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“I’ll be back.” He pressed a light kiss to her temple and then slipped away.

She watched him join a group of men that included Bryce, their uncle, and Corina’s dad. Then she turned to her mom again.

“You doing okay?” Mom asked before she could say anything.

“Going to need some ibuprofen when I leave,” she admitted.

“Migraine?”

“Not quite to that level yet. I took something before we left.” She’d known the tears would set her back. She glanced at thetissue balled in her mom’s hand. “Areyouokay?” She didn’t mean about Wesley—well, partly, but more about everything.

She had hoped to break the news about Jennings to her mom privately at home, but Kincaid’s grapevine was alive and strong. One of the mayor’s neighbors had witnessed his arrest and called her right after it happened. Mom had asked Eric for confirmation when he and Allye arrived at the church, but there hadn’t been time for anything more.

Mom didn’t immediately respond to her query, and Allye could hardly bear the sadness in her expression.

“You don’t have to answer,” she whispered.

A tear escaped her mom’s lashes, but she managed a smile. She drew in a long, ragged breath, then gave Allye’s hand a quick squeeze. When she started to pull away, Allye held on.

Mom looked at their hands. “I really have been trying not to be clingy since...” Since finding out Allye was almost killed. She didn’t need to finish the sentence.

“It’s okay. And maybe ... maybe I could use a bit of clinginess for a while too.”

Her mom chuckled, then sobered again. “I know you’re wondering how the news about Raymond affected me. On top of almost losing you. On top of Wesley’s death.”

“And on top of old grief,” she said quietly.

“I won’t lie and say it doesn’t hurt. All of it. I really thought our relationship was heading somewhere, and his betrayal is hard to swallow. But”—she squeezed Allye’s hand again—“I still have you and Bryce and Corina, and we still have the Lord. Our family will be all right. But please don’t keep any more secrets from me—even if you think you’re protecting me. We need each other.”

“You’re right. And I’m done with secrets.”

“Good.” After a long moment, her mom nodded toward where Hailey stood alone at her husband’s casket, saying her good-byes. “She’s going to need us too—and that is not permission for you to overdo things.”

“I promise to pay attention to my limits,” Allye conceded. “Or at least try to.”

Mom just shook her head. “I think someone else needs you right now though.”

Allye followed her gaze. Eric had wandered away to a grave nearer the center of the cemetery. His posture looked ... vulnerable. She stood.

“You okay to walk it on your own?”

“I’m okay. It’s just the first couple seconds that get me sometimes. See you at Bryce’s for dinner?”

“I’ll be there.”

Allye made her way to Eric and slipped her arm through his. She read the small granite grave marker. “I didn’t realize your dad was buried here,” she said softly.

When he spoke, his voice was rough. “I haven’t been here since his funeral fifteen years ago. Even when I came to visit Gramps or Officer Mike, I refused to even look this direction.”

“Then you’re making progress.”

He shrugged. “I still don’t understand why he chose his addictions over me. Guess I never will.”

Allye leaned into him, and he put his arm around her. She didn’t say anything, just let him work through his emotions.

Finally, he said, “I know I need to forgive him, but I don’t know if I can. I’m still angry at him—at both my parents.”

“You don’t have to do it alone. Someone smart told me that once.”