He seems torn, partly because he’s upset with her and shouldn’t want to find her. But he still loves her. It’s not something that just shuts off in a day.
“You sure?” Nathan asks.
I tell him that I am and pass him the keys to my Jeep.
I’m glad that Melody called Dr. McKee’s daughter. It proves she has some compassion, after all. And although we don’t know much about the real Melody Blackstone, I hope Nathan can find her. I hope she’s still alive.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
AFTER NATHAN LEAVES, I GOsit on one of the chairs, and Nicole’s boyfriend—husband, I decide when I see his wedding ring—comes to sit in a chair one down from me. He watches Marie and Nicole talk, their voices quieter. He’s intense, like at any second he’ll jump up to defend his wife.
“The picture was one he found in storage,” Marie says. “He had no idea it was connected to you. He didn’t remember.”
I can’t believe she won’t tell her. I don’t know the reason, but I refuse to sit here and let it happen. I won’t be her accomplice. Not anymore.
“She’s lying,” I call out, and they all turn to me.
“Stay out of this, Tatum,” Marie says harshly.
“No,” I tell her defiantly, and then turn to Nicole. “Your dad,” I say. “He did remember. He told me the first time I was here that his daughter took that picture.” I motion to where it hangs on the wall. “And before he died, he asked Marie to call you.” My eyes drift to Marie, and she crosses her arms over her chest, her expression pleading for me to be quiet. “She told him no,” I finish.
Nicole turns on her fiercely. “Why would you do that?” she demands, hurt in her voice. “Why wouldn’t you let him talk to me?” Marie doesn’t answer, and Nicole tightens her jaw. “It’s time to stop bullshitting me, Marie! You can’t really think I’m this stupid.”
Marie watches her, softening, and shakes her head. “Of course I know you’re not stupid.” The kindness in her voice seems to annoy Nicole more than anything.
“Then tell me what the fuck was going on here,” Nicole says.
The phone on the desk rings. Marie glances at it and then back to Nicole. “I need to take that in my office,” she says briskly. “Wait here.”
Nicole tilts her head as if asking if she’s serious, and Marie darts her gaze between Nicole and Deacon before pulling open the door for the back offices. When she’s gone, Nicole looks at Deacon in disbelief.
“Not much changes,” he says.
“Apparently not,” Nicole replies. “Marie lies as easily as she breathes.”
Nicole sits in the chair between me and Deacon and presses her palms together before bringing them to her lips, staring at the office door. Lost in a thought. It’s almost like she forgets she’s not alone.
I cross my legs to get more comfortable, and she jumps and looks over at me.
She smiles politely, embarrassed that she drifted away. “Thank you,” she says. “For calling her out. I’ve found it’s the best method to deal with her constant deceit.”
“I’m really sorry about your dad,” I tell her.
At the mention of him, her blue eyes begin to water, and she lowers her gaze to the floor. “I’ve been a grief counselor for the last few years,” she says. “And I’ve worked with grieving parents most of my life.” She looks at me, tears running over the light freckles on her cheeks. “And you know the one thing people say when they find out someone they love died? The universal response?”
I give my head a little shake, not knowing the answer.
“Almost every time, they say, ‘It’s not true.’ In one form or another, their body’s initial response is to deny that it happened. Deny the death. Deny the loss. They can deny it so completely that sometimes the people around them believe them and start to doubt it too. Grief is a bitter pill. It can destroy everything if you let it. It’s a beast.”
She rubs her hand over her cheeks to wipe away the tears.
“And this time,” she says, sounding lost again, “I was the one saying it wasn’t true when Melody told me.”
“When did Melody call you?” I ask.
“About two in the morning,” she replies. “Deacon and I jumped in the car and drove through the night. Why? Do you know her?”
“Yes.” I furrow my brow. “Not really. It’s actually pretty convoluted.”
