‘Oh, which reminds me,’ Beck said, scrambling to grab a piece of paper and a pen off the table. ‘They actually did mention that they’d like to see you, if you feel up to visiting them. Now that they’re getting their strength back they want to officially meet the person responsible for saving them. Here.’ She scribbled something down on the paper. ‘This is the hospital and room number where they’re located.’

I nodded, wiping a tear from my cheek as I took the paper, placing it in my purse for safe keeping. ‘Thank you, both.’

I walked outside with Cris, both of us silent, trying to process the horrific details we’d heard. When I got to my mom’s car, I turned to Cris. He took my hands in his and made direct eye contact, his gaze no longer darting around uncomfortably when he addressed me.

‘I hope this doesn’t turn you off to our family. Rosie and I would love to continue having you in our lives. Despite Frank, we are good people, I promise.’

Tears sprang to my eyes again. I couldn’t remember ever crying as much in my life as I had in the past week. I squeezed his hands back. ‘I would love to keep in contact. In fact, my parents would really like to meet you. Maybe you and Rosie could come for dinner at my parents’ house next week in New Jersey?’ Cris smiled and nodded, tears in his eyes reflecting my own. ‘I also wanted to tell you, I was just contacted on 23andMe from someone who I think might be my half-brother on my father’s side. It seems like my father may be alive and well, that he got out of the drug scene he and my mother were in all those years ago. So yes, believe it or not, I’m still going to search for family, even after all this,’ I said with a short laugh.

‘That’s great Liz. Really, I’m happy you’re finding what you’ve been looking for.’

‘You and Rosie are a big part of that, you know. So, my grandfather was a serial killer,’ I winced as I said it and then shrugged, ‘but you guys are amazing. I’m lucky to have found you.’

CHAPTER 30

I’d visited Zoey and Addie in the hospital yesterday. The women were doing better, the color had come back to their faces and their eyes were now bright and clear. It was an emotional meeting. They’d asked if they could reach out to me from time to time, feeling an indescribable bond, and I’d agreed that they could before parting ways to let them rest.