It was less than an hour later when Isla’s disfigured body was found. Only Nathan knew what had happened—that she’d died trying to get away from him, plunged off the cliff without even knowing it was there.
She was dead.
And he had no one but himself to blame.
CHAPTER 25
Reagan knelt down, a bouquet of Isla’s favorite white roses in hand, the same flowers she bought every week. Using her fingers she brushed flecks of icy snow from Isla’s headstone until it was clean again. It was the least she could do.
The last five months hadn’t been easy. She’d watched her brother confess, her mother break down in a childish tantrum inside the courtroom, and the town gossips chatter about her “tainted” family. An eccentric mother and a murderous brother. All the hoopla had Reagan considering how much easier life would be if she moved away again.
But she didn’t.
Her mother had stopped speaking to her, preferring instead to look past her like she didn’t exist whenever the two were in the same room. The last time they exchanged words, Sallie had called her the kind of names a daughter imagined weren’t part of her mother’s vocabulary. Of course, Sallie wasn’t an “average” mother, and Reagan was the farthest thing from her favorite child.
The snap of hardened snow crunching beneath the weight of a heavy boot caused Reagan to turn. Evan. She placed the flowers below the center of the headstone and stood.
“Hey,” she said.
“It’s good to see you.”
“You too.”
“How have you been?”
“All right,” she said. “You?”
“Same.”
“I thought you were the one bringing her flowers every week.”
“It’s not much, not even close to what she deserves. I … hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind? Why would I?”
“With everything that’s happened, I wasn’t sure,” she said.
“Is that why you’ve been avoiding me—why I never saw you in the courtroom?”
“I never know when my presence will incite some kind of emotional outburst from my mother, so I figured it was best if I wasn’t there. Easier, you know? To see the pain in your parents’ eyes and know it was placed there by my brother, and nothing I could ever possibly say could remove it … it’s just easier for me to stay away.”
“It’s not your fault, Reagan. If it wasn’t for you, we may have never known what really happened. What you did—I can’t imagine how difficult it was—even if it was the right thing. Don’t you think they appreciate you for what you did—that I appreciate you?”
“Your family has suffered so much pain,” she said. “I didn’t want to cause any more of it.”
“You haven’t. You never could.”
“You don’t have to be so nice. Truly, my family has been—”
“I’m not talking about your family, Reagan. I’m talking about you.”
“I should go. I’m sure you want some time alone with your sister.”
Reagan placed a hand on Evan’s shoulder as she walked past. He snatched it in his, pulling her back. “Don’t go, Reagan. I’ve come here so many times, sat in my car after I visited, hoping I’d see you here one day, that we’d have the chance to talk. Now that you’re here, I can’t let you go.”
CHAPTER 26
Two Years Later
Reagan stood in front of an oval mirror, admiring the twenty pounds she’d shed in the last thirty days a whole lot more than the white, strapless Vera Wang gown she was wearing. Sure, she still had a little extra “junk” in some hard-to-lose places, but the dress fit perfectly. And she felt stunning in it.
Nothing could spoil her day.
Not today.
What had started as an unfortunate tragedy matured into an eternal bond. Two people connecting through loss and the mutual desire never to take life for granted. To make each moment count. She almost laughed as she realized she’d broken her own rule, choosing to marry before she turned thirty. But it was worth it. He was worth it.
“You ready?”
Reagan looked over, nodded. Brand extended his arm, and she took it.
“You … uhh … look beautiful, Reagan,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Together they walked down the hall into a simple room adorned with vases of white roses, where only their closest friends and family were waiting. Evan gasped when he saw her and reached out his hand. She took it, and he pulled her close, whispering, “I love you, Reagan” in her ear.
She smiled as she clutched his hand. “I love you too.”
Thirty minutes later, it was official. She was Mrs. Reagan Everley.
Later that evening when Brand clinked a fork to his glass and all the glasses in the room were raised, Reagan stood first, dedicating the day to Isla’s memory.
And this time, everyone in attendance lived to tell about it.
THE END
For a sneak peek of the first chapter of the author’s newest release, Hush Now Baby (Sloane Monroe Series #6), click HERE.
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All of Cheryl Bradshaw’s novels are heavily researched, proofed, edited, and professionally formatted by a skilled team of professionals. Should you find any errors, please contact the author directly. Her assistant will forward the issue(s) to the publisher. It’s our goal to present you with the best possible reading experience, and we appreciate your help in making that happen. You can contact the author through her website by clicking HERE.
About Cheryl Bradshaw
Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She currently has two series: Sloane Monroe mystery/thriller series and the Addison Lockhart paranormal suspense series. Stranger in Town (Sloane Monroe series #4) was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist for Best PI Novel of the Year, and I Have a Secret (Sloane Monroe series #3) was a 2013 eFestival of Words winner for best thriller novel. To learn more:
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Books by Cheryl Bradshaw
Sloane Monroe Series
Black Diamond Death
Murder in Mind
I Have a Secret
Stranger in Town
Bed of Bones
Hush Now Baby
Addison Lockhart Series
Grayson Manor Haunting
Rosecliff Manor Haunting (Coming Soon!)
Till Death do us Part Novella Series
Whispers of Murder
Echoes of Murder
Boxed Sets
Sloane Monroe Series (Books 1-3)
Sloane Monroe Series (Books 4-5)
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
About Cheryl Bradshaw
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Books by Cheryl Bradshaw
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Echoes of Murder (Till Death do us Part Book 2) Page 7