Chapter 15
The murder charge came back in May.
Malcolm’s body had been exhumed.
Modern testing found sedatives in preserved tissue.
The same medication Dr. Pierce admitted providing Gene.
The same medication Clara said Gene used to keep Edward quiet during his final months.
Edward’s death was reopened too.
Gene’s empire cracked wider.
The family split.
Some defended her because admitting the truth meant admitting they had ignored years of warning signs.
Others came to us with apologies.
Most were too late.
Aunt Brenda tried hardest.
She brought Holly a birthday gift wrapped in gold paper.
Not expensive.
Thoughtful.
A horse-drawing kit.
The tag read:
To Holly, my niece, who deserved better from us.
Holly read it twice.
Then hugged her.
Brandon watched with wet eyes.
Healing came strangely.
In small corrected words.
Niece.
Granddaughter.
Daughter.
Family.
At Gene’s murder arraignment, she looked older.
Her makeup could not hide it.
When she saw Holly, she smiled coldly.
“Well, if it isn’t the little guest.”
Arthur stood.
Brandon stood.
I stood.
But Holly lifted her chin first.
“My name is Holly Hale.”
Gene’s smile vanished.
“And I’m not a guest anymore.”
The bailiff told Gene to keep moving.
I took Holly’s hand.
She was shaking.
But she smiled.
“Was that okay?”
May you like
I knelt in front of her.
“That was perfect.”
