Page 234 of Hidden Depths
Nathan’s eyes shone with disbelief and pain.
“But he made the choice.”
Nathan turned away from us.
He braced both hands on the edge of the workbench, his shoulders rigid.
For once, he had no joke.
No dry comment to soften the moment.
Only silence.
I moved toward him.
“Nathan—”
He shook his head.
“Don’t.”
His voice was rough.
“Not yet.”
I stopped.
He stared down at the dusty wood.
“I came on this trip because James was my friend. Because I thought I owed it to him to watch over his granddaughters. I told him I would watch over all of you.”
Thomas’s expression softened.
“Then you’re already a better man than your father became.”
Nathan looked at him.
“If what you’re saying is true, I’ll help finish what James started.”
“You don’t owe us for your father’s sins,” I said.
His eyes met mine.
“No.”
He glanced toward the journals.
“But I owe James.”
Thomas studied him for a long moment before nodding.
Then he reached into the box and lifted out a thick envelope sealed inside a waterproof sleeve.
Written across the front in Grandpa’s familiar handwriting were the words:
FOR MY GIRLS—ONLY IF HE FINDS YOU.
My breath caught.
