No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 167



Herschel froze in his tracks so suddenly I thought he might stumble.

I quickly reached out to steady him. "Herschel..."

He turned to me, a shadow crossing his face. "Felicia, why would you ask something like that out of the blue?"

I wanted to mention what Ernest had told me but couldn't bring myself to share it with Herschel. I brushed it off, "Just a random question, that's all." The usual warmth had drained from Herschel's face, leaving him solemn and, quite frankly, a bit intimidating.

"Felicia, your parents' accident was just that—an accident. I was there, I saw it all. There are police reports and everything to prove it," Herschel said heavily.

I hadn't been to the scene of the accident. Herschel had spared me from it, not wanting me to see something so grim. But that choice had left me with a lifetime of unanswered questions.

"If you're having doubts, or you don't believe me, you can check the records for yourself," Herschel's complexion turned ashen, the joviality gone from his voice.

I knew how close he had been to my father, almost like brothers. Bringing up my parents' death must have reminded him of the tragedy, causing him pain.

"No need, I believe you. It was just a

searching for something. For a moment, I thought he might say more, but

a heavy sigh, he said, "Felicia, why don't you go on ahead? I need a moment to

me but suddenly changed his mind. My heart felt heavy.

fine, really. Go on," Herschel

lost in thought. Something about Herschel's reaction didn't

took me a while to finally

al

found Jacqueline chatting with Ernest. I had worried they might not get. alongor that Jacqueline might give Ernest a hard time, but

have even Jacqueline, who was initially

I descended the

She would run up to me and call me 'mom.' I used to say how wonderful it would be if she were my own. Her mom the joked about arranging a marriage with my Rad or young Dustin. Given Dustin was a bit older, we

time I'd heard why I was betrothed to

immediately said she'd marry young Conrad without a hint of shyness," Jacqueline laughed, sharing the

Ernest making her laugh; it was her

asking the boys to carry

as