Beyond the Ashes

, the jewelry appraise

e items, she turned and saw

"Did you sell every

she sold them-they were what he owed

ut to pat her head. "You scared me.

father's memorial day, and in three years,

er father, but now she knew he

visit his grave?" She stared into his eyes, searching for any trace of remorse. If he

never made such a request before. Seeing the grief in her eye

ver in the suburbs, the same pla

in the suburbs when he slipped into the rain-swolle

as their driver and arranged for Evelyn to at

n Evelyn fel

could choose again, she would have stopped her fath

n. Evelyn spoke softly. "Aidan, how d

ate insisted I catch a frog for him. I

. Her eyes were red, her lips curled in

be amnesiac and shouldn't recall such details. "My classm

ervously, avoidin

remembered her father's kindness back

e ring broke

but Evelyn heard Dayna's excited voice on the other end. "Aida

ross Aidan's gloomy fa

ession shift, her heart

oke awkwardly. "Sorry, sweetheart, there's a

odded with a bitter smile. Of course, a

you can walk the rest of the way. I'll make you something delicious t

t he kissed until her cheek bu

cracked, followed by a torrential downp

elyn knelt before

no tears fell. "Dad, I'm leaving. I may not visit often, b

s top law firm. "I need your best team t