While He Built Her Home novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: The Final Reveal

Linden Court was lined with cars when Clayton turned onto it at ten to four.

He didn't park in the driveway.

He drove to the far end of the street, got out, and lifted two fingers toward the corner.

One by one, twelve trucks pulled in behind him.

They came in nose to tail along the curb, white doors facing the houses, Vaughn & Quade Homeworks printed on every one.

The crew stayed in the cabs with their arms folded.

Neighbors came out onto their porches.

"That's a lot of trucks," Phoebe said from the back seat.

"It's a lot of witnesses," Clayton said.

I had the pill bottle in my left coat pocket and the signed form in my right.

My hands were steady.

I had been afraid all week, and somewhere between the shop and this street the fear had run out.

Brynn's front door stood open.

Inside, about forty people held plastic cups of sparkling wine and talked in the low, pleased voices of donors at a party they had paid for.

A banner hung over the fireplace: THE FINAL REVEAL.

Brynn saw me from across the room and put down her cup.

She wore a cream sweater and her silver bracelet, and she crossed the carpet with both arms out.

"Val! You came. I was so afraid you wouldn't."

I let her hug me, because everyone was watching.

She smelled of vanilla.

"You look tired," she whispered in my ear. "Are you eating?"

"I'm eating fine."

"Clayton, you brought Phoebe. How lovely."

Neither of them answered her.

Jared was not there yet.

Brynn took a spoon and tapped it on a glass until the room went quiet.

"Friends, thank you for coming. Most of you know what Jared Vaughn gave this week to the Children's Fund."

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