“Kennedy,” she said softly. “There are two people from the FBI here to talk to you.” She caressed Kennedy’s face, making sure she felt loved and never alone. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”
Kennedy’s eyes widened. “Talk to me about what?”
Maureen swallowed hard. “They’ll explain.”
As if sensing something bad was about to happen, Kennedy turned to Ryan, gave him a nervous look and then immediately began fiddling with her pendant necklace—a gift from her parents that was a silver heart with her initial K in the center.
“I’m right here, sunshine,” Ryan told her. “I won’t even finish my brownie.”
Nodding, Kennedy gripped her great-aunt’s hand, following her from the kitchen to the den.
The door shut behind them.
Ryan joined the others in the living room.
“We assume those are FBI agents,” Fiona said, rising to her feet, even as Claire and Colin followed suit. “They were in with Mom for a long time.”
Ryan nodded. “It’s the case agent and a victim specialist. They were prepping Mom. She’ll stay in there while they tell Kennedy about Shane.”
“Poor child,” Colin murmured. “My heart breaks for her.” He gave Ryan a questioning look. “Did you already speak to your brothers? Or should I call them now?”
“I called them both from Marc’s car,” Ryan replied. “Nolan should be here soon. Garret is cutting short a client meeting, and then heading straight over.”
Colin nodded.
No words were spoken after that. They just stood together as one, exchanging worried glances, and waiting. The clock ticked by. The time crept along, endless in its duration.
At last, the door opened, and the world shifted forever.
SA Barkley and Dr. Abel stepped out, gesturing for the family to go inside. “Be with her,” Dr. Abel said softly. “She wants and needs you all.”
Ryan shot a quick glance at Claire.
“I’ll be out here waiting,” she told him, her voice soft and caring.
He nodded, heading for the den. He could hear Kennedy’s hysterical sobbing long before he crossed the threshold with his dad and Fiona.
If hearing her tore out his guts, seeing her was worse. She was like a broken doll, collapsed against Maureen on the sofa, her body shaking with sobs as she clutched her pendant. She wept until she was gasping, repeatedly whispering “Daddy”, and clinging to Ryan’s mom like a lifeline. Tears were flowing down Maureen’s cheeks as she gazed at the rest of the family, and she held Kennedy tightly, rocking her like a baby to ease her pain.
Ryan squatted down beside them, taking Kennedy’s quaking hand in his. Seeing him, Kennedy wept all the harder, tightening her fingers in his. Her great-uncle and Fiona gathered around her, as well, hugging her and giving her their strength.
Having issued a few quiet instructions to Maureen, SA Barkley and Dr. Abel went to disable all of Caitlin’s devices and then respectfully departed, leaving Kennedy in her family’s loving arms.
They all remained together, joined shortly thereafter by Nolan and Garret, who looked equally as pained and lost as the others.
A timeless time later, Fiona spoke up. “Sweetie, why don’t you lie down on the living room couch?” She tenderly stroked Kennedy’s hair. “I’ll get you a little something to eat and we can all sit with you.”
“I can’t eat.” Kennedy shook her head wildly, her voice barely audible.
“But you can lie down.” Ryan added his suggestion to Fiona’s. “I’ll carry you in and sit right beside you. You don’t have to sleep. But you do need to rest. Okay?”
Kennedy gazed up at Maureen, panic in her eyes.
“I won’t budge from your side,” her great-aunt responded to the unasked question. “In fact, why don’t you and I visit the bathroom first, so you can wash your face with a cool cloth? Then, Ryan can carry you straight to the couch and we’ll all be with you. Maybe a little later, you’ll feel up to a glass of milk and a PB&J sandwich.”
Kennedy shook her head. “I can’t eat,” she whispered. “But I do need the bathroom.” Ever so slowly, she unfolded, releasing her death-grip on Maureen.
She looked pleadingly at Ryan, her face anguished and her eyes swollen from crying. “You don’t have to carry me. But…are you staying?”
