Page 19 (1/2)

Once the truck was in the garage, Weston turned off the engine and pushed the garage door button We walked down the hallway to find Peter and Veronica sitting at the table Peter was in a dark gray suit with a black tie, and Veronica was in a beautiful black dress with a black belt

She stood and crossed the tile floor, her heels clicking with each step She hugged her son for severalher nose with a tissue "Where have you been?" She wasn’t angry, but she was clearly emotionally drained Her eyes scannedaround lanced back atfor permission to continue

"The hospital," I said "I was asked to give a blood sample"

Weston took my hand "They requested an autopsy for Alder She isn’t Sahter"

His parents weren’t surprised

"We heard," Veronica said

"Is it true?" Peter asked "Sam and Jillian just left here"

"Left here?" I asked

Veronica sniffed "They’ve suffered the uniain I’m not sure if I’m just exhausted, orshe has Jillian’s eyes, Peter Don’t you think?"

Peter shook his head "Veronica Don’t get the girl’s hopes up"

I frowned "Getto win? Do you really think this would be a good thing?"

Veronica and Peter looked at each other, then Weston, then at me "Sam and Julianne are wonderful people, Erin If it’s true, you’ll have a whole new, a family to look forward to," Peter said

"If it’s true, that hteen years with them I’m not sure I want it to be true For me or for them"

Veronica crossed her arms across her stomach, and Peter put his ar Weston and ht, Erin It’s a horrible situation for all of you We’re so sorry"

I shookday"

"Of course it has, honey," she said, leaving her husband’s ar out for lanced over at Weston, atching his mother with a look in his eyes that appeared to be a coo with a s downstairs," Weston said