“It is, but, Trace, don’t do anything you might regret later.”
“I won’t regret it. I’ve got another child to think about, too. His judgment is whacked, and it led to this. I can’t stay with him.”
Sam couldn’t picture her sister without the brother-in-law who’d been in their lives since Sam was in high school.
“I know you love him,” Tracy said.
“We all do. When I think of him, the first thing I remember is how he came into your life and Brooke’s and never blinked an eye about becoming her father.”
Tracy was crying too hard to speak for a moment. “I’ll always love him for that and a million other things… But this… I can’t live with this. I told him it was a huge mistake, and he said I was being dramatic. He wouldn’t even listen to my point of view. How do I go forward with him after that?”
“Consider this… Even if you’re not with him, he can still allow them to do things you wouldn’t approve of.”
“Not if I sue him for full custody of Ethan and Abby.”
“Tracy…”
“I have to go. The doctor is coming to talk to us.”
The line went dead. Sam held the phone in her hand for a long moment as she processed what Tracy had said. Not only did she plan to leave Mike, but she was going to sue him for full custody of the kids. What would’ve been unfathomable to her days ago was now her sister’s reality.
Freddie returned to the office. “What’s wrong?”
“I talked to Tracy just now.”
“Is Ethan okay?”
“He’s doing as well as can be expected, but Tracy… She said she’s leaving Mike and suing for custody of the kids.”
“What?”
“My feelings exactly. I can’t imagine a world without them as a couple. He’s been in my life since I was a freshman in high school. He’s… Well, he’s the big brother I never had, you know?”
Freddie closed the office door and took a seat. “I know he is. Do you think she’ll go through with it?”
“She’s so angry. I’ve never seen her like this. Apparently, Mike totally blew her off when she expressed concerns about letting Ethan go out with his friends. She said he was too young for that kind of responsibility, but Mike was okay with it. And once Ethan knew that, there wasn’t much Tracy could say.”
“Their united front was breached.”
“Yes, exactly. And now everyone in their lives knows Ethan was missing, and his name will forever be tied to Luna’s death, even though he had no direct role in it. How does she not blame Mike for all of it?”
“Playing devil’s advocate here… Someone else is responsible for Luna’s death, not Mike.”
“But if Ethan hadn’t been allowed out unsupervised, he never would’ve met Brecken or his father and wouldn’t be tied to this whole nightmare.”
“That’s true, but Mike didn’t kidnap them or murder Luna. I hope Tracy is able to see that forest for the trees.”
“It was a crime of opportunity, Freddie. Mike gave Ethan the opportunity to be caught up in something like this, which was exactly what Tracy was afraid of when she objected to him having that kind of freedom at eleven.”
After a long moment of quiet, Freddie said, “Elin is pregnant.”
Sam gasped. “That’s amazing news! Congratulations.”
“I’m terrified. I was on my way home to tell her I thought we shouldn’t have kids after everything we’ve learned during this case. And then… she told me…” His chin wobbled ever so slightly.
Sam got up, walked around the desk and leaned over to hug him tightly. “You’ll be an amazing father, and Elin will be an awesome mother.”
“What’ll we do when our eleven-year-old wants the same freedom all his friends have?”
