“What did you tell her?” I ask again, my patience wearing thinly.
“I told her that she was standing in the way of your happiness and your future with Shelby.”
“Last I heard, you weren’t even Shelby’s biggest fan.” I cock a brow. “So don’t pretend this wasn’t malicious.”
“Well, I am not blind, son. I can tell that Shelby makes you happy, and to be frank, I am sick and tired of you treating that reckless woman like a porcelain doll. She is not your responsibility!” I have not heard my mother raise her voice in a long time.
“Can we not talk about that now?”
“About the fact that you continued to take care of a woman who cheated on you and took away your son? Oh, yes, we should not talk about that.”
I sink into the chair, covering my eyes with my palms. This conversation is something I did not miss when I was in Seattle. “Where the hell could she go? Back to Seattle?” I mutter, scratching my head. I called her parents, and they have not heard from her, not for a long time. They were surprised to hear that she was in Sunnyville.
“She is so fucking unstable, Mother; how could you do that?”
“Watch that mouth, Ember. She seemed fine. I mean, you let her stay here.”
“Dad-Dad and I found out that she wasn’t released from hospital; she left without authorization.”
“And neither of you thought to tell me?” Her eyes widen. “So you let an unstable woman stay on our property and eat dinner with us?”
My cell phone rings, and when I see Grady’s name on the screen, I let it ring off. I do not have time to talk to him. I place the phone face down on the table.
“I guess I just have to log in to the car tracking company website. I had her car tracked years ago. She never turned it off.”
My chest tightens.
“I’ll get my laptop. You can log in from there,” Mom tells me. “And you should get that.” She points to the phone.
“What is it, Malone? This is not a good time.”
“Get your ass to Shelby’s house. Brody is missing.”
“What the hell? I’ll be right there.” A cold sensation hits me to the core. Sunnyville is a small town, and this shit does not happen here. My heart rate picks up. What if?
“I have to go, Mom. Can you call Dad? I don’t want you alone. Shelby’s son is missing. Can you try and get a trace on Katherine’s car?”
“Of course. Oh, this is so awful.” I scribble down the login details. “I pray that everything will be okay, son.”
I kiss my mother’s cheek. “Call Dad,” I insist.
My hand trembles on the steering wheel as I make my way into town.
I knew better than to believe in love again. Every time I let my guard down, this kind of thing happens. I don’t deserve love; I just burn everything I touch.
Now Brody is involved in whatever the hell Katherine is planning. I have no proof, but fuck do I have a feeling that she has something to do with this.
Pulling up at the house, I rush through the door. The house is filled with people: Grady’s family, cops, a couple of guys from the station. I look at Shelby across the room, and all I want to do is go to her, hold her in my arms and tell her that everything will be okay, that I am here now.
She looks away, holding Desi’s hand. I move through the crowd toward Grady’s voice.
“So what’s news?” I ask, slightly out of breath.
“The school reported that a woman, matching your ex-wife’s description, somehow convinced Brody to get into her car.” Grady’s jaw is tight. He clenches and unclenches his fist, and I find I’m doing the same thing.
“God,” I manage to say. This is the last thing I would ever expect her to do.
“You tell us everything you know, and hopefully, it’s enough to get Brody back.”
