Turned (28 page)

“You did more than I could.”

Dane reached into his pocket. “I've been asked to give you this. It's the number of our church pastor.”

Amy tuned the men out and looked at Rosalie. “I don't expect you to forgive me,” she whispered. “I hurt you, lied to you, you're right to be angry…to hate me.”

“I don't hate you,” Rosalie said. “I'm hurt, I'm mad and I really didn't want to come down here and see you, but Ray insisted.”

Amy glanced at Ray. “I'm sorry.”

“I'm just as hurt,” he said quietly. “It'll take us a while to come to terms with this, but…”

“But?” she whispered. Was that a sliver of hope?

“We're prepared to work on it, if you are.”

“I promise,” she whispered, tears falling again.

Dane helped her off the bed and she knelt in front of Rosalie's wheelchair. This time, when she hugged her, Rosalie hugged her back.

She was going to have to deal with the consequences of doing the wrong thing for the rest of her life, but maybe together they'd get through this.

 



A week later

Amy scrubbed the walls in the kitchen, trying to get rid of the smoke damage. Beside her, Vicky and Jodie worked with her in matching jeans, shirts, with scarves tied over their hair. She glanced up at Dane as he came in. He'd been talking to the builder for the last hour and a half. “How's it going? Has Mr. Wallac left yet?”

“Yes, just. You'll be pleased to know that he can rebuild it. Better than it was before.”

Amy laughed. “Oh, is it going to be better, stronger and faster?”

Dane grinned. “Hopefully soundproof if Jodie is planning more music homework in the study.” He moved over to Amy and wrapped his arms around her. “How's it going in here?”

“Slowly. Though why I'm bothering to remove smoke grime when there will be brick dust everywhere as well for months, I have no idea. Or are we moving out? We can't stay with Nate and Adeline too long. They won't have the room.”

“Elliott says he can work while we live here. He'll cover the area with blue plastic sheeting which should keep most of the brick dust out.”

Jodie looked up. “Vianne's going to have a baby cousin,” she said.

Amy smiled. “I know; that's going to be really exciting.”

Vicky tilted her head. “Can I have one?”

“A baby cousin?” Dane asked. “Not really, sweetie, because I don't have any brothers or sisters. And that's where cousins come from.”

Her face fell. “Oh.”

Dane hugged Vicky as he gazed at Amy. “You never did answer my question.”

She looked puzzled. “What question? You asked me so many over the past few days that I can't remember one in particular.”

He rolled his eyes. “About changing your name.”

“Oh, that one.” She grinned. “As I recall, you didn't give me a chance to answer it, before first kissing me and then threatening to arrest me for breaking my sentencing conditions.”

Jodie's face fell. “Forget I ever called you a girly swot. Really Amy, are you in trouble
again
?”

Amy shook her head. “No, sweetie. Your dad asked if I'd change my name to Amy Philips.”

Jodie and Vicky looked at each other. “He wants to marry you?”

“I do,” Dane said. He put an arm around each of the girls. “If you two agree.”

They both nodded and turned expectant faces to Amy. “Please, Amy.”

Amy grinned. “I'd love to change my name.”

The girls cheered as Dane's arms went around her, and his lips found hers. Somewhere in the distance, as she lost herself in the emotions Dane stirred in her, she heard Jodie and Vicky talking.

“This means we go one better than Vianne. We might get a brother.”

“Sister,” Vicky whispered.

“It might be twins,” Jodie said. “One of each.”

Dane laughed. “Give us a chance, kids. I haven't even booked the church yet.” He ran his fingers down Amy's face. “It's funny how things turn out, isn't it?”

“Yeah, it's just like I told Jodie. We mess things up and God straightens them out. Not how we'd imagine, but a whole load better.”

 

 

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