Chapter 13Lina
Desolately, Lina knelt in front of what had been the heart of Hans and Annemarie’s home until her tears were spent. Emery attempted to talk to her, but Lina didn’t listen, focusing instead on Emery’s hand as it rested lightly on her shoulder. It was the warmth of this hand that tethered her to the here and now when all else screamed for her to just crawl into a hole and die. And it was the sudden absence of this hand that prompted her to rouse herself from the stupor she was falling into.
“Emery? Don’t go, please? I cannot stay here, not with everybody gone. I regret imposing on you again, but would you be so kind as to take me back to town with you?”
“Of course.”
Hearing the relief in Emery’s voice, Lina managed a grateful smile.
The walk back to Emery’s Auto was a dif
