Rachel flinched.
Jason’s face hardened.
“You have no idea what happened that night.”
“No.”
I looked at the closed casket.
“But Lily did.”
The deputy escorted him away.
Rachel remained standing alone.
She looked suddenly very small.
Mr.
Hayes approached her.
“Ms.
Morgan.”
Rachel looked up.
“Did Lily know?”
He nodded.
“She knew about the affair.”
Rachel wiped her face.
“Then why didn’t she expose me?”
Mr.
Hayes paused.
“Because she was trying to survive.”
Rachel began crying.
“I didn’t know.”
“I believe you.”
She looked at him.
“Did she hate me?”
“No.”
Rachel’s face crumpled.
“What did she say about me?”
Mr.
Hayes hesitated.
“She said you were another person Jason had lied to.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
Then she walked out of the church.
My mother collapsed into my arms.
I held her.
My father stood beside us.
For the first time since Lily’s death, none of us had to pretend.
