Garnet (Gems of Wolfe Island)

I know how she’s feeling. God, I’ve been there. There were times I wanted to die. There were times I wanted to die the most horrific death possible as payment for the inability to save my friends.

So I get it. I get it more than Aspen knows. But I moved through it, and she must move through it as well.

Finding the person who ultimately tried to destroy her isn’t worth her life.

But I can’t think about that now. I have to be strong for Aspen. I have to accompany her into her parents’ home, where they won’t know me.

They don’t want to see me. They want to see Aspen.

But if she needs me, I’ll be there. Maybe she’ll be comfortable enough that I can leave, wait in the car.

We both exit the car and walk up to the front door.

She turns to me. “What if they’re not home?”

“It’s Sunday. Where would they be?”

“At church?”

“Are your parents big churchgoers?”

She bites her lip again, and then she shakes her head. “On Easter. Christmas Eve. That’s about it.”

“Then they’re probably here today.” I raise my fist to knock on the door.

She grabs it.

“We’ll take all the time you need,” I say. “We can stand here for as long as you want.”

But behind the door, a dog barks.

So it will only be a matter of time until someone—

The door opens.

The woman—only slightly shorter than Aspen and wearing jeans covered in an apron—gasps as the dog—a Golden Retriever—continues to bark.

“Hi, Mom.” Aspen’s voice shakes, but just a little.

“Hush, Ricky,” the woman says to the dog. Then she pulls Aspen into an embrace. Tears squeeze from her closed eyes. “Oh my God, baby tree. Thank God you finally came home.” Then she looks over her shoulder. “Darnell! Hurry! She’s home! Our baby tree is home!”

Baby tree? Seems to me she said she wasn’t named after the Aspen trees. Perhaps the nickname means something else.

The woman—most definitely Aspen’s mother—doesn’t let go.

A few seconds later, a muscled older man, graying at the temples and with slightly darker skin than both Aspen and her mother, walks out briskly from what appears to be a kitchen.

“Lisa? She’s really— Oh my God!”

I lean against the wall next to the open door, trying to blend in with the surroundings. Of course I never blend in anywhere. I’m huge.

But I’m not as huge as Aspen’s father. The man’s clearly in his late fifties or early sixties, but he’s got a few inches on me and shoulders even broader than mine. This is where Aspen got her athletic ability. From this man.

Aspen’s father—Darnell, apparently—looks me up and down. “Who the hell are you?”

Yeah, so much for fading into the woodwork. Never works for me. I take a few steps forward and hold out my hand. “Buck Moreno. I’m Aspen’s security.”

His eyes widen slightly. “Who hired you?”

“The Wolfe family.”

“The Wolfe family? Who kept my daughter against her will for—”

I get the feeling I shouldn’t interrupt this bear of a man, but I do anyway. “That was their father, Derek Wolf. His children had nothing to do with that. In fact, they’re doing everything they can to make sure all the women harmed by their father heal, including your daughter.”

He scowls. “Sure. Tell them to expect a lawsuit soon.”

“No need to file any lawsuit,” I say. “They’ll give you whatever you need. They’ll give Aspen whatever she needs. They take this responsibility seriously.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.”

I’ve overstepped my bounds a little. I have no idea if the Wolfe family is willing to pay off the families of the victimized women. Still, I don’t want this guy suing the Wolfes. They’re good people.

Aspen finally disentangles herself from her mother. “No, Daddy. I don’t want you to sue the Wolfes. None of this was their fault.”

“I would be doing it for you, little tree.”

“They’ve given me everything I need. Endless therapy, a place to live, money until I can make a living on my own.”

“You shouldn’t have to work another day in your life after what you’ve been through,” Darnell growls.

“For God’s sake, Darnell,” Lisa says. “Our daughter is home. Let’s focus on that. She’s home. She’s alive. And she looks… Little tree, you look beautiful.” She sniffles and then turns to me. “What did you say your name was? Buck?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Thank you for bringing Aspen back to us. But if you don’t mind…”

“No, Mama. I want him to stay.”

“But little tree, we have so much to talk about. Your room is just as you left it. We didn’t change a thing.”

“Oh, Mama…”

“We just couldn’t. We always wondered… We never lost hope… Everyone else told us to accept the fact that you were dead, but I knew better. A mother knows in her heart.”

Darnell clears his throat. “I just started a new pot of coffee in the kitchen, if either of you would like some.”