knife and cut my hand. She said my blood on the boat would make it seem as if I
was hurt. It would help explain why I drowned. Our goodbye was cold, and I knew the woman I had fallen in love with was no longer there. Not that it mattered. I didn’t leave for her, but rather, to keep you both safe.”
Looking haggard, Elliott ran his hand through his shaggy hair. “It turned out
Eliza was right in her plan. When the boat was found overturned with my blood
smeared on it, looking like I had struggled to live, everyone believed it to be true.”
“It was very convincing,” I replied bitterly.
“At first, I just hid in the Starten Forest where I could watch over you all,”
Elliott said, his eyes shying away from me. “Eliza played the stricken widow perfectly. It was difficult to watch, but the thought of actually leaving you girls
was even more painful.”
“So why did you leave?” Gram asked tersely.
“A few times, I was close to being caught. It made me realize I needed to leave town, so I had a secure place to plan my return. I settled in Great Winds.
It’s a small town where people never settled long enough to question me, but plenty of information still comes into town about the Drygens. When rumors
about your mother's remarriage and her recent return to Starten reached me, I knew it was time for me to come back."
With a look of shame, he turned towards Gram. “Mae, I wish I had told you
everything. If I could have changed the way things happened, I would have.”
Unable to finish his apology, he wearily laid his head into the palm of his hands.
I wanted to question him more, but Gram stared hard at me. It was as if she
were willing me to keep silent. I instinctively obeyed.
“We can't worry about what should have happened. You are here now. Cole,
move your things out of Elliott's room. For the time being, you can sleep in Meg's bed,” Gram said firmly.
With a look of surprise, Elliott responded, “No, I couldn't impose. I can get a
room at Miss Adilene's boarding house.”
“You are not leaving these girls again. Your clothes are still hanging in the back of the closet. You look about the same size, so they will fit.” Gram stood
up, signaling there would be no more discussion. “It has been a long day, Elliott.
I think it’s best for us all to get some rest. We can talk more in the morning.”
With a relieved look on his face, he said, “Thank you, Mae.” Turning from
her, he reached across the table and rested his hand on mine. “Can you give me a
chance to be a father to you again?”
Confused, and wanting him to be my father more than anything, I squeezed
his hand and said, “I'm glad you’re home. I have missed you.”
“I'll make it up to you, Caterpillar,” he said. “I promise.”
Chapter
Seventeen
Cole relocated his things to my room. When he disappeared to
organize Meg’s side of the loft for himself, my father went into his
old bedroom to sleep.
Once we were alone, I softly began firing questions at my grandmother, “Do
you think he’s really my father, or is this just a trick? Will we be safe? What are
we going to do?”
Putting both her hands on my shoulders, she just stared into my eyes. After a
