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Brenda gasps again, her hand flying to her mouth.
“I’m so sorry, Ms. Hop— I mean Brenda.”
Sadie rises then, brings her mother to her feet, and embraces her.
Brenda cries, and Sadie rubs her back.
I’m not exactly sure what to do, so I pet Princess, who somehow ended up in my lap.
They take a few minutes, and then they break their embrace.
“I suppose it’s good to finally know,” Brenda says.
Sadie nods. “None of this is good, Ma. But you’re right. At least we don’t have to wonder anymore.”
“How do you know all of this? Where was he found?”
Sadie nods to me again.
“He was found on the Bridger ranch,” I say, speaking carefully. “His body was found by a creek.”
“What was he doing—”
“Before you jump to conclusions,” Sadie says, “Miles and his brothers didn’t have anything to do with any of it. If anyone on the Bridger land was involved, it was their father, Jonathan Bridger, and he—”
“He’s dead.” Brenda looks my way. “I read about it. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Don’t be,” I say. “I didn’t even know him. He’s dead and buried. And he left my two half-brothers and me with a big mess. But we’re dealing.”
Brenda fidgets with a strand of her hair. “I need some time to process this.”
“Of course you do,” I say.
“Does your father know?” Brenda asks Sadie.
Sadie sighs. “Yeah. We saw him this morning. He was his usual affable self.”
“Oh God, baby doll. I’m sorry you had to deal with him.”
“It’s okay. He’s harmless, really. He did give us what Joey left in the garage. It was mostly stuff to donate, but I was able to find a few things and possibly some information. We don’t think he was really working for a trucking company.”
Confusion creases her brow. “Then what was he doing?”
“We’re not sure,” I say. “Our working theory is that he was doing undercover work with the EPA.”
“The Environmental Protection Agency?” Brenda sniffles. “Why?”
“I don’t know, Ma. Maybe he got interested in the environment. You and I really didn’t have a lot of contact with him after the divorce.”
“That was Curt. Curt poisoned him against us.”
“I’d like to think Joey had enough intelligence not to listen to our father.” Sadie sighs. “There’s something else we need to think about, Ma. We should have some kind of memorial for Joey. Once we’re able to take possession of his remains.”
Brenda nods. “I suppose you’re right. I never wanted to have one when I thought he might still be out there.”
“You were holding out hope,” Sadie says. “And I know I wasn’t all that supportive about that. I’m sorry. I’m glad you had hope.”
“I did. But now it’s gone, Sadie. Joey’s gone.”
