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Carrie gazed from her passenger window as they drove along the country road a few miles from town.

She turned to Luke at the wheel, then looked over her shoulder to her dad and, beside him, her aunt Pearl, who’d flown to Texas to join her family. Pearl was hurt Carrie had not confided in her while she was away. But Pearl knew the whole story now, and she was here, bringing with her understanding and love.

She reached up and squeezed Carrie’s shoulder.

Emily was sitting between Vern and Pearl, buckled in her seat, humming happily. Luke turned and they passed under the ornate arch over the entrance to Oak Rock Cemetery. They all got out, with Carrie taking Emily’s hand, and as they walked across the lawn, Carrie took a deep breath.

It had been a month now.

In that time, the Chronicle ’s story had hit on everything, setting things straight. Carrie accepted apologies from Abby’s and Erin’s relatives. People in town were warmer, kinder. Carrie tried to get word to Lacey, but it was futile.

It’s as if she died, too.

Yet another victim.

In the weeks that followed her abduction, Carrie had spoken with detectives, many from other cities, working on the case.

Carrie continued her sessions with Dr. Bernay. There were new challenges now, of course. The Clear River district attorney was preparing to indict her father and her husband.

In Vern’s case, they were looking at charges that included tampering with evidence and obstruction. Kilgore and Living-ston officials were looking at charges related to Hyde’s confession. In Luke’s case, he’d left the scene of a serious accident and failed to report it, a felony.

Court dates would be set as their cases moved through the system. Their lawyers each said their actions, being directly linked to a monumental case, could provide mitigating issues and warranted suspended sentences. Still, Luke, facing an indictment, was suspended without pay until his case was settled. He’d found work with campus security at Clear River College.

With her family coming together, Carrie believed they were strong enough to face whatever was ahead, drawing on the recent positive news for Vern. His doctor had got Vern into a trial for a new experimental treatment that could possibly give him another few years. Pearl would move in with Vern to help her brother and be closer to Emily and Luke.

Arriving at her mother’s grave, Carrie placed lilies, daisies and baby’s breath at the headstone. In the moment of quiet, Emily toddled around her grandmother’s marker, her little fingers brushing the granite. Vern’s eyes crinkled and he smiled along with everyone else.

Then Carrie glanced across the green lawns in the direction where Abby and Erin were buried.

I have all the answers now.

Later, their visit over, walking back to the car, Pearl and Carrie discussed the family barbecue they were planning.

“Let’s stop at Reddick’s,” Carrie said. “We’ll get some pecans for a pie.”

“I like the sound of that,” Vern said.

Carrie stopped, took Emily into her arms and turned for another look at her mother’s stone.

In that moment, the baby waved goodbye and Carrie was catapulted back to her mother’s kitchen, helping her make pie…her mother…

…working at the sink…the radio playing a favorite song, Solomon Burke’s “Cry to Me.” She’s excited, calling, “Vern, get in here!” Carrie’s mother and father dancing, filling her world with love, like a dream.

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