Anton’s face was bright red, and he was vibrating with anger. He gave Posey one last hate-filled glare and then stalked from the room.
Posey picked up the book on her father’s nightstand that she’d been reading to him in the evenings. They were only on chapter eight. She opened to her bookmark, her voice small as she began to speak, throat ever more clogged with that growing lump.
Her father reached for her hand again, and she took it, cradling it gently as she continued to read. Her father ceased breathing long before the story was over, and yet Posey finished it all the same. “The end,” she whispered. She put her cheek on her father’s chest, and then for the first time in her life that she could remember, Posey wept.
Chapter Forty-Seven
“This is where you work?” Cyrus asked as they got out of Cami’s car, and he looked around. Cami smiled, using her hand as a visor to see the space through his eyes. Flutterfly Gardens looked particularly beautiful today, even if she was biased. It didn’t hurt that it was the golden hour, the sky a swirl of blue and white and gilded at the edges. But even beyond that, the vibrant, blooming plants were full and lush, the decades-old trees swished softly in the breeze, and the shop down the brick path looked sweet and quaint with its striped awning and red shutters.
Pride filled her chest. She loved what she’d built. She’ddonethis. She hadn’t let anything or anyone stop her, even herself, despite the fact that she’d considered giving up so many times. And even though she’d felt like life might not be worth living more often than she wanted to admit. How could she know she’d make it to this place, standing next to this little boy? A boy who’d known too much tragedy for such a young person.Herboy. And yet here she was. “Come with me, and I’ll show you the butterflies.”
They spent half an hour roaming through the exhibit, where others were strolling too. Cyrus was enthralled by each new species and thrilled whenever one landed on his hand. Cami watched him dreamily as he brought them close to his face, his eyes alight with happiness, smiling over at her as they flew away. And like a butterfly, she saw him emerging from the temporary shell he’d gone into too.How are you real? How areyou here, with me?And would she ever stop feeling this way? Would she ever cease wondering when she might wake up and find that this was all just an elaborate dream?
He’d put the book Rex had given him under his arm while he held the butterflies, and now he grasped the well-worn paperback in his hand. Even his phone seemed to offer him less assurance. That was stuffed in his back pocket, a secondary comfort. He carried the book everywhere, like it was a security blanket. And that’s what it represented, she supposed. A link both to the man who’d raised him, and the one in the park who’d taken him under his wing when he was alone and frightened. And now, to Rex.
Cyrus had spent quality time with her dad, too, and her dad told her they’d had some good “man-to-man” conversations. Cami also knew he’d enjoyed baking with Gigi, and she was grateful for every person in his life now contributing to his comfort and care. Cami had motherhood to offer, and she was going to do everything she could to be a good one, but she also possessed butterflies, and she was well acquainted with their healing power.
They walked to the gift shop, where Bess let out a small shriek and then practically threw herself at Cami. “You’re back! I’ve missed you.” She turned to Cyrus and slapped her hand over her mouth as she glanced at Cami. “My gosh, you both have the exact same eyes.”
Cyrus looked up at Cami. “Told you.”
Bess held out her hand, and Cyrus shook it. “Hi, Cyrus. I’m Bess. And I have something for you. Come with me.”
Cami watched Cyrus follow her to where Cami could see one of the terrariums she’d designed on the counter, full with flowers and greenery and, she assumed, at least a few butterfly eggs. Cyrus oohed and aahed as he leaned toward the glass and looked to where Bess was pointing out this or that. Cami felt a small catch in her chest. Bess was already acting as a surrogate aunt to her son, a role that Elle would have had, and she suddenly missed her sister so desperately it stole her breath. Grief was so odd that way, sneaking up when you least expected it andknocking you sideways. And yet, something inside her was grateful for the strength of the emotional punch because it was also a reminder that her love for her sister hadn’t faded, and it never would. It’d just change and transform as the years moved on, but she’d bring her sister with her, noting her absence in big ways and small the rest of her days. And she wouldn’t wish that away, even if it hurt.
Cyrus picked up the terrarium and carried it toward Cami. “Can I keep it?”
“Of course you can. We’ll watch them hatch together and then set them free.” Cami smiled at Bess as Cyrus continued to study the inside of the terrarium. “Cyrus starts school on Monday, and I’ll be back to work then.”
“I can’t wait,” Bess said. “We have some catching up to do.” She gave Cami an exaggerated wink, and Cami knew she meant Rex.Rex.God, her face wanted to move into a stupid smile every time she thought of him.
A group of customers who she’d seen wandering through the butterfly exhibit came in the door, and Bess greeted them just as Cami’s cell phone rang.
“Call if you need anything,” Cami said. Bess waved, and Cami quickly flipped the sign on the door fromOpentoClosedso Bess could get out of there by closing time after attending to the last customers. Then she took her phone from her pocket and frowned when she saw the unknown number. For a second, she thought about not answering it as she and Cyrus exited the shop. But when they’d stepped outside, she considered that she had a dozen calls out to Cyrus’s new school and the local social services office and other places and people helping her get her life as a mom together.
Not to mention the authorities were still investigating Cyrus’s kidnapping case, even if that seemed to have stalled.
“Hello?” she said as they headed toward her car.
“Cami?” A woman’s voice.
“Speaking.”
“Hi, Cami. This is Seraphina Arnoult. We met—”
“Yes, I know who you are.” Cami frowned. Why in the heck was Hollis’s fiancée calling her?
“Oh, good. I ... well, this is difficult but ... is there any way we could meet? I’m in town, and I’d like to discuss something with you. It’s ... very important, and I think you need to know.”
Very important?“Hold on a sec.” They got to Cami’s car, and she held her finger up to Cyrus to indicate she needed a minute and then clicked the lock and dumped her purse in her seat. She waited for Cyrus to get in while she remained outside the vehicle. “You’re in town?” she asked Seraphina. “Where?”
“I’m at Hollis’s family estate. You might know that since his dad died, his mom spends most of her time at their home in Palm Beach. They mostly maintain this address because of Hollis’s congressional run. He prefers his town house in DC, but you know ...”
“He has to live in the state he wants to represent,” Cami finished. She’d known he no longer lived in Aspen Cove, but she’d assumed he had a home somewhere else in Virginia. She wasn’t surprised that he in fact did not. Hollis was such a phony. He was even lying to voters about his place of residence.
“Right,” Seraphina said. “Anyway, I’m here, if you remember where it is. I won’t take up much of your time. And please, Hollis can’t know we’re meeting. I’d prefer if you kept this between us, just for now anyway. Then you can decide ...”
Cami paused, even more curious about what Seraphina had to say. She remembered all too well where Hollis’s family estate was. It was only a couple of blocks from the house where her life had been destroyed. She hadn’t been back to that neighborhood since. She avoided even driving near it at all costs. But the only “very important” information that Cami could imagine Seraphina wanting to share would be about Cyrus, and potentially Hollis’s involvement in their son’s kidnapping.
