Page 117 of A River of Crows

“You were,” Jay whispered. “You are. I was going to leave Anna for you.” He glanced over his shoulder to ensure it was still only the three of them standing in the street. “I never felt for her—for anybody—what I do for you.”

“Right.” Caroline sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “So, you were going to leave Anna, but in thirteen years, you never got around to it?” She glanced at his hand. “Make that thirty-three years. Nice to see you wear a wedding ring. You never used to.”

Jay folded up the letter. “I couldn’t leave her, Caroline. But I damn sure wanted to. I was a coward. I wanted to be with you. I wanted to be with you forever.”

Caroline knocked the note out of his hand. It blew a few feet, and Sloan jogged to grab it.

“And yet you are still with Anna.” Caroline grew in height as her spine stiffened.

“You didn’t give me a choice.” Jay’s voice rose for the first time. “She stood by me.”

“Ah well, Anna’s a regular Tammy Wynette, isn’t she?” Caroline walked slowly toward her car. “But not me. I’m a little more The Night That the Lights Went Out in Georgia than Stand by Your Man, if you know what I mean.”

When Caroline reached into the open car window, Sloan understood what she meant by her comment; she knew what her mom was reaching for. The gun. She had brought it.

“No!” Sloan unstuck her legs as she saw her mom pull the weapon from the car, but she felt like she was moving in slow motion. Thankfully, Dylan wasn’t. From the corner of her eye, Sloan saw him jump out of the jeep and charge toward Caroline, right as she pointed the gun at Jay.

The wail of a police siren in the distance stole everyone’s attention. It seemed to stun Caroline enough for Dylan to pin her against the car. She fought but couldn’t break free. “Sloan, grab the gun,” Dylan yelled as Caroline raised it toward the streetlight.

Caroline tilted her head back and shouted, “It’s the night the lights went out on Brookhaven Drive!”

“Sloan!” Dylan said more forcefully, but Jay was already there. Caroline fought harder, but Jay pried the gun from her hands. He tossed it behind him as both men fought to keep Caroline pinned against the vehicle.

“Stop fighting, Mom.” Sloan picked up the weapon. “The police are coming. They’ll take you in. To prison this time.”

“Get them off me!” Caroline screamed. “Get them off me!”

Sloan looked down at the gun in her hand as blue and red flashing lights filled the street. She ran to the other side of her mother’s car and tossed it into the backseat, covering it with a reflective sun visor. She had just shut the door when the police cruiser pulled up beside her.

Noah jumped out, gun drawn. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“It’s okay,” Sloan said. “She only wanted to talk to him.”

Noah looked at her incredulously. “Where’s the gun?”

“There’s no gun,” Sloan said. “I was wrong. Mom was getting an old letter out that she wanted Dad to read.” Sloan sensed Dylan’s eyes boring into her, but she didn’t turn to look at him.

“Get them off me!” Caroline screamed again. “They’re hurting me.”

“Let go,” Sloan told them. “She’s not going to do anything.”

Both men released their grip and slowly backed away. “What happened here, Mr. Hadfield?” Noah asked.

Jay looked at Sloan. “We were talking,” he said. “Caroline got a little upset. That’s all.”

Noah didn’t look convinced, but he holstered his weapon.

Sloan looked to her right. A nosy neighbor was peering out her window. The Hadfields had come out and filled their front lawn. “Turn your lights off, Noah, please. Before the entire neighborhood comes out.”

As Noah walked back to his cruiser, Sloan faced her mother. “Let Dylan take you home. Go to bed. If you try anything else, I’m telling Noah everything.”

The street seemed strangely dark after Noah turned off his lights, like the switch had dimmed the streetlight as well.

“It’s best you go home, Caroline.” Noah’s voice was deeper than normal.

“She is,” Sloan said. “Dylan’s going to take her, and I’ll drive her car back soon.” She turned back to Dylan with hopeful eyes. He nodded, but his expression was tight.

“Sound good to you, Caroline?” Noah asked.