At Hidden Falls (Angel's Bay Novel) (3 page)

“Mom, I’m pulling into the driveway,” he said, interrupting her ramble. “I’ll talk to you later.” As he turned off the engine, he noted the dark house. One thing he’d learned about his daughter was that if she was home, every light in the place was on.

He entered through the kitchen door, snapping on the overhead light. He called for Megan and checked her bedroom, but there was no sign of her.

Returning to the kitchen, he debated his options. Megan had been testing her boundaries ever since she arrived, and he doubted she was lost or anywhere she didn’t want to be. Maybe he should be glad she’d found somewhere to go, making friends, getting out of the house. On the other hand, she could be in trouble, and he couldn’t just do nothing. Perhaps his sister would have an idea. He was about to call Tory when the kitchen door flew open and Megan ran in.

Her face was flushed, her hair damp, as if she’d been out in the rain. Her brown eyes were bright and a little guilty. She’d been up to something. He was sure of that.

“Where have you been?” he asked.

She stared back at him, her eyes as stormy as the weather. “I could ask you the same question. What did you do, fall into a hole?”

He glanced down at his mud-caked clothes. “Something like that. Don’t change the subject. You were supposed to stay home after school, and you were supposed to answer your phone.”

“And you were supposed to be my father. But you disappeared for twelve years. So what if I took off for an hour or two? That doesn’t come close to making us even.” She ran down the hall and slammed her bedroom door.

Nick drew in a deep breath and let it out. It had been a long day and it was getting even longer. He walked down the hall, knocked on her door, and then turned the knob. Fortunately, there was no lock, so she couldn’t keep him out even if she wanted to.

Megan was sitting cross-legged on her bed in front of her laptop. She gave him a scowl. “Aren’t you going to take a shower?”

“In a minute. Where were you?”

“Out with friends.”

“I thought you said you didn’t have any friends.”

“Well, I do. Isn’t that what you wanted?” she challenged.

What he wanted was for them to have a conversation without a wall of anger and pain between them, but that wasn’t happening tonight.

She picked up her headphones and slipped them on, clearly dismissing him.

He needed to find a way to connect with her. She was his daughter, and he loved her. No matter how unhappy she was now, he didn’t intend to let her go again.

Joe Silveira strode through the emergency room entrance at the Redwood Medical Center, his heart pounding against his chest. He’d been headed home from the police station when the 911 call had come in about a car accident on the highway south of town. He’d left it to his officers to handle, never dreaming that the driver was his youngest sister. He still couldn’t quite believe it was true, but when the receptionist waved him inside, he found Isabella sitting on the examining table, a man’s jacket around her shoulders, her long dark hair curling from the rain and caked with mud, her forehead swollen, and tiny cuts spattered across her pale face.

Her blue eyes widened when she saw him, and her lips began to tremble. It reminded him of the time she’d flown over the handlebars of her bike when she was six. She’d limped all the way home as brave as could be, then burst into tears when she’d seen him. He’d been eighteen, and he’d felt as helpless then as he did now. Isabella was the baby of the family, the one they were all supposed to look out for.

“Hey, Joe,” she said, her voice shaky as she fought for a smile.

“Izzy? Are you hurt?”

“Some bruises and maybe a sprained or broken wrist.” She held up her swollen left arm. “But other than that, I’m fine. I’m alive.” Then the tears came like a flash flood, streaming down her cheeks.

He quickly moved forward, putting his arms around her as she cried against his chest. “It’s okay. You’re going to be all right,” he said, trying to soothe her, but he’d never been good with tears. Not that he hadn’t had practice. He had four sisters, after all, but he usually let them take care of one another. What he wouldn’t give right now to have one of them there.

Fortunately, Isabella regained her composure fairly quickly, pulling away from him with a sniff. “Sorry about that. I guess I’ve been holding that in for a while.”

He reached for the box of tissues on the counter and handed them to her. “From what I hear, you’ve been through a lot. It’s a miracle you made it.” He shuddered at the alternative. “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“I came around a turn. A car was weaving across the highway straight at me. Then it turned onto one of those side roads. I hit the brakes, but the road was too wet, and I skidded off the side.” She drew in a tremulous breath. “A man, Nick Hartley, saw my car go through the guard rail, and he came down the hill and managed to pull me free before . . . before the car went into the ocean.”

His pulse leaped at the reminder that she’d come very close to dying. “What the hell were you even doing on that road? Why are you here?” he snapped, fear finding its way out in a burst of anger.

