Was she making a mistake in not telling the Kings Amy was the one who threw the rock that killed their son? If she told them, would they believe her? The only thing that was important at this point in time was her knowing that she hadn’t killed her half brother. As far as she was concerned, the Kings could believe whatever they wanted to believe. Hopefully, Amy would be able to put it behind her, too, when she recovered. Life would go on for all of them.

Maxine King cried into a lace hankie. Her husband ignored her.

“I think we can see ourselves out,” Lola said.

Cyrus King stared at his daughter. Cady thought she saw approval in his eyes.

In the car, Lola turned to Cady. “Well?”

“He’s just a man, Lola. The word father isn’t etched on his forehead. He’s just a man. Mom, you okay?”

“I’m just fine. I feel like I just pulled both of my feet out of quicksand. If I could sing, I would.”

“What about you, dear child?” Lola asked.

“I feel…good. Today was…climactic. I can handle all of this, so don’t worry about me. I’m going to drop you off at home, then I’m going to drive to the hospital to see Amy.”

“Oh, honey, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Agnes said.

“Mom, I have to go. I have to tell her it’s okay, that I understand. I’ll probably never know or understand how she could hate me that much, but if I don’t go, I’ll be just like her. I don’t want to be like Amy Hollister Chambers. I’m doing it as much for myself as I’m doing it for Amy. I love you both more than you will ever know.”

Agnes wrung her hands. Lola reached for those hands and held them tightly. She smiled.

Back at the house, Cady changed her clothes and was ready to leave within the hour.

“Wait a minute, Cady, someone’s at the gate. I think it’s your friends. There are three cars.”

Cady’s heart took on an extra beat. “Mom, I forgot to tell you, Boomer invited us to dinner this evening. Something must have happened.” She ran to the door and then outside.

They didn’t have to tell her; she could see it in their faces.

Cady ran to her friends, tears streaming down her face. Boomer reached for her and held her close as she sobbed.

The Big Three that now numbered four watched the young people from the kitchen window. “They don’t need us anymore, they have each other, and that’s the way it should be. Something good did come of this after all, and for that I will always be grateful,” Lola said. “Anthony, make some coffee and bring it to the sunroom.”

Epilogue

They stood high on the hill and watched. They stood there because they weren’t invited to attend Amy Hollister Chambers’s interment.

“I wish I could hear what the minister is saying,” Andy muttered.