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Now he knew why he’d never met his paternal grandparents.
“Hale, let me have that,” Tom said quietly.
Feeling what he read burned in his brain, and he hadn’t even been through half of it, Hale handed it over, his eyes falling on the ring box.
He reached for it and opened it.
When he did, a slip of folded paper fell out.
But in it was a set of rings he’d seen before. Sparkling. Brilliant. Like they’d just been cleaned. Three of them. Engagement, wedding, and a diamond-encrusted anniversary band.
They were beautiful.
They were beloved.
They were Marilyn Swan’s wedding rings.
Genny’s mother.
The only other woman who Corey Szabo loved.
The only real mother he ever had.
The only real grandmother Hale ever had.
Woodenly, he reached to the floor to nab the slip of paper.
He folded it open.
And he read it.
It was also written in his father’s hand.
Hale,
Marilyn gave me these to give to you.
Holding on to them for you was the greatest honor of my life.
Find the right one and give them to her.
Please don’t let what I did end who I am.
I promise you, love like I have for you will never die.
Dad
Fuck.
He’d signed it,Dad.
Love like I have for you will never die.
The box and note fell to the floor as Hale’s head dropped to his knees, he wrapped his arms over the top and his shoulders heaved with the first sob.
Things happened around him. He felt Tom rubbing his back. He heard Genny’s gasp, then her tears.
But it was Duncan who pulled him out of the chair and into his arms.
