Beyond the mountains

The truth

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year.

Amy Beth, is having a celebration in a couple of weeks, because she has signed the final adoption papers. The twins are doing well, and Travis is doing excellent in school,

Everyone is happy and feels settled.

Jenny, is doing well for herself, she started a new job at the clinic, as a CNA.

I’m very proud of her.

I’m almost finished with my cosmetology classes, Ben said, when I get my license from the beauty academy, he’s going to help me open my own shop..with the help of his parents of course.

Ben, and Melissa both, are coming home for summer break.

I’m excited to spend the summer with them.

The investigation is still going on for my mother..it just seems like we are never going to get my father and Rachel to confess, we know, they know something.

It bothers me everyday, but I keep on living my life...waiting for answers.. but my mother would want me to keep on with a peaceful life and enjoy every second of it.

My Grandparents are flying in next weekend to join the adoption celebration, and I have to drive to the airport this afternoon to pick Ben up, I cant hardly wait until I get to see him.

Laura will drive up and pick Melissa up tomorrow, I can’t believe my whole family gets to celebrate with us.

I’ve been sitting here at the airport for about thirty minutes waiting on Ben to get off the airplane.

My phone started ringing..it’s Jenny,

“Hello”...Bethy, where are you?

I’m at the airport, what’s up?

A detective called Amy Beth, and she said for me to call you and tell you that she needs to talk to us ASAP.

I’ll, be there as soon as I pick Ben up.

What now! I thought to myself.

Ben, knocked on my passenger side window and startled me.

“Ben”!...I jumped out of the car and jumped in his arms. I’m happy you’re finally here.

He handed me a beautiful rose he’d bought from the gift shop inside the airport.

Hi Baby! He said as he twirled me around.

We got in my car and I told him I had to go see Amy Beth before we went to pick his truck up.

We arrived at the house and Amy Beth came running out to meet us.. “hurry” I have news she said...I started jogging toward her.

We came in the house, Jenny was sitting on the couch just as confused as I was.

What’s up? I ask. She wanted us to set down so she could tell us what’s going on.

We got a confession she blurted out.

I was blank for a second, ...it hit me like a tone of bricks all at once...I jumped to my feet and screamed..who! dad, Rachel?

Which one confessed?

You’re Dad! She said...he told them that he wanted to talk...and Rachel said she knows nothing.

I was excited and sad at the same time..something in me always wanted for her to come out of hiding someday..even though I knew deep down that day would never come.

We have to go in the morning to talk to a Detective Martin. He said he gave a full confession, and he told them if they would give him a plea bargain, he would tell where her remains are..

At that second I was sick to my stomach, I ran to the bathroom to throw up.

A knock on the bathroom door with Bens Voice, on the other side.

Bethy, are you alright? Do you need me to come in?

I opened the door and fell into his chest, I cried harder than I’ve ever cried in my life.

Later that night as we was sitting around the kitchen table talking about everything,..we heard a knock on the door...it was Melissa and Laura.

Amy Beth had told Laura first thing, and Laura sent John to go get Melissa a day early.

Granny and Grandpa! I said..We need to call them.

Amy assured me that she had already called them, and they got in touch with our brother Mark.

My brother had been gone for many years, I didn’t blame him though.. it’s hard to tell what kind of person he would have been, if he’d stayed here being raised by our father.

Mark was in the military, he sent his love.. he was over seas, and wasn’t able to be here. We all understood.

Ben’s parents came over and told us they could represent us in this, but they would help in any way they could, they could give legal advice and moral support.

They also had outstanding reputations, and also had some high class lawyer friends, that could represent us in this.

I couldn’t sleep at all, I tossed and turned all night long.

Amy Beth came and crawled in the bed beside me and never spoke. Her just being there, was a comfort to me.

When day light started peeking through the curtains, I was already laying there awake.

I decided to get up and get some coffee, before anyone else woke up. While I was pouring a cup, Travis came into the kitchen and took a seat at the table, I walked over and set down in front of him and reached out and took his hand...are you okay?

He just kept looking at me shaking his head. Travis, I sad. I know you don’t remember mom..but I want you to know she loved you very much, and we will get through this together.

He just smiled at me, and walks over and hugged me...I told him that I wanted him to stay home today with the twins...I don’t want you kids worrying about anything else.

Laura will be staying here with you today. He agreed with me as he walked back to his bedroom.

I just set there a while longer before I decided to get dressed.

I called Ben on our way there and ask what time he would be there, he said him and his parents was already pulling in and that he’d see me in a few minutes.

We had to meet my grandparents there also.

The Detective came out and ask us to come into his office, he introduced himself and took a seat, he had the confession in his hand. He told us that my father had also turned over on Rachel and told about her involvement in murdering my mother.

My Grandparents was taking it so hard, I was having a hard time seeing them, as they had to set there and hear about what my father had told about that night...the details of what those two monsters had done to their daughter, ..my beautiful mother.

He had also told them where they had buried her body.

We had been there about an hour when Detective Martin got a phone call.

They had found her remains, right where my father said they would be..in a grave beyond the mountain, up above the water falls.

They place my mother once played as a child, the one place where she felt safe enough to run and hide from the abuse..the place where for many years now, she’s laid in a grave, hidden away from her kids, her family and friends.

I almost feel relieved, I feel like we can get closure now..we have her remains back with us, something real, something we can see...we can lay her to rest now, close to her family, her loved ones.

The trial is over now, my father and Rachel both received life and a day in prison.

They will die there...

I have found my peace with all of this.

I still have bad feelings for what we went through, for my mothers brutal murder..but for my own sole I have to find forgiveness in my heart for them..that’s the one thing I won’t let them take from me.