George’s son. Obviously, my mom and George knew all that. But they were shocked when he told them he’d seen them make love in the forest and found out he wasn’t Arthur’s son. He said that was why he’d started hating them. And then he said the most amazing thing.”
“What?”
“He told them he forgave them. He said now that he was in love with you, he understood everything they’d done. He said he would rather have died the night the guy pointed the gun at you than watch you die. He said love like that can’t be stopped by anything, and he was happy he was born of that kind of passion.”
Jo didn’t care if Lacey saw her cry.
“I know! All four of us were bawling our eyes out. It was the best fucking thing that ever happened in my family.” She opened her shoulder bag and took out two tissues, handing one to Jo. “George has felt little more than responsibility for his wife since she wrecked her body with booze,” she said, dabbing the remaining tissue under her eyes. “He and my mom are getting married. George asked Gabe and me if that was okay.”
“Are you okay with it?”
“I’m thrilled! We even had an engagement party. I stayed one more night, and we had the best time, grilling ribs and drinking beers. Gabe and I were up late talking, and we vented all the bullshit that’s been between us for years.”
Jo found it difficult to believe they could get over that much so fast.
“I’m sure he told you how I treated him when he was little,” she added, as if she’d read Jo’s thoughts.
Jo wouldn’t betray anything Gabe had told her in confidence.
Lacey understood her silence. “I guess he did,” she said. “I know it’s no excuse, but I got bad depression around the time Gabe was born. I felt fat and ugly, and I knew my writing was shit. And there was Gabe, this perfect, beautiful little boy. So damn smart, too. I was so fucking jealous of him.”
“Did you know he was George’s baby?”
“I’d suspected my mother was having an affair with George. And one night before Gabe was born, my father got really drunk and told me. He was crying—” She choked up and wiped new tears. “I blamed that poor kid for everything. For my mother not loving my father. For how crushed my father was. Even for my depression. And when my father couldn’t help adoring that perfect little kid, I totally lost it. I felt abandoned at a time when I really needed my father, when I gave up on writing.”
Jo put her hand on Lacey’s hand. “I’m sorry. It was a worse situation than I imagined. Do you still suffer from depression?”
She nodded. “But thank god for my husband. He’s always been there for me. Even when he should have dumped me.” Fresh tears arose.
“It’s good that you and Gabe finally talked about all of this.”
She nodded again, wiping her eyes with the soaked tissue.
“Gabe never said anything. The other day when I asked how things were going, he texted back one word: Good.”
“He has been good,” she said. “I haven’t seen him so happy since he was a young kid. Because of you. You made all of this happen.”
“Technically, we have to say Ursa did.”
“With her quarks?”
“Gabe told you about that?”
“He told me all about her. Please forgive me for calling the sheriff on that poor little girl.”
“You were right to do it. I should have, but I was mired in irrational behavior.”
“Because you love her. Let my husband help you.”
“I guess I can use any help that’s offered. What should I do?”
She pulled a phone from her purse and texted someone. When she finished, she said, “He’s out in the car. He’s coming up.”
“Your husband?”
“Yes, Troy Greenfield, your kickass lawyer.”
37
Troy, a genial, stocky man, had Jo tell the whole story right there in the hospital visitors’ lounge. He asked lots of questions and took copious notes.
When she went back to her hotel, Jo wasn’t necessarily more hopeful about her chances of getting Ursa, but she felt better because she would have fewer regrets. She would know she’d done as much as she could.
Lenora Rhodes and Dr. Shaley disappeared for several days. Now that Ursa was well enough to leave the hospital, they would decide where she would live. Three days after Lacey’s visit, Troy called Jo just before she left her hotel room. “I have good news and not-so-good