Page 27

TWENTY-SIX

Farms and wooded game land flashed past their windows. Josie knew they were getting close to Fairfield. Dex still lived on a rural road a couple of miles from the heart of the small, sleepy town. Anxiety buzzed under her skin as his one-story house came into view, though she couldn’t say why. Dex had never been anything but caring and kind toward her. He was a good man. She had often wondered if they would have been able to have a friendship as adults if what Lila had done to him didn’t always hang between them like a poisonous cloud.

Trinity slowed the vehicle in front of a long gravel driveway. “Is this the place?”

The last time Josie was here, the siding of Dex’s home had been a dingy white. He’d obviously had some work done; now it was covered in clean tan siding. Even the poorly constructed additions built alongside the house that Josie remembered now looked shored up and newly painted to match the main house. A couple of rocking chairs sat on the front porch. Two bicycles leaned against the railing. The old red pickup she remembered had been replaced by a slightly newer blue one.

But what told her beyond the shadow of a doubt that this was still Dexter McMann’s home were the stunning wooden sculptures carved from tree trunks dotting the two acres of lawn that led to the house. “Look,” she said, pointing to a cluster of them. Three dragons stood in a semicircle, their ancient-looking eyes keeping watch on the road. All of them were massive. As Trinity pulled into the driveway and slowly rolled past, Josie was stunned by the breathtaking detail carved into each one. It looked like the figures had lived in the wood all along and finally been unleashed.

“He made those?” Trinity said, awestruck.

“Yes. He sells them. That’s how he makes a living.”

“This is amazing!” They passed another grouping of carved tree trunks. A mama bear and cub, a hawk, and the grim reaper. An odd combination. “How has no one featured this guy on the news? The national news?”

Josie didn’t answer. As they stopped behind the truck, she saw two more, near the porch. A unicorn and a mermaid.

“I just can’t believe this,” Trinity said. “They’re so detailed.”

Her eyes were locked on the mermaid as she started to get out of the vehicle. Josie put a hand on her forearm to stop her. “Trin, listen. When you see him?—”

Trinity looked back at Josie. “It’ll be fine.”

Before Josie could say anything more, the front door opened and Dex shuffled out, squinting against the afternoon sun. One hand shielded his eyes, keeping the worst of Lila’s fury out of sight for now. “Help you?”

Josie hopped out and walked toward him. “It’s me, Dex. JoJo.”

She didn’t go by JoJo anymore. Only little Harris got to call her that, but that’s how Dex had always known her. He stepped forward and smiled. “JoJo? Josie Quinn!”

He ambled down the porch steps and embraced her. As her arms wrapped around him, she realized he was a lot thinner than the last time they’d met, no longer as burly. His jeans and faded flannel shirt hung loose on his tall frame. He smelled like oak and chestnut.

“Good to see you,” he said into Josie’s hair before releasing her.

Josie turned just as Dex offered Trinity a hand. She sensed her sister’s shock, but Trinity gave nothing away, shaking his hand and introducing herself with a perfect television smile.

“The famous reporter,” Dex said. “Nice to meet you. I saw the Datelines . Long time ago. I was glad to see you were reunited.”

Josie noticed that Trinity couldn’t help but sneak small glances at the left side of Dex’s face where the skin looked as though someone had tried to melt it away. The burn marks were widespread, gnarled in some places and mottled in others. The fire had taken a portion of his hair from behind his temple, leaving an uneven bald patch of thick scar tissue. The glass eye that filled his socket helped diminish some of the horror of his disfigurement, but every time Josie saw him, she felt like Lila was right there, hollowing out her guts with a paring knife.

Handsome Dex with his heart of gold had to bear the marks of Lila’s special brand of cruelty for the rest of his life and even after all these years, Josie felt like it was her fault. She should have known better than to accept his kindness. In the year he’d lived with them, he had parented Josie more than Lila ever had. He’d been good at it. Driving her back and forth to school. Helping with her homework. Buying her books he thought she would like. Taking her to the hospital when she needed stitches. Caring for her when she got sick. Making sure she had enough to eat.

When she wanted to go to the freshman formal dance with Ray, Dex had paid for her to buy a dress and asked his cousin, who owned a salon, to do Josie’s hair and makeup. He’d even driven them to and from the dance. That was the final straw for Lila. After she set fire to his pillow while he slept, Josie had managed to put out the flames that had engulfed his head, but the damage was done. They’d never been able to prove it to the police, but Josie knew Lila had set the fire. To this day, she could still see the smug, satisfied look on Lila’s face as she watched Josie guide Dex outside to get help.

Dex’s long sigh brought Josie out of her thoughts. “You can’t keep blaming yourself, kiddo. I made my peace with it a long time ago. I don’t regret a thing. You needed someone in your life back then and I’m glad I was the one who got to be there.”

His words caused another crack in her armor. Dangerous emotion surged forth, so close to the surface she couldn’t speak. She’d needed to hear this for such a long time. Or maybe she just hadn’t been ready to hear it until now. The last time she saw him, he’d told her it wasn’t her fault. The sentiment had bounced off her, never penetrating the thick cloak of blame she wore. This was different. He was different.

“I hoped once Lila passed on, you’d maybe make your own peace, but it doesn’t seem like she’s content to leave us alone, even from the grave, does it?”

Josie shook her head, still unable to speak.

Trinity said, “Do you know why we’re here?”

Dex nodded. “I can guess. There’s a Denton PD officer missing, and the state police just stopped by asking about my ‘association’ with Lila.”

“That Denton PD officer is Josie’s husband,” Trinity told him. “My brother-in-law.”

“Well, shit.” Dex scratched at his neck where the scarring gave way to smooth, unblemished skin. “I’m sorry, Josie. Better come on in then. You’re going to want to hear what I told them. I should have just called you when it happened, but I wasn’t sure it meant anything.”