After Dark by Beverly Barton

Celeste Noble’s every need. She had died peacefully in her sleep, with her daughter at her side. And Lane’s second realization was that she couldn’t continue in her marriage to Kent. They had both been miserable, and with each passing year, Kent had become more and more abusive. He had never struck her, but he had verbally tormented her, making their lives unbearable. And a part of her had lived in fear of him, never forgetting what he had once done to her
    Even though Kent hadn’t been the best of fathers, he had loved Will, and Will had adored Kent, the way little boys so often hero worship their fathers. Will’s adoration of Kent had ended the first time he overheard Kent berating her. And Kent’s love for Will had ended the day he received Sharon Hickman’s letter.
    Why couldn’t Sharon have taken their secret to her grave? Why had she felt twangs of conscience when she was dying? She might have eased her own burden of guilt by her deathbed confession, but in freeing herself, she had damned the rest of them to hell. Will. Kent. Lillie Mae. Her. And even Kent’s family.
    Lane had been taught that lying was a sin. And sins required punishment and atonement. She had never realized just how terrible the punishment would be for their lie. Or how costly the atonement.
    Will was an innocent child. The one person who shouldn’t have to suffer for the adults’ sins. But he was the one suffering the most. He was the one who stood to lose everything. He had already lost the only father he had ever known. And now, if she was arrested, put on trial for Kent’s murder and was found guilty, he would lose his mother, too.
    The distinct chime of the doorbell echoed through the quiet house. Lane rose to her feet and walked into the hallway.
    â€œI’ll see who it is,” Will called out as he emerged from the kitchen.
    She nodded agreement and turned to go back into the den. But something stopped her. A tightening in her stomach. A gut reaction warning her that something was wrong. She glanced over her shoulder as Will opened the front door.
    â€œHello,” the deep, husky male voice said. “Does Lane Noble still live here?”
    â€œYeah, but she’s Lane Graham now,” Will said. “Who are you?”
    â€œWill!” Lane screamed his name.
    When her son turned around, obviously startled by her outburst, he moved a fraction to the right, giving Lane a better view of the front porch. The tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a tan Stetson filled the doorway. He had changed. Grown older. Tiny age lines surrounded his mouth and eyes.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Mama?” Will asked.
    â€œNothing,” she replied. “This man is here to see me. You go in the kitchen and tell Lillie Mae to put on a fresh pot of coffee.”
    Hesitantly, Will obeyed her, leaving her alone to face a ghost from her past.
    â€œHello, Lane,” the man said.
    â€œHello, Johnny Mack.”

Chapter 6
    â€œW ho was that at the front door?” Lillie Mae asked.
    â€œI don’t know. Some tall guy wearing a Stetson,” Will replied. “Mama said he was here to see her and for me to come tell you to put on a fresh pot of coffee. Wonder who he is?”
    â€œTall man? Wearing a Stetson?” Lillie Mae’s heart beat in an erratic rat-a-tat-tat rhythm. Had her prayers been answered? “Black hair, dark complexion? About thirty-six?”
    â€œYeah, I guess that describes him. I didn’t get that good a look at him before Mama ran me off.”
    With his message delivered, Will turned to exit the kitchen. As his hand reached the doorknob, Lillie Mae rushed across the room and grabbed his arm. A startled gasp rounded his mouth as his gaze questioned her.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” he asked.
    â€œDon’t go in there and disturb your mama. Her business with that man is private.”
    â€œYou know who he is, don’t you?”
    She tightened