Riggs had forgotten what he’d written to himself. But he chuckled as he skimmed the note.
He’d had lofty dreams of being a professional athlete, had imagined making the US Olympic team. He’d wanted fame, and women, and planned to travel the world instead of settling down.
He hissed a breath. Back then, he’d been arrogant and innocent, and full of boyish dreams.
He wasn’t that boy any longer. He was a man.
His heart tripped in his chest as he looked at Kate. He wanted different things now.
He wanted Kate and all the strings attached.
But there were too many people here to have a private chat. She was walking toward him, though, so he met her halfway. His breath caught as she clasped his hand.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “I feel badly for Roy.”
“Everybody makes their choices.” Riggs cleared his throat. “Kate, about homecoming?”
She shrugged. “I didn’t go in high school.”
He pressed her hand to his chest. “Will you be my date tonight?
A soft smile lit her eyes then she murmured yes. He was tempted to kiss her, but a commotion erupted by a row of cars in the parking lot.
Stone hurried to the scene, and Riggs and Kate arrived just in time to watch Macy slap handcuffs on Trey Cushing.
KATE’S HEART STUTTERED as Stone rushed to Macy’s side. “What’s going on?”
Macy jerked Trey’s arm and forced him to face the crowd. “I found evidence. Trey gave Ned the .38 Special he used in the shooting.”
“I didn’t know what he’d planned to do,” Trey bellowed.
“You’re still under arrest as an accomplice to murder,” Macy snapped.
Shocked whispers rattled through the alumni as Macy shoved Trey inside the back of Stone’s squad car. Stone and Macy then climbed into the front seat and sped away.
Kate sighed in relief. They finally had the answer they’d needed about Ned’s accomplice.
Billy approached, his expression contrite. “Kate?”
She tensed, but Riggs gave her arm a squeeze. “Listen to him, Kate. I think you need to hear what he has to say.”
Kate took a deep breath, then nodded at Billy. “Okay.”
Billy shifted nervously, but finally made eye contact. “Kate, I wanted to apologize to you for what I said, for blaming you for what my brother did.”
Kate softened at his sincere tone.
“I was young and stupid, and my parents blamed me so I passed the buck.” He lifted a chip that she recognized as an AA chip. “I’m sorry. Really sorry.”
The guilt Kate had lived with eased. “Thank you for saying that, Billy.”
“I’m trying to do better. Both for me and for Ned.”
A smile warmed her heart. “Good for you.”
Amy waved at her and motioned to the podium where Kate was surprised to see Jimmy standing. He looked worn and frail, but he pounded his knuckles on the podium and everyone turned to see what was going on.
“By now,” Jimmy said as the crowd hushed, “you all should have received the letters I sent.”
Kate gaped at him. Letters?
“I attended the very school you’re tearing down, and I’ve worked there for over two decades. During that time, I’ve seen good kids and some not so nice ones.” His voice shook. “I watched what you all did to Ned, how your ignored and teased him. My classmates did the same thing to me, and I never got over it.”
The mayor inched closer to Jimmy, but Jimmy raised a hand. “I ain’t here to hurt anybody. But since Kate called this reunion, I thought everyone should be reminded of who was to blame.” He pointed his finger across the crowd, one by one. “You and you and you and you...” He pressed his hand to his chest. “And now we’ve seen another boy arrested today, another boy lost. When is it going to end?”
Tears filled Kate’s eyes and she joined Jimmy on the stage. “We’re working on it, Jimmy. I promise, we’re working on it.”
KATE WAS JUST finishing dressing for the homecoming dance when her doorbell buzzed. She checked her reflection and smiled at herself in the mirror, although she wished she’d had time to buy a new dress.
Who would have ever guessed that she would finally go to homecoming with handsome Riggs Benford?
The bell buzzed again and she hurried to answer it. Instead of Riggs, Macy and Brynn were at her door. Hope budded in Kate’s heart.
Without a wheelchair ramp, Macy had helped Brynn up the porch steps.
Macy’s face crumpled and Brynn sniffed. “Can we come in and talk?” Macy asked.
Kate nodded, emotions welling in her throat, and together she and Macy assisted Brynn inside and settled her into a chair. Kate had longed to see her friends for so long that words failed her.
“Brynn called me after we arrested Trey...” Macy began.
Kate narrowed her eyes and looked back and forth between them.
“Kate,” Brynn said, “I’m so sorry.”
Kate swallowed hard. “What’s going on?”
“You weren’t the only one who received a letter of blame,” Macy said. “Brynn and I both did, and so did some other alumni. That’s one reason I came back. To find out who sent it.”
Kate rubbed her fingers together. “Jimmy did it. He wanted us all to think about how we treated each other.”
“I know.” Brynn knotted her hands in her lap. “I deserved it, Kate. It was partly my fault Ned went on that shooting spree.”
“No, Brynn, Ned was troubled. He had a head injury from childhood that caused him to have emotional issues.”
Brynn’s eyes widened. She hadn’t known.
“But I spread gossip about him to Gretta.” Brynn’s voice cracked. “It...it was stupid, but I never thought Ned would go crazy and get a gun.” Tears ran down Brynn’s cheeks. “Your mother...you lost her because of me...”
“No, she died because of me,” Macy said in a pained whisper. “Ned turned the gun on me, but your mother stepped in front of me and took the bullet instead.” A sob escaped Macy. “I’m so sorry, Kate. That’s why I left town. Your mother was so good to me, she loved me more than my own mother did. I couldn’t bear to face you. I figured you’d hate me.”
“Oh, God,” Kate murmured. “Neither one of you is at fault.” She looked at Brynn. “I thought you blamed me for putting you in that wheelchair.”
“No,” Brynn cried. “I just felt so bad about your mother, and then...”
“And you couldn’t walk,” Kate said. “I wish it had been me, Brynn, instead of you.”
“Oh, Kate, I never thought or wanted that,” Brynn said.
Her mother’s face stared down at her from the mantel. “You know, Mom wouldn’t want us blaming ourselves,” Kate said. “She’d want us to be together.”
Macy and Brynn both nodded and the three of them fell together in a group hug just like they had when they were little girls.
Nothing would ever tear them apart again.