Page 26 of Outlawed

“Okay, I can drive you.”

“I don’t know, Jen.”

“He wouldn’t ask you to come if it wasn’t important.”

“I guess.” I look at the house and sigh.

“Put some boots on. I’ll go and track down Riggs so he can keep an eye on Hannah.”

She’s off before I even get up. With a curse, I walk to the edge of the porch and lean on the railing, wondering what the hell it is that’s so important. Rubbing the back of my neck, I head inside for boots. I guess there’s only one way to find out.

Iadmit, the trip into town is done in a daze. I’m so lost in my own head, I don’t realize we’re there until Jen speaks.

“What the hell?”

I glance out the window to see what’s got her attention and gasp.

There are flowers everywhere, covering the road and footpaths. Shrubs have sprouted from nowhere. Climbing ivy is crawling up the buildings, and previously empty hanging baskets are now bursting with a riot of color as an alarming number of flowers fight for dominance.

I get out of the car and stare in shock as people begin to notice me. “Look, there she is!” I panic. Someone is pointing at me.

When I feel hands on my hips, I try to jerk away, only to hear Shepard’s reassuring voice in my ear. “It’s okay, Poppy. It’s just me.”

I turn in his arms. “What happened?”

He smiles at me, sliding my hair behind my ear. “You happened.”

“Oh my god, Calliope. You’re here. Are you okay?”

I turn at the sound of Sarah’s voice and see dozens of people approaching, asking millions of questions, making my head feel like it’s gonna explode.

“Alright, guys, that’s enough. I get that you’re excited, but don’t forget what happened here yesterday. This is a lot for Calliope to take in,” Shepard barks, making everyone quiet down.

“I’m sorry, Calliope.” Sarah flushes with embarrassment.

“It’s okay. You want to show me what’s happening?”

She grins, taking my hand and pulling me away from Shepard. I look over my shoulder at him as he nods. Jen follows behind us, looking around in wonder, and I turn to follow suit.

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t know why. Those of us who see you regularly already know what you’re capable of. My house has never looked so beautiful. Hell, even Doyle noticed, and that man notices nothing,” Mary says from the crowd.

I look for her and spot her standing with her husband, who is rolling his eyes at her, but he doesn’t dispute her words. In fact, lots of people are nodding. That’s when I see Jackie. She’s walking toward me with a little bouquet of white calla lilies in her hand, tied with a red ribbon.

“Yesterday, this street was the scene of a horrific tragedy. A woman was brutally struck down, losing her life and leaving behind a little girl who will never know what a wonderful woman she was.”

I walk toward her, tears streaming down both of our faces as I stop just in front of her.

“People got up today, knowing they had to deal with the fallout. They came here to be together in the aftermath of a senseless tragedy and found themselves surrounded by life.”

I swallow hard.

“Look at what you did, Calliope.”

I look around and see beautiful flowers everywhere. The town will have a field day clearing the road. My eyes fall to the place where Dawn fell, and a sob slips free. A strip of sunflowers stands tall and proud, their faces tipped back as they bask in the sun.

“She really lived up to her name. A new Dawn. And when anyone thinks of her, they’ll think of the beautiful woman she was, standing tall, with her head tipped back and the sunlight on her face.”