“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and I laughed.
“Considering you’re older than me, I think we can dispense with the ma’am.”
“Do you really want to be thinking about the fact that I’m older than you and Allie put together?”
We shared a grin, and I shook my head. “No. Probably not.” My heart twisted. “Right now, though, none of it really matters, does it?”
“We’re going to find her, Kate. I promise you, somehow we’re going to find her.”
Two hours later, his words were still circling in my head, but we seemed to be no closer to finding her. My phone rang and I snatched it up, though why I was so eager, I didn’t know. Everyone was here, and it wasn’t as if Lilith was going to make a phone call.
Then again, I supposed Bruce might. It wasn’t Bruce, though. The call was Rita’s daughter, Fran.
“Fran? I’m a little busy. What’s up?”
“I’m at your house,” my friend said, sounding a bit bewildered. “And I have Timmy.”
15
“Wait,” I said. “You have Timmy?”
Jared reached over and took my hand. I squeezed it hard.
“Yeah. And I have to be honest, Kate. I’m a little worried about Allie. If she’s dating the guy who was in the backseat—”
“Fran, what happened?”
“Oh.” I heard the surprise in her voice at my tone, but I didn’t apologize. I just needed to know. “Well, Elena and I were on our way over to borrow your bucket of Legos. Eddie said you wouldn’t mind. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. What happened?”
“I’d just pulled into the driveway and was getting out of the car, when they pulled up against the curb. Allie’s windows rolled down and some guy leaned across to say that he and Allie were babysitting Timmy, but that they were supposed to drop him off with Eddie. Is that right?”
I looked at Jared, who nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “Absolutely right. Why did you say you were worried about Allie?”
“A bad vibe, I guess. I asked her, and she said she was fine. Just tired. But, I don’t know. Now I feel like I could have called you right then. Honestly, Kate, I think she might have been drinking.”
“But you took Timmy? And he’s okay?”
“Yes, of course, he’s fine.”
You didn’t happen to see the direction they left in, did you?”
“They took the north exit out of the subdivision, or at least it looked like they were going to. Towards the hills, not the city. Kate, seriously, you’re worrying me.”
“I swear it’s fine. I’ll be right over to get him.”
“Eddie’s here. I’m sure he’ll—”
“I’ll be right there,” I repeated, then hung up. I stood and raced up the stairs, eager to tell Stuart we had Timmy back.
“I’m going to get him now,” I said, a moment later as I held his hand. He was back in bed, looking bone-tired. But he was awake and alive. And so was our little boy.
Finally, things were starting to look up.
“I love you,” I said, bending over to kiss his cheek. “I have to go now.”
“No, you don’t,” Eric said from the doorway.
