Dark Justice(87)

Aunt Margie and I exchanged a smile.

“You ought to ask him if he has any male friends your age, Emily. You’re still looking for a boyfriend, aren’t you?”

Emily wagged her head. “Actually, Grand, you have no idea how many men want to date me these days. I’m kinda famous.”

“Well, of course. You’ve always been famous to me. Doesn’t mean those men are good enough for you.”

“That’s just the problem.”

I looked to Aunt Margie. “My beautiful daughter is very picky.”

My aunt lifted a shoulder. “She ought to be.”

“He likes my music, you know.” Mom took a bite of green beans.

Emily stuck out her chin. “Who?”

“Sergeant Wade.”

“Oh, yes. So I hear.”

I wasn’t sure he did like her music, but he pretended to. One time he’d even danced with my mother—the only person she’d ever allowed to do that.

We’d met Charles Wade’s wife and two children. Strange, to realize he was a husband and father. A man with his own personal life. We’d thought of him only in the context of a sergeant caught in the vortex of That Day. Charles and his family visited every once in awhile. And he would keep Emily and me up to date on the continuing investigation into FreeNow—as much as he was allowed.

I’d been quite incensed at the sergeant’s treatment during his testimony before the Home Security Committee in September. Emily and I had spent days testifying before that committee as well. I told Chairman Morse in no uncertain terms that his attitude against Charles Wade was unwarranted. Yes, the sergeant may have wrongly perceived the pounding events of That Day in February. But so had I. Were they looking for someone to blame? Blame me. If only I’d told the sheriff’s department everything from the beginning. If only I’d gone to them for help when that man broke into my house. If only I hadn’t believed Tex was a real agent turned bad, and had called the FBI.

Because of my mistakes, valuable time was lost. Maybe we could have saved the western region from going dark.

The committee did not agree that I was to blame. But in the end, they did agree that Sergeant Wade was not a part of the FreeNow organization.

“Carol,” Aunt Margie pointed to a bowl. “Would you like more sweet potatoes?”

“Oh, yes.” Mom looked so happy. “And do we have hot tea, Hannah?”

“I’ll make you some.” I left my plate and headed into the kitchen.

Mom gave a contented sigh. “‘He has provided food for those who fear Him. He remembers His covenant forever.’”

Amen to that. We were safe. We were together. And we were celebrating Christmas.

“You are so right, Grand!” Emily laughed—a delighted sound that surged warmth through my heart and lit my face with a smile.

Had Mom been playing her music, I might even have danced.