Page 118 of Lemon Pound Cake Club

"Mari Calloway's death investigation has officially been reopened."

The words settled over me, almost like a prayer finally answered.

"The footage, along with several inconsistencies we uncovered after reopening the file, gives us probable cause to move forward."

For the first time in years, people didn’t say Mari’s name like she was only a memory. Now, they said it for justice.

After the call, I stood in my kitchen in silence. I didn’t smile or cry.

"I told you I'd come back for you," I whispered.

Today, the women showed up at my house on their own. This time felt different. There weren’t any desserts or wine, just all of us together. Miss Evelyn closed the front door softly and sat down.

No one spoke. It seemed like everyone was waiting for something.

I placed the old photograph in the center of the table. Danielle picked it up first.

"Is that Kenny? Camille’s husband?"

"Yeah." I took a deep breath. "The woman I told you about, the one Camille hurt." My voice trembled. "She wasn't just someone I knew."

I looked at each woman sitting around the table.

"She was my sister."

The room grew quiet. Jade leaned back in her chair and moved slowly.

Nia covered her mouth with her hand. Simone looked at the photograph again, as if she was seeing it for the first time.

No one interrupted me. I told them everything, well, not every detail, but the truth that started it all. I told them how Mari fell in love, how she wanted to be a mother, how she trusted the wrong people, and how she died believing someone she loved would never betray her.

When I finished, everyone stayed silent for a while.

Finally, Jade spoke up.

"So Camille really did it?"

Miss Evelyn answered before I could.

"Yes."

Everyone looked at her.

"I knew something was wrong years ago. I kept what Mari asked me to keep. I waited."

Danielle looked at me.

"So everything she told us is true."

"It is."

Simone wiped tears from her cheeks.

"I don't even know how to feel."

"I do," Jade said quietly. She looked directly at me. "I'm angry."

I nodded.