G.’s expression and determination set in. He would do anything it took to fulfill her dying wish. Hers would be one grave he wouldn’t stand over with regret. His gaze slid to Rachel. A slow red stain spread over her cheeks. She shook herself, glanced at him with wide, panicked eyes and then began to sputter, “Mom G. I…can’t— You can’t possibly expect…” Josh tightened his fingers around Rachel’s. She ignored him. “We can’t make a promise like that.” Josh applied more pressure. “Rachel, we can do this,” he said with deliberate slowness. Her head snapped toward him, her expression thunderous. “What?” He was not going to argue with her in front of Mrs. G. It was bad enough that she was balking. He refused to subject Mrs. G. to the tempest that was about to explode. Because, like it or not, he was going to make sure she agreed. He couldn’t let her live with the kind of regret that plagued him. He lifted Rachel’s hand away from Mrs. G.’s. “We need to discuss this outside.”
