Caitlin turned around to Don, her face paling.
Darryn took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on what Caitlin was saying.He had to know what was going on.
“So that’s what happened,” she whispered.“I could tell something was wrong, but she kept saying she’s fine.That’s it!I’m flying to Hannah tonight…”
Don hugged her close, caressing her shoulders.“Of course, sweetheart, whatever you want, but let’s talk about this,” he said calmly and rationally.“We know Hannah is fine.She wasn’t the person who was pushed.You spoke to her, you heard her voice, she’s okay.What did she say to have you in tears?”
Flabbergasted, Darryn stared at Don.His mouth was so dry, he struggled to get words out.“She’s really fine?”he finally managed.
Don nodded.“It was another model; she’s fine too, by the way.”He turned Caitlin back to face him.“Sweetheart, what—”
“She didn’t really say anything, but I could hear she’s been crying.And I’m sorry, but I can’t believe all these things happening around Hannah are accidents!”Caitlin hiccupped and pushed away from Don.“I mean, after the first hit-and-run accident she had on Mahé, we all thought it was random, but then Zoe was pushed while she and Hannah were wearing similar-colored clothes, and now this.And there has to be a reason why Hannah didn’t attend Dana and David’s wedding.”
Darryn heard Caitlin’s voice as if from a distance.She was saying what had been bothering him for months now.
“But Hannah keeps saying nothing is wrong,” Don said and led his wife to the couch.
“We’ve all been so busy falling in love and getting married, I think we all knew something was wrong, but we didn’t push Hannah.I know something happened to her two years ago—she was devastated and hid away at my mom’s for weeks.She didn’t want to talk about it, though, and I always hoped she’d talk when she was ready.”She stared at Don.“You know, now that I think about it, it was after those weeks she stayed with Mom that all these ‘accidents’ started to happen.”
“So what?You think it has to do with whatever upset her in the first place?”asked Don.
Caitlin nodded.“It has to be.I mean Hannah is the quiet one, the happy one.But ever since that time, she has changed.”She sighed and leaned against Don.Her gaze landed on Darryn and she pointed at him.
“Whatever happened to her then had something to do with you.That much I do know.Maybe it’s time you tell us.”
Darryn walked to a chair next to the couch and sat down.She was right; it was time to tell Caitlin what had happened between him and Hannah.
*
Ten minutes laterCaitlin sat staring at him, her mouth open in shock.
“And you believed that…that idiot of a man?”she whispered.“No wonder she can’t stand the sight of you!You said you spent three days and nights with her.You should have known by that time what kind of person my sister is.How could you believe someone else’s lies about her?”
Darryn jumped up.“I…” He rubbed the back of his neck.
Don came to his rescue.“He had a nasty experience with another model, one who did sleep around.”
“And I know Stephen White.He and I went to school together.I never much liked him, but I helped him get a few jobs…he was very grateful.I had no reason not to believe what he told me.”
“Well, for your information, Hannah is incapable of two-timing anyone.She doesn’t have a devious bone in her body!And you should know that!”Caitlin scolded.“She will kill me if I tell you this, but she funds a charity for war orphans!That’s the kind of person she is!”
Stunned, Darryn stared at her.He hadn’t known that about Hannah.Come to think of it, he didn’t know anything about her life apart from the fact she was a model.
Caitlin stood up as well, glaring at him.She wiped her wet cheeks, her eyes shooting darts in his direction.“You could easily have found out anything about Hannah’s life—every detail is on the Internet.But you jumped to conclusions and probably never even bothered to ask her side of the story.”
“He knew about her tattoo!”Darryn shouted.
Caitlin eyes became slits.It was obvious she knew what he was talking about.“And of course the only way he could know about it was if he saw it?”she said, not even trying to hide the sarcasm in her voice.
“Well, yes!I thought…what we had was special.I fell for her.Big time!”
Don snickered.“I knew it!”he said slapping his knee.
Caitlin stared at Darryn for long minutes, and then the ghost of a smile lifted the corners of her mouth.“So that’s what happened.Typical.You freaked out.When you realized how you felt about her, you freaked out and jumped at the chance to believe the drivel this Stephen told you, that way you didn’t have to deal with your feelings.You could just walk away feeling all righteous and indignant—typical Cavallo move, by the way.Am I right?”she asked crossing her arms.
“Hey—I saw the light eventually,” Don complained with a smile.“And so did David and Dale.It’s just this poor sod here who doesn’t know what hit him.”
Darryn started pacing.“But the tattoo—” he began again.
