Suddenly, Francine lifted her eyes and said, “She lost it last week.”
It took a couple of seconds for Annie to realize what she’d said. “The doll? Bella lost the doll last week?”
“The orange-haired one. Yes.”
Annie let go of Francine’s hands. She wasn’t sure if the revelation was good news. Or not.
Then Francine jerked her head toward Annie as if her senses had just awoken. “The bear my aunt gave her is missing, though. The teddy bear. I didn’t tell John I couldn’t find it, because if it’s with Bella, it would mean they’re both lost, wouldn’t it?”
Not knowing what to say to that deduction, Annie simply said, “Yes, I guess it would.” She made a mental note, however, to mention it to John, if for no other reason than to prevent him from thinking she was keeping anything from him.
“Coffee?” The question came from the doorway. Kevin was standing there, holding two steaming mugs.
Francine stood up and said, “I didn’t sleep last night. I think I’ll go to bed.” She walked past Kevin as if he weren’t there and departed from the room, leaving a cloud of melancholy in her wake.
And all the air rushed out of Annie, as if her lungs were big balloons and someone had pricked them with a pin.
Kevin gulped the coffee that he’d brought for Francine. “Speaking of which, I’m going to go find Taylor. She’s been outside all night. I need to convince her to get some sleep.”
“And Jonas,” Annie said. “He needs rest, too.” No matter what had happened, Jonas also needed to be taken care of.
She told her brother that she’d see him later, that there was someone else she needed to check on. She waited until he left, then grabbed her phone and went out to the reception area. Once at the massive staircase, she took the steps two at a time.
When Annie reached Rose’s room, she paused. And said a quick prayer that Rose would come to the door, invite Annie inside, and tell her she’d been too upset to join the others in the search and hoped Annie would forgive her.
But when Annie knocked, there was no reply.
So she knocked again.
And again.
She called out Rose’s name.
No answer.
And no sounds were coming from within.
Chapter 28
She cries a lot. I wish she wouldn’t. Doesn’t she know I’m trying my best to keep her happy? When she isn’t crying, she holds her teddy bear and looks at me but doesn’t talk.
She doesn’t eat much, either. I throw out most of the food I bought. No surprise. It’s not like I knew she’d be with me. But I can’t go shopping again. For all I know, the police are looking for me.
Today we went for a walk in the woods. I thought the fresh air would be good for her and tire her out so she’d sleep better at night and wouldn’t wake up crying. But when we were outside, I heard a noise. It could have been a deer or maybe a squirrel, but it’s hunting season, so I realized it was dangerous for us to be out walking around. Aside from the risk of being shot, what if someone saw us?
We came back inside, and she sat in the corner of the plaid chair again, holding her bear, looking at me. At least she ate a little chicken noodle soup and a few saltines. And she didn’t cry. Then she fell asleep.
I like watching her sleep. She’s so perfect, so innocent. It reminds me of the first time I saw her, when she was curled up in a basket on the kitchen table. Though I have no idea why, I even remember what I had on that day—torn jeans and a plain blue flannel shirt. I’d been in the basement playing video games.
But suddenly I was in the kitchen and the baby was there. Earl Lyons was there, too. And Annie Sutton—the woman who was going to marry Abigail’s father now.
Sometimes the world is really small.
Chapter 29
Annie gave up. She decided she shouldn’t read anything into Rose’s not being home. There could be a million reasons why she wasn’t there, none of them mysterious. None of them pointing to her as the guilty party.
Leaving the Inn, Annie went down to her cottage and ducked beneath the yellow tape again. She heard John before she saw him. He was still in the bedroom, and he was talking on the phone.
