Leave Me Love (Call Me Cat Trilogy #2)(37)

We were talked out by the time our statements were taken and Detective Gray finally released us. Bridgette and I hugged again and then her parents showed up, both teary-eyed and elated that their little girl was okay. I steered clear, still hurt by Mr. Beaumont's feelings for me after all these years and instead went to the back porch to talk to Professor Cavin, who had been called since this was his property.

"I'm so sorry this all happened here," I told him. "I know this is a special place for you."

He gave me a half hug and smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm just so glad you're okay. This place, it's over for me. Too much death here, anyways. First the cat, then this."

I turned to him, my heart skipping a beat. "The cat? My mom's cat? It died here?"

"Yes," he said distractedly, pointing to a tree hidden in the rainy night. "Buried right over there. She even made a little tomb for him with sticks and rocks."

"What did she call it, the cat?"

Cavin shrugged. "She just called him Cat."

I ran out to the yard, rain drenching me, my heart pounding, ears buzzing. It couldn't be. It would be impossible. Ridiculous.

I found the stones and dug them out, using a stick to dig through the dirt until it hit something hard.

A box.

I pulled it out, brushing off the mud and shielding it with my body as I opened it.

I prepared to see the remains of a cat, but instead I found a roll of battered papers wrapped in rubber bands. I opened them up and they were all in my mother's writing. Forcing myself to breathe, I read through the first page and froze. On the front it read: The Davenports will be responsible for my death. Someone has to get close to them and find out the truth.

I tucked the papers into the pocket of my jacket, pushed rocks and dirt back over the grave hoping the rain would settle it, and rushed over to where everyone else was just starting to come out.

Ash hugged me. "What's going on? Are you okay?" He looked over to the tree.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just thought I was going to be sick. But it passed."

"We should get you home. You're soaking wet and freezing. You've been through so much."

I rested my head on his chest and looked at the ring on my right hand, then pulled it off and held it up.

"Ash, I've decided."

He looked down, seeing the ring and froze. "Yes?"

I slipped the ring onto my left hand. "I will marry you."



THE END