You Can't Hide by Theresa Sneed (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

On the flight, Nancy pressed her head against the seat. With all the hustle and bustle of preparing for the trip, she was ready for a nap. But, Sally seemed quite agitated, and fidgeted beside her.

“What’s wrong, Sally?”

She sighed. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Nancy sat up. “I’m sure it’s something.” She patted her on the knee.

Sally’s voice trembled. “Is it normal to not believe that this is finally going to be over?”

“Oh,” Nancy said thoughtfully. “You mean that the execution really won’t happen?”

Sally nodded, obvious fear creeping onto her face.

Nancy nodded. “Yes, I think so. When bad things happen, sometimes our brain just needs to see it resolved, before we believe it.”

Sally was quiet for a moment. “That’s what Breccan said. He said that when his cousin died last year, he kept thinking it wasn’t real—that his cousin had faked it for attention.”

“Oh,” Nancy said, “you mean that if Breccan didn’t allow himself to believe it, somehow it wouldn’t be true?”

“Yeah,” she said, swallowing. “He said he had to see him in his coffin, before he believed he was really dead. That’s crazy, huh?”

“A little,” she grinned, “but I think our brains go there sometimes, just because the truth is so hard to take.”

“So, me thinking that Merrick is not going to be executed is normal?”

Nancy nodded. “Yes.”

She sighed. “Thanks, Mom.”

Soon, it was time to land. Sam, Elle, and Sally had a connecting flight to catch and less than an hour to get to it. After quick hugs and a few tears, they parted ways. Nancy had only brought a travel bag with her, so she exited the airport, after seeing them board. She barely got to the curb, when a car pulled up beside her.

Eddie beamed, as he jumped out of the vehicle, and opened the door. “Unbelievable,” was all he could say before tearing up.

This time, he took her to his house. With the execution in three days, it seemed ridiculous to hold up in an uncomfortable hotel. Still, he made no announcements to neighbors nor friends, he just escorted his sister through the door.

She looked around. “Oh, I’ve missed this place.”

Eddie plopped down on the couch. “Y’know, Sis, you can stay here and watch it. They’re setting it up for me, because of you.”

“I can’t, I um . . . I have something to tell you.” She sat down beside him. “I’m going, Eddie. I’m going to witness the lethal injection, and I’m going to look him straight in the eye when it happens.”

“Wow.” He cleared his throat. “I think they maybe cover his head though, sis.”

“Not this time. I requested his eyes be on me.”

Eddie moaned softly. “Are you sure, Sis?”

She nodded.

“I can go with you . . .”

She was silent. “I thought about that, too, but no, this is something I have to do all by myself.”

“Alright, but, I’m going to be there, too, waiting outside.”

“Eddie,” she said firmly, but then sighed, when he scowled. There was no talking to a stubborn McKechnie—neither one of them would win that argument.

Later that evening, Eddie went to his vault. He removed a small wooden box and took out a stack of pictures that Nancy had sent to him over the years. “Finally, I get to see her again.” He tapped a photo of Sally taken that last winter.

Nancy leaned against his shoulder. “Yes, it’s finally—well, almost finally over.”

“I wonder if anyone understands the pain this man has caused us.”

“You mean outside of the family?”

He sat up. “Seriously, Sis, I’ve known about you all these years, but what about Sam’s family? And Elle’s? They have believed them dead all this time. That’s years and years of suffering.” He squeezed his knuckles so tight, they turned white. “I want to do more, than just look him in the eye.”

“Me, too, Eddie,” she said. “Death is not good enough for him.”

“No need to tuck these away anymore,” he said, and left the pictures strewn across the coffee table.

The next morning, Eddie dropped her off in the Kmart parking lot as requested. After Eddie pulled away, Wendy stepped out of the shadows. She smiled warmly and handed her the pill. “Does Sofia have to take this, too?” she asked, but before Wendy had the chance to respond, Nancy was already out.

She awoke in the same fashion, as she had those months ago, when she first visited, Lac Caché de la Beauté. But, this time she was met with quite the surprise. On her nightstand set a copy of Escape, by Ashley West.

She grabbed it and flipped through the pages. It looked so different in print—so real. Beside the book was a check made out to Elle Hadlock. Nancy gasped. She couldn’t believe it. Elle was a published author, and from the looks of it—a successful, published author.

She wasn’t sure how to get a hold of Elle to tell her the good news, but opted to wait until she saw her, after everything was over. She glanced back down at the check. Wow.

She glanced over at the clock. 10:00 am. Monday—the Ladies of the Lake. She ran a brush through her hair and dashed out the door. Half expecting to see Millie coming toward her, she was disappointed to only see the empty golf cart. With the keys dangling from the ignition, she jumped in, and took off toward the lodge.

She nearly ran up the steps and through the lodge to get to the courtyard, but once inside, slowed down and looked around. The women were in full writing mode, and she knew better than to disturb them.

Three women sat at the long, white table. She hadn’t met any of them. They looked up and smiled at her, and then returned promptly to their letters.

A folded note had her name written on it.

Welcome back, Nancy. We’ve missed you. See you later today. Warmest Regards, Sofia

P.S. Somebody Important wrote you this letter.

An envelope lay under the note addressed to Karin. She opened