Page 111 of Last Wish Wedding

“The boys need to eat,” Kelsey improvised. “And Noah needs to get his things. They can go collect them while we talk.”

Jennifer seemed to consider this, her attention momentarily diverted. Taking advantage of her hesitation, Kelsey pressed her phone into Noah’s hand, whispering, “Tell Amy. Go. Now.”

Noah’s eyes widened with understanding. He grabbed Tyler’s arm, and both boys backed away slowly before turning to sprint down the driveway. To the path he knew by heart.

“Hey!” Jennifer called after them. Her hand emerged from her pocket—holding a small pistol. “Stop right there!”

The boys froze momentarily. “Run!” Kelsey shouted and stepped between the gun and them.

They bolted, disappearing into the trees.

Jennifer turned back to Kelsey, the gun now pointed at her chest. “That was stupid. Now I’ll have to find them after I deal with you.”

Kelsey raised her hands slowly, heart hammering. “Jennifer, please. Put the gun down. Whatever you’re going through, we can get you help.”

“Help?” Jennifer laughed, the sound sharp and jagged. “I don’t need help. I’m fixing everything. Cleaning up the mess.”

“What mess?” Kelsey was desperately trying to keep her talking, to give the boys time to reach Amy’s.

“The Prescott legacy. It’s been corrupted.” Jennifer gestured with the gun. “Walk toward the car.”

Kelsey obeyed slowly. “Jennifer this isn’t going to fix anything.”

They reached the car. “Open the door. Get in.”

“Where are we going?” Kelsey asked. Her hand trembled as she reached for the door handle.

“Somewhere we can finish our conversation privately.” Jennifer’s smile returned, eerily calm again. “Before I bring Noah home where he belongs.”

“Jennifer, Mac will be back soon,” Kelsey tried, sliding into the driver’s seat. “He’ll look for us.”

Jennifer’s laugh was chilling. “Mac won’t be coming back. There are always accidents on the open ocean. Pirates. Storms. A lone sailor doesn’t stand a chance against the right arrangements.”

Ice flooded Kelsey’s veins. “What did you do?”

“Move over,” Jennifer ordered, ignoring the question. “Passenger seat.”

As Kelsey shifted across the console, Jennifer slid into the driver’s seat, keeping the gun trained on her. “It’s really better this way. Much cleaner than what Jason wanted, all those lawyers, custody battles. So messy. But now, with Mac gone and you… well, no one would question a bereaved widow taking her own life, would they? Especially one abandoned by her husband.”

“You’re talking about murder,” Kelsey said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “People will know.”

“They’ll know what I tell them,” Jennifer replied. She started the car with one hand, the gun steady in the other. “And I’ll tell them how tragic it was, how I tried to help you.”

The car began rolling down the driveway. Kelsey’s mind raced. Her keys jingled in her pocket.

The emergency fob on her key chain! The one from the clinic. Without hesitating, she stealthily reached in her pocket and squeezed the device three times and prayed silently that it worked.

How long would it take for help to arrive? She needed to buy time.

“Where are we going?” she asked again.

“Somewhere appropriate.” Jennifer’s tone was almost conversational now.

As they turned onto the main road, heading away from town, Kelsey realized with growing horror exactly where Jennifer was taking her. Widow’s Point overlook. The craggy cliff face that looked out over the ocean on the wild Atlantic side.

Twenty minutes later, the car crunched to a stop on the gravel parking area that was deserted. The sun had set, leaving a dusky light. Below, the ocean crashed against jagged rocks like distant thunder.

“Get out,” Jennifer ordered, waving the gun.