"I've already called your father," the man interrupted. "I've asked him to come to Eden to make a statement. I assure you, your father's influence is no longer something that will play a role in this case." He looked at Xavier. "It never should have to begin with. I'll be handing the case over to the state police so that there's no question of how it's being handled. There will also be multiple internal investigations to determine how this case went so terribly wrong. I know it won't make any difference, son, but I've already submitted my resignation to the town council. It's not an excuse, but like many, I allowed misconceptions and preconceived notions to drive my handling of the situation."
Xavier didn't react to the sheriff's quasi-confession, and I didn't blame him. The man couldn't undo all the things that had happened to Xavier with a few well-chosen words. We all had to pay the price that Xavier had been paying for years. As far as I was concerned, we were all getting off scot-free compared to what he’d been put through.
"What about my mother?" Xavier asked.
"Based on your mother's medical history and the circumstances that led to that night, I don't anticipate that she'll do any jail time. I suspect James Cunningham is going to want to make sure his involvement in this case stays quiet, and that’s some pretty powerful leverage. Even if he's managed to remember the specific details of that night more clearly, I suspect by the time he gets in front of any prosecutor, his memory will have conveniently failed him, especially if he knows certain behaviors he engaged in will be brought to light. So there won't be any proof of what exactly happened in that tack room. As far as we're concerned, your father was smoking a cigar and dropped it. Xavier saved his life by getting him out of the barn. And he saved the lives of all those animals. As for this"—he held up the trophy—“it's doubtful that any DNA would've survived after all these years, so it's nothing more than a trinket that your mother took from the tack room by mistake."
The story was a stretch, but I didn't care. I just hoped that the state police shared the same viewpoint.
"Your mother asked us to bring Sara to you," Sheriff Tiegs continued. "Child protective services will be checking in on you. Protocol is to remove a child and put them in foster care, so you’ll want to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. While Xavier is currently still considered a convicted felon and it will take a while until it is proven otherwise, CPS would consider giving the child to another blood relative in this case." Sheriff Tiegs looked pointedly at me. I was glad that he'd phrased things like he had, because Sara didn't know that I was her brother yet. It sounded like she would find out sooner rather than later. But as long as she got to stay with me and Xavier, we would figure that part out.
We’d figure it all out.
Sheriff Tiegs extended his hand to Xavier. I knew it was a show of apology, but I wouldn't blame Xavier in the least if he ignored the gesture. Hell, I probably would have. But Xavier was Xavier, and he took the man's hand and shook it and nodded his head. Sheriff Tiegs got in his car and left. Xavier stood stiffly as he watched the car disappear down the driveway. I leaned down and said to Sara, "Honey, Jules made pancakes. Do you want some?"
The little girl nodded and when Jules reached out his hand to her, she took it. Uncle Curtis followed Jules and Sara into the house. I went up to Xavier and wrapped my arms around him from behind.
"It will be okay, Xavier. I promise. We'll hire her the best lawyers, and then we’ll get her better and we’ll bring her home with us. We'll be the family you should have had all along." I kissed the back of his neck and felt a sigh of relief go through him as he relaxed his body. His hand came up to cover one of the hands I had resting against his chest.
He turned around and put his hands on my face. His thumbs rubbed over my cheekbones. "The family we both should have had," was all he said and then he kissed me.
When we separated, I wrapped my arms around him and pressed my head against his chest so I could listen to his heart beating. I felt him kiss the top of my head. He was absolutely right. Neither of us had had the childhoods we should have, but somehow, we'd managed to find each other both then and now.
We were home and we were together.