Gone Before the First Snow のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 27

The slap sent Spencer staggering into the wall, spots swimming before his eyes.The grief and fury in Nadine's voice left him frozen. He couldn't even bring himself to look her in the eye.His silence told her everything.Nadine had known something wasn't right about Hailey's death. But she'd never imagined her own son could be to blame.She stared at Spencer, who didn't even try to defend himself. The anger in her eyes slowly gave way to disbelief, then bitter disappointment.She was trembling all over, her voice rising to a shriek. "How could you? How could you be so stupid? This is Hailey we're talking about! Have you forgotten that she saved your life?"Have you forgotten how you risked getting in trouble at school just to be with her? You promised me you'd take care of her for the rest of her life! How am I supposed to face her parents when I see them on the other side?"His mother's grief-stricken accusations were more than Spencer could bear. The last of his strength dese

There were 26 pages in all, each filled with printed text messages. Black-and-white photos appeared among the messages, stirring memories of the past few months.He examined the pages one by one, his eyes drawn to the photos first. He recognized every single one. Many of the originals were still on his phone, which he'd left switched off since shutting himself away after the funeral.By the time he reached the last photograph, a strange tingling had spread through his temples. It wasn't painful, but somehow, the sensation snapped him out of his daze.Spencer gathered up the scattered pages and struggled to his feet. He stumbled back to the bedroom, turned on the light, and found the phone he'd tossed into a corner.He plugged it in and held down the power button. Hailey's photo was still on his lock screen, and her birthday was still his passcode.But when he opened his photo gallery, he found barely a dozen pictures of them together, all taken before September. There wasn't a sin

Candace came downstairs, dragging a large suitcase behind her. The moment she saw Spencer waiting, she hurried over and threw herself into his arms."Spencer, I thought you were still angry with me. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. Thank you for giving me another chance."The strong fragrance wafting from her hair made Spencer's stomach turn again. He fought back the urge to vomit and said nothing.He took her suitcase in one hand and slipped his other arm around her waist, guiding her slowly toward the car.Candace glanced down at his arm, her heart fluttering with excitement. A blush crept into her cheeks.In the five months they'd known each other, Spencer had rarely initiated physical affection. She took it as a sign that he'd finally put his grief behind him and was ready to be with her.Unable to contain her excitement, she spoke up. "Have you been eating properly? You've lost so much weight I barely recognize you. It breaks my heart to see you like this."Sp

The other side of Candace's face began to swell almost immediately.She knew there was no reasoning with Spencer now. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing human left in him.But she wasn't about to die here. Not for a woman she'd only met a handful of times.Fear for her life gave Candace a sudden burst of strength. She wrenched herself free of his grip and fought back, sinking her teeth into him and tearing at his flesh.She screamed, "Hailey killed herself! Why the hell should I have to die for her? Why? She's the one who gave up. She's the one who chose to end her life. What's that got to do with me?"All I did was tell her the truth. If I hadn't, you'd have kept her in the dark for the rest of her life! She couldn't walk, her future was ruined, and she'd have spent the rest of her life with a cheating husband who lied to her face!"Can you imagine anything more pathetic? I saved her from that! Can't you see? Without me, she'd still be suffering, believing every disg