Page 93 of Lost Cause
She took his hand. “You can’t carry that. You didn’t abandon him, right?”
“No. I would’ve called or texted him, but he didn’t have a phone or the internet. So I visited every chance I got. I just didn’t pick up on any signs of what he was going through. I don’t know.” His voice cracked. “Maybe he was hiding it from me because he didn’t want me to see it.”
“Then your guilt is a lie.” She hoped her assertiveness would get his attention. “I heard once that when strangers hurt us, we blame the world. But when someone close to us hurts us or is suffering, we blame ourselves—even if it’s not our fault. That’s what you’re doing.”
He looked down at their joined hands. “I wish I could trust that, but trust isn’t easy after what Tiffany did.”
“She was the fool. You’re an incredible man. Someone any woman would be proud to marry.”
He locked on her face, his eyes searching. “You really believe that?”
“I do.”
“Even after what I told you?” He took a long breath and held it.
“Especially then, but it’s not just about me. You need to believe it too. And the only way back is prayer.”
He glanced toward the front of the worship center where a large bronze cross was mounted on the wall. “You’re right. Whatever I’m doing on my own, it’s not working.” He squeezed her hand. “Let’s start now.”
She bowed her head, and though the silence between them stretched out, Abby’s heart wasn’t silent. For the first time since her mother’s death, Abby poured out everything—her grief, her guilt, and her need to make things right. Then God made her path clear. She had to see her father. Ask for forgiveness. Try torebuild what was left of her family, even if they wanted nothing to do with her and rejected her again.
When she opened her eyes, Burke hadn’t moved. She stayed beside him, quietly absorbing his strength, wondering what it might feel like to truly belong with him.
Finally, he looked at her. “It feels good to trust God again. I hope I can actually put it into practice and learn to trust people too.”
“You can,” she said softly.
“Maybe. But trusting a woman again? That’s still the hard part.”
“I’d never betray you.”
He searched her face. “So you think we should give this a real chance?”
“I’m done listing all the reasons we shouldn’t,” she said. “Let’s start finding the reasons we should.”
He took both her hands, eyes locked with hers. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”
Her heart soared. She smiled, letting herself imagine a future that, for the first time, didn’t feel so far away.
Then her phone rang. She groaned. “Whoever’s calling, their timing is terrible. But it could be about the case.” She looked at the screen. “It’s Gabe.”
“He probably has an update on his interview with Sylvia and Ugo.”
She tapped the screen. “Hi, Gabe. You’re on speaker with me and Burke. Do you have an update on your interviews?”
A sigh crackled through the speaker. “I do, but it’s not likely what you want to hear. Ugo and Sylvia don’t seem like viable suspects.”
Burke’s shoulders tensed as he leaned forward. “Tell us what you discovered, and we’ll be the judge of that.”
“Well, okay then.” Gabe didn’t control the sarcasm in his voice. “I thought we were past that, but here goes. Both of them spent the night at the mansion before Victor reported the crown was stolen.”
Burke ran a hand over his jaw. “And after such a confession when they lied to us, you still don’t think they’re suspects?”
“Hold on. They had good reasons.” His tone shifted, more measured. “Sylvia’s husband not only has cancer, but he’s dying. His treatments make him too sick to be around, and he doesn’t want her to see him like that. A nurse is with him around the clock, so he insists Sylvia takes off. She doesn’t want their daughter to know how bad things are so she can’t stay with her, but they can’t afford lodging, so she stays in the dungeon, and makes sure Victor doesn’t know she’s there.”
Abby frowned. “Why doesn’t she just tell him? I’m sure he’d understand and give her a proper room.”
“I asked. She’s afraid if she tells him and he says no, she’ll lose her job and the insurance that comes with it. So she keeps quiet.”
