Page 289 of Taken Away

Used.

Aubrey stared at it.

Bennett picked it up carefully and brought it to her.

“This was Harold’s.”

She took it with both hands.

It was heavier than she expected.

Bennett opened it to the first page.

There, written in neat ink, were the words:

This Bible belongs to Harold Blackwood.

Aubrey touched the handwriting with two fingers.

Bennett stood close beside her.

“There are family records inside,” he said.

She looked at him.

He turned the pages gently, not rushing, until they reached the section where births, marriages, and deaths had been recorded across generations.

Aubrey saw the names first.

Blackwoods going back farther than she could follow.

Fathers.

Mothers.

Children.

Dates written in careful columns.

Harold’s father.

His mother.

Then Harold himself.

Harold Blackwood.

A date of birth beside his name.

A date of marriage.

Mabel McAllister.

Aubrey’s hand tightened on the edge of the page.

Mabel’s maiden name blurred through her tears.

McAllister.