Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 748

Kathleen's smile turned a bit strained. "Is that so? My brother-in-law is really a stand-up guy for the Gibson family..."

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, the doorbell rang.

Corley put down his fork and knife. "I'll get it," he said, heading to the front door.

A few seconds later, they heard his voice, tinged with surprise-

"Dad, what are you doing here?!"

Madge's hand, poised to grab another piece of roast beef, paused mid-air.

Norris looked a bit bewildered as he tried to piece together the family connections: Corley's dad meant Kathleen's husband, which made him Madge's brother-in-law. Neely and Geneva exchanged glances, both seeing the worry and confusion mirrored in each other's eyes.

Why had Teague shown up so suddenly?

They hadn't told him that Madge had been found...

Could Corley have let it slip?

That was certainly possible.

Kathleen, however, upon hearing Teague's voice, froze for a moment before a sardonic smile tugged at her lips.

quicker than

man wore a sharp suit with a light gray overcoat

had begun to pour outside, and in his

as if the rest of the world faded away,

decades, the one who'd

got here faster than I thought. Look who it is!

but he did gently pull his arm free

grew even brighter, though it felt brittle,

you remember? This is Teague! When you were little, you used to follow him everywhere, calling him brother. Besides our parents, he's been the one searching high and low for

Kathleen

it was to show off,

of

just

had turned the once-vibrant Madge into an everyday

the news,

come, too, and couldn't

the woman who had occupied his

have been on his way back

had managed to get here

he had driven through the night from

he that eager to see