“I wanted to see you, Joe.”

“So you just hopped into the car and drove three hours north on a whim?”

“Why not? You’re my brother.”

He frowned as she averted her eyes. She wasn’t telling him the whole story. “What about your job?”

“I’m between projects.”

He wasn’t surprised. Isabella never stayed too long in any one place.

“I thought you could use some family support,” she added. “You and Rachel were together a long time. We’re all worried about you.”

He couldn’t lie and say he was happy about the divorce. Rachel had been a huge part of his life, but the last couple of years had been rough. He didn’t like to fail, and it wasn’t his nature to quit, but he’d had to accept that his marriage was over.

Seeing Isabella’s gaze on his face, he hastened to reassure her. “I’m all right. You didn’t need to come up here. You could have just called.”

“I have called. And so has everyone else in the family. You always brush our questions aside.”

“It is my business, Izzy,” he reminded her.

“Yes, but you’re always there for us; we want to be there for you.”

“So you were elected to come?” He didn’t like the idea of his siblings feeling sorry for him.

“I volunteered. I didn’t just want to see you; I wanted to see Angel’s Bay. Rachel said this town has stolen your heart.” She paused, giving him an apologetic look. “I didn’t intend for my arrival to be quite so dramatic.”

He shook his head, still shaken by her close call. “Can you tell me anything about the car that ran you off the road?”

She thought for a moment. “It happened so fast. I remember the lights, and then I was sliding across the road.” She shivered and crossed her arms in front of her.

He hated making her relive the fear, but he wanted to find the person who’d nearly killed her. “I don’t want to make this more difficult, but if you can remember anything—the kind of vehicle, the color, how many people were in the car . . .”

“There were two people—I think. Right now, it’s a blur. My head is pounding.”

“I shouldn’t be pressing you; it’s too soon.”

“I lost everything, Joe. My suitcase, my cell phone, my purse—everything was in the car, and now it’s in the ocean.”

“But you’re alive. That’s all that matters.”

“Because of Nick Hartley,” she said. “He was amazing. He risked his life coming down that cliff after me. A lot of people would have waited at the top until help came, and by then it would have been too late.”

“I’m very grateful that he was there for you.” He shifted his weight impatiently. “Where’s the doctor?”

“He’s been in. He wants me to get an X-ray on my wrist. He said someone would be in to take me there.”

“What did he say about your head?”

“Just a bump.” She gave him a small smile. “I’m okay, Joe. What I really need is to soak in a hot bath.”

“As soon as you’re done here, I’ll take you home. But first, I want a friend of mine to take a look at you. She’s also a doctor here. I’ve already called her to come down and check you out.”

“The other physician seemed very capable.”

“Maybe so, but you’re my little sister, and I trust Charlotte.” He cleared his throat, seeing the thoughtful look in her eyes. He’d forgotten what it was like to be around family, to have someone looking at him who knew him as more than the chief of police. He’d kept most people in Angel’s Bay at a distance, with Charlotte the one exception, but even their flirtatious friendship had never gone very deep. He’d been too married for that, at least until lately.

A knock came at the door, and Charlotte stepped into the room. Every time he saw her, his gut tightened, and today was no exception. She wore a white coat over black slacks and a silky blouse. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face, and her blue eyes were curious as she glanced from him to Isabella.

“Thanks for coming,” he said. “This is my youngest sister, Isabella.”

Surprise flashed in Charlotte’s eyes, then she turned to Izzy. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Charlotte Adams. You look like you’ve had a rough night.”

“I had a little accident on my way into town. I usually make a better first impression,” Isabella said lightly.

He had to give Isabella credit. She was very good at bouncing back from disaster.

“I spoke to Dr. Sawyer, who gave me the update on your condition,” Charlotte continued. “Maybe we could speak alone for a few minutes? Do you mind, Joe?”

“Sure, no problem,” he said, happy to leave Isabella in Charlotte’s capable hands.

“Joe is being overprotective,” Isabella told Charlotte as soon as the door closed behind him. “I’ve been completely checked out.”

“I know,” Charlotte said, a twinkle in her eyes. “But why don’t I do a quick exam, just so we can ease your brother’s mind?”

“Have at it. I’m waiting to go to X-ray, anyway.”

“Can you lie back for me?” Charlotte asked. “I’m an ob/gyn, by the way, but I handle a lot