to shop did I realize my hand was

ping me out back there." I q

next door to discuss things." Edmund held the door o

the repairs. The cost has been settled, right?" I to

uch money. I'll have my assistant handle

entirely my fault. No matter the amount, I have to be

my assistant that you were rushing to the hospital that day because your mother was in critical condition. But earlier I couldn't help overhearing your conv

yes sting. He was the first person to show m

t wanting him to see

money. "Thank you. Thank you for letting me l

it, but a trace of heartache seeme

toward him. Caught off gua

the sharp sound of a g

slipped behind me and nearly c

quickly released his ho

ad and thanke

und kept reassuring me gently, urging me

understood what it truly meant to let

neral was kept

from the staff, only a handful of people a

, a white flower pinned to his chest, fa

the service, h

mediately. It was the specia

hirley's soft, sweet voice. "Colton, don't tire yourself

, occasionally glancing my way with obvi

a, something urgent came up a

ixed on my mother's photo, where she still looke

lton stood there a moment l

service, my father

nto the table in front and walked off quick

you ahead of time. Your mother deserved what she got. If you try to use th

ng over Father's words, but in

scent of cedar appeared in front o

aged me saying that since fate had brought us to

service to feel too

uld be the one who stayed

urned to the Walton house, dragged

. "Mira, in the end the Walton family owes you. Ther

the card back. "Claire, I appreciate the gesture, but I won't

ould finally sever the past completely. From this

I stepped out of

, a car screeched to

hen he saw me with the suitcase, sudden panic fla

r a guilty explanation. "I'm really sorry about the funeral. Shirley was wait

w, facing him, I felt only cold indifference. "No need to explain. Colt