“Not true at all. He loves you.” I had to protect Marissa and Aria. “Do you still take a couple of days off occasionally to rest from your rheumatoid arthritis?”

“I haven’t for a while. It’s impossible to leave Mom or the bakery.”

“Take a break. Make sure Aria’s with you. I’ll talk to Denton to see if the FBI can arrange a safe house.”

“I won’t leave Mom. She depends on me.”

“What about your daughter? There’s got to be a solution. Just give me a moment to think.”

I prayed for an answer. If Dad stood at the helm of a money-laundering scheme, he’d wasted a lot of years before he took advantage of a leisurely life. Perhaps the years of bitterness held the key. How sad to expect Dad, the one man I loved more than life . . . Unless the person responsible intended to frame him.

“Shelby, I’ll tell Dad I need a day off to see a new doctor in Houston. I’ll drive to Valleysburg so we can talk in person. He won’t hurt Aria.”

“Are you sure?”

“I don’t know. I’m upset about too many things and it’s hard to focus. I’ll find a way to bring Aria with me.”

“How about Thursday? Please give thought to allowing the FBI to step in and keep you and Aria safe.”

“Maybe so. All right, I’ll pray about it. I have an idea—I’ll tell Dad that Aria needs to be checked for RA. My strain is genetic.”

“Is it?”

“No. Thank goodness. I’ll tell him the appointment is on Thursday, which gives me tomorrow to pack when he’s not around and withdraw what little money I have from the bank.”

“If anything happens, call me immediately. Do you have Denton’s number?”

“He gave me his card.” Marissa sobbed again.

“No one hears about our meeting, okay?”

“Are you talking to Denton? If he goes to the FBI, I’m afraid—”

“No. This stays among sisters.”

46

DENTON

My mamaw went through the eighth grade before she quit school to help on the farm. Despite her lack of education, she tutored me through high school algebra. Taught me how to dance. We’d go fishing, and she’d always catch more catfish than me. We’d go hunting, and she’d bring down the biggest buck. Many a night we’d stare up at the sky through a telescope. She’d point out a constellation, and through the stars and visible planets, she’d tell me about Jesus.

Shelby’s words about God using hard times to mold us into stronger people haunted me. Because I had to admit every hurdle and tragedy made me wiser, offered deeper insight into behavior.

Memories of Mamaw two-stepped across my mind as I leaned against a post on my porch. Could be the full moon and clear night dotted with stars reminded me of her. Truth was, I craved her wisdom, her soft voice, and sassy ways that guided a young boy before she’d slipped away in her sleep. Pawpaw succumbed to dementia after she died and joined her soon afterward.