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.

my arm through his. "No need, I believe

a

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

had planned to come downstairs with me but suddenly changed his mind. My

fine, really. Go on," Herschel

downstairs. Instead, I leaned against the wall, lost in thought. Something about Herschel's reaction didn't sit right with me, though

a while to finally

al

they might not get. alongor that Jacqueline might give Ernest a hard time, but hearing her laughter eased my

something amusing to have even Jacqueline,

descended the stairs

child. 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

first time I'd heard why I was betrothed to

Felicia immediately said she'd marry young Conrad without

Ernest making her laugh; it was her own stories,

to carry her on

as if he knew me