Chapter 43 - Death's Shroud

Laci felt the tear as it trickled down her cheek, but she did nothing to wipe it away. “Daddy? Is it really you?”

She watched as he pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dirt from his hands. “Hey, baby girl, I’ve been waiting for you.”

She ran over to her father, throwing her arms around his neck, squeezing him tightly. “God, I missed you. I’m so sorry. So sorry for not being there. For everything.” Tears flowed down her cheeks in a steady stream as her father wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she cried.

“I know, love. I know,” her dad said, doing his best to comfort her, reassure her. “It’s okay, Laci. Oh, baby girl, stop crying. Please stop crying.”

She did her best to rein in her tears, but it took a while. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought she would see her father again, and yet, here he was, his arms wrapped around her, doing his best to calm her down after everything she put him through.