Page 12 of The Lost and Found Girl

Everyone knew it had been the boyfriend.

He’d been vilified in town, in theGazette. He’d even been arrested, but he’d never been convicted because there hadn’t been sufficient evidence.

There had never been a body. There had never been anything.

Dana had never even seen justice done for her daughter. She’d never had closure. And once the initial impact of the tragedy had passed, the town had moved on, and eventually Dana had become nothing but a reminder of bad things.

Which had ultimately put her in the category of bad things.

The idea sat heavy in Dahlia’s stomach.

“Dana is always nice to me,” Ruby said.

“Well, that’s just that patented Ruby magic,” Marianne said, wiggling her fingers and twisting one of her rings back into place. “Which lotion is best?”

Ruby grabbed hold of Dahlia’s hand and lifted it to her nose. Then she sniffed her own hand. She tapped on Dahlia’s hand. “I like that one better. What is it?”

“Yours is lavender and salt, Dahlia’s is cedar.”

“Salt?” Dahlia asked. “Salt, Marianne. Really.”

“As in like sea salt,” Marianne said. “It has a scent.”

“Next thing you know you’re going to sell air.”

“Pear Blossom Air,” Marianne said, grinning. “I really could.”

She could. Everything about Marianne appeared effortless. Easy. Like air. Flawless skin and just a hint of makeup. Loose-fitting clothing and hair that just seemed to fall in waves as if by accident, when Dahlia suspected her sister did nothing by accident at all.

She wore six hundred dollars ofshrug, this old thingmost of the time, but was too filled with grace to saythis old thingout loud. She said it with a smile and a wave of her hand when faced with compliments.

“Do it,” Dahlia said.

“If you promise to give me a feature in the paper.”

“Sure. Front page. Local Con Artist Sells Air to Unsuspecting Public.”

“I demand a retraction,” Marianne said, eyes narrowed.

“Okay, but while it’s the three of us,” Ruby said, her eyes going very bright and alert, “tell me what’s going on with Lydia.”

“Uh...” Marianne looked at Dahlia.

Dahlia frowned. “She’s Lydia.”

“Exactly,” said Marianne.

“Meaning?” Ruby asked.

“She’s working to avoid having a feeling, but she’s obviously devastated,” Marianne said.

Ruby’s eyes were now large and glassy with unshed tears. “I feel so guilty I didn’t come right back home.”

“Hey,” Dahlia said. “Like I told you at the time, we were all here with her.”

“Jackson and I help with the kids,” Marianne said. “So do Mom and Dad. Chase helps with the farm.”

“But I could have...comforted her.”