26 The Meadow “Is that true?” “Nah. She was dead on impact, but, unless I miss my guess, those records are going to disappear long before the case comes to trial. The Gibsons are toast.” “I’m almost afraid to ask,” Alanna said, “but what about the brother, Dylan’s twin?” Gaelan smiled. “Alexander. He’s the bright spot in this awful mess. First year resident at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center. He’s driving up this weekend to meet the family. Don’t be surprised if he stops in to discuss burial plans for Dylan. “I wonder if I’ll recognize him.” Alannah said and Gaelan laughed. “Anyway, the department wants to thank you for helping us out, Miss Walsh.” “You can try for my first name, Gaelan. If you slip up and call me Elvira, I’ll forgive you.” He was silent for a full minute. Then he said, “Will you. Forgive me?” He had stopped walking and stared at her. “I was such a bastard to you back then.” “True. I’m working on it. Will you forgive me?” “Please, I had that coming.” “No,” she said, putting her hand lightly on his forearm. He flinched, but didn’t pull away. “You deserved something, but not that. Never that. You met my father Gaelan, surely you can tell what kind of man he is by how he talked about Evelyn and her children. That he never had anything but the deepest respect for the dead. It was his life’s work, to ease the suffering of the bereaved in whatever way he could.” Gaelan was starting to shake, but she held on tightly to his arm. Without planning it, they had come upon his mother’s grave. They were close enough to see her birth and death dates. “And he could never explain it, and I can’t either, but he believed he was meant to help the recently deceased along their path to wherever they were going next. Maybe there was some tiny shred of being left that could hear. Maybe a kind word could help the sad and wounded rest. What I said to you that day
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQ3NA==