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04

Jade was thankful for the change of subject. Reaching behind her, she picked up Libby and put her on her hip, « Oliver- meet Libby, my daughter. Libby, this Oliver. He is the Sheriff here. »

Libby cocked her head to the side and studied the man for a moment. She narrowed her eyes on him before saying, « Does your gun really work ? Cause Joey’s gun is fake and it doesn’t really work at all. It just makes a loud boom sound. »

Oliver’s grin widened, « Yes ma’am, it sure does. »

« Have you ever killed any bad guys with your gun ? » Libby asked.

« Libby, that’s quite enough questions for the Sheriff, » Jade said and sent Oliver an apologetic look.

« It’s alright Jade and to answer your question, Missy, no. So far I haven’t had to use it on any bad guys and if the good lord is willing, I won’t ever have to. »

Libby just nodded at that and Oliver waved Jade towards the courthouse, « You ready for this ? » He asked her.

Jade closed her eyes for a second and then opened them with renewed determination. « Yes, ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s just get this part over with. »

With Libby still on her hip the trio walked into the town hall and when the cool breeze from the air conditioner hit Jade’s sun warmed skin she shivered. Reality was sinking in again as she realized that she was getting ready to identify her father’s body. She did her best to hold on to her composure when all she really wanted to do was turn tail and run.

Jade, why don’t you leave Libby here with my secretary Alice, » Oliver said when they stopped at a small wooden desk. A small framed woman with short spiky hair smiled back at her and it only took a second for it to register with Jade exactly who this lady was.

« Jade Sampson ? » Alice said and stood up, coming around to the front of the desk smiling brightly.

« Alice Combs ? Is that you ? » Jade asked excitedly. It had been years since she had last since her friend and once she was gone she was too embarrassed by what Austin had done to try and contact anyone.

« Well, I’m Alice Reinhart now, » She said leaning in to hug her long lost friend, « Where in the hell have you been ? »

« Long story, » Jade breathed out. « One that is probably best told over a couple of stiff drinks. »

Alice chuckled, ‘I hear ya woman and who is this ? » She asked looking pointedly at Libby.

« My name is Elizabeth but everyone calls me Libby and I am four years old, » the little girl spoke up before Jade could say anything.

Libby stuck out her hand and Alice instantly reached for it and shook it just like she would have shaken any other adults hand. « Well Ms. Libby, it’s very nice to meet you. Would you like to sit with me for a moment and have a lolly pop while your mama goes to see something with the Sheriff ? »

Libby hesitated because she really loved lolly pops before glancing back at Jade who simply smiled. Jade then leaned over to her daughter’s ear and stage whispered, « It’s okay to stay. »

Libby clapped her hands and replied, « Yes ma’am that sounds good. »

Jade grateful for Alice’s assistance, handed over her daughter to Alice and then turned to Oliver, « Let’s do this thing already. » Seeing her father’s cold dead body was the one thing that she dreaded the most. The funeral, the estate was all just part of the motions that had to be dealt with afterwards but having to identify his lifeless body was going to be the wost part.

Oliver turned and indicated for Jade to follow him. They went down to the end of the hall and stopped at a door labeled ‘Morgue.’ « Are you sure you’re ready for this ? » Oliver asked with nothing but concern displayed on his face.

« Yes, I’m ready, » she said without any hesitation. More than anything Jade just wanted to get past this so she could go on to the next step. The sooner she cleared everything up, the sooner she could leave this town again, get away from all of the memories and more importantly away from Austin Giles. Yeah, she was definitely ready.

Jade walked out of the morgue and sank against the wall. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting but it surely hadn’t been that. The rush of the memories that assailed her, her father holding her as a little girl on his knees, him bandaging her skinned knee when she fell off her bike and him wiping away her tears after the nightmares came. So many good memories that she had forgotten, so many that she would now cherish forever.

He was gone. He has truly gone and standing in the cold hall, she dropped her face to her hands and let the tears fall. For years she held it against him the way that he had cast out Libby and she had forgotten. She had forgotten what a loving father he had been.

« Hey, » Oliver said coming out of the Morgue and shutting the door behind him. Seeing Jade, he instantly went to her and pulled her into his arms, patting her back awkwardly. « It’s going to be alright, » he soothed. « It’s going to be okay, you’ll see. »

Jade sniffed and for just a moment she stood in this man’s embrace and let him comfort her. It had been years since she had the comfort of a man and it felt kind of nice to have it again. After a few more sniffs, she stepped back from Oliver and wiped at her eyes. « Thank you, » she whispered sounding a bit ragged from her current onslaught of tears. « Thank you for understanding. »

Oliver cocked his head to the side and offered her a quirky smile. « No problem, you clearly have every right to your tears Jade. » He lifted his hand and placed it on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze of assurance. « If you need anything, and I mean anything Jade, while you are here, then come find me. I’ll be more than happy to help you out. Okay ? »

Jade found some comfort in that statement. To know that someone had her back was different for her but it was all too common here, in the small town of Hillsborough. That was one of the aspects that she had missed from small town life, the feeling of belonging and the feeling of a coalescent group. When one’s luck was down, the town rallied up behind them until they were back on their feet and in the time that had passed since she had left, that hasn’t changed.

Sighing, Jade could only nod her head. She was still a little to choked up for words and right now all she wanted was to get out of this hall and back to her daughter.

Oliver sensing this, wrapped his arms around her shoulder and started to pull her down the hall. « Come on Jade, the worst part is over. Let’s go see that pretty girl of yours. »

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