“That’s funny, because he says the same thing about you,” I tell her, watching her reaction closely.
Her cheeks flush, and she shyly dips her head.
A tug pulls at my chest.Oh, Momma. You saw it too, didn’t you?
Chapter Twenty
Raffe
My hands ache as Ray rewraps them. He pats my face when he’s finished. “Again,” he orders.
I pummel the punching bag he’s hung in a tree.
Ray has come up the mountain every day since bringing me here. At first it pissed me off, but now that the alcohol and brain fog are starting to clear, I realize I’m lucky he’s still showing up.
I’ve been a miserable piece of shit for the past two fucking years, not to mention the past two weeks. I’ve been a straight up dick. The rage I’d been feeling has faded, but I don’t know what to replace it with.
“I was talking to Dan last night, and he was telling me the story of how you and Lily connected over this Jenny gal.”
I roll my eyes, moving to the other side of the bag to avoid talking to him.
“Dan said he’d never seen you so destroyed as when you learned she had passed.”
My silence should indicate this is a subject I don’t want to discuss, but I guess Ray wants to poke the bear.
“He said you’d never stopped looking for her until then.”
“Yeah, well, when you’re told someone’s dead, you tend to believe them.”
“Lily truly thought she was gone. From what I understand that was what Jenny wanted her and everyone else to believe.”
There it is. There’s that last little bit of rage I had tucked away. “Why would she hide her from me? Why?” The bag and my fists take the brunt of my frustration.
When I’m drained, and lying on my back staring up at the clouds, he leans over my face.
“Clean up and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“And I’m not leaving until I see you put some food in your stomach.” He helps me to my feet and continues to help with my gloves. “Have you read her letter yet?”
“No.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t keep everyone at bay for much longer. You’re going to be getting some visitors soon.”
“I’ll find somewhere else to go.”
“You’re mad at Rachel, so why are you punishing your entire family?”
“She made me look like a fool!” I yell, backing away from him.
“No. You’re doing that all on your own,” he says calmly before walking away.
I bend over, bracing my hands on my knees. “Fuck!” I yell.
I’ve got to figure out a way to let this go if I’m ever going to be able to see my son and granddaughter again.
When I get inside, Ray has the cabin smelling wonderful. He watches me head to the bathroom to shower.
