“But I knew something wasn’t right. Even though he knew our word. I didn’t think about it until later thatyoudidn’t know what our word was so no one should have known what itwas.”
“I want you to listen to me very carefully. This isnotyour fault. If it hadn’t happened today, it would have happened some other day and maybe someone would have gotten hurt.” She flinched a little on the inside because someone had been hurt, but not because of anything Kaden had done. “You kept you and your sister safe. That is what’s important.Okay?”
He nodded, but she didn’t think he believed her. The guilt was going to stay with him for a long time, but she’d help him understand that there was no second-guessing the past. She pulled his head down and kissed histemple.
“What is your codeword?”
“Pipsqueak,” hesaid.
She squeezed her eyes closed as the tears started again. That had been her nickname for Sarah for as long as she could remember. She’d hatedit.
“How could he know?” Kadenasked.
At one time, Sarah had loved Eddie. She’d been excited to start a family and probably talked about all kinds of things with the man she thought was going to be their father. Including how to keep them safe from people like him. She couldn’t even begin to explain all that tothem.
“I don’t know. Maybe your mom told him that I called her that when we were little and heguessed.”
“I want to go home,” Kimbersaid.
“I know, baby.” Denise kissed her forehead. “I want to go home, too. Soon,okay?”
She laid her head down on Denise’s shoulder. “Okay.”
Denise felt the rise and fall of her back under her hand and squeezed her eyes closed, quietly blowing out a breath. Kaden rested against her shoulder and she dropped her head on top ofhis.
Chris opened the door and beckoned for her to comeout.
“Let me talk to Chris real quick and then I’ll find the doctor so we can leave,okay?”
“Okay,” Kadensaid.
She patted Kimber’s back and helped her slide off her lap onto the bed. Stepping from the room, she pulled the door closed behind her. “Is everythingokay?”
He looked down at his phone, then at her through his lashes. “I need togo.”
“Okay,” shesaid.
“I’ll try to be intouch.”
Wait. He—What? Her stomach flipped. He was leaving, leaving. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She wanted to ask him to stay. To choose her over his job, but she couldn’t. It was important to him, so she did what she did best. She sucked it up, locked it down, and pretended to bestrong.
She opened her eyes. “Okay.”
He stared at her, opened his mouth and closed it again, then said, “Okay.” He turned and walkedaway.
She took a bracing breath before going back into the room. A hand on her arm spun her around and he grasped her face and kissed her. His tongue delved deep as he pulled her close. She went up on her toes and inhaled sharply through her nose. She wanted it to go on forever and it ended toosoon.
He released her and stared at her for several heartbeats. “I love you.” Then heleft.
She gaped after his retreating back. Turning in a half-circle, she looked at the guard trying his best not to smile or look directly at her. She threw up her hands. “What the hell am I supposed to do withthat?”
Chapter 26
Denise checkedthe caller ID on the phone before answering. Only a few people had the number at the cabin, but they still got random calls from solicitors. She smiled when she saw thename.
“Hey. How’reyou?”
“Funny,” Bree said. “That’s the same question I was going to ask you. I feel like I haven’t talked to you inforever.”
