. “Anna had one like it.”

“This was Anna’s.” Katie held out the tiny heart. “She gave it to me.”

A question was rising on Lynora’s face.

“When did she give it to you?”

“On the bus at the park. Anna said she didn’t want it anymore and that I could have it.”

In the seconds that passed with Lynora looking at the necklace, Sara’s nerves tingled. Then the corners of Lynora’s mouth lifted into a weak smile.

“That sounds like Anna. Cherish it. I know she loved you, Katie.”

“I loved her, too.”

“That’s why—” Lynora reached for Katie’s hand “—it comforts us to know that you were the last—that you were with her when—that you were there, Katie.”

Lynora gasped into her husband’s chest; he held her as Jon rubbed his mom’s shoulders.

“Thank you,” Lynora exhaled.

Sara touched them. Then, with her arm around Katie, they began making their way out.

Moving toward their SUV, Sara spotted the news cameras and TV trucks across the street and walked a little faster.

16

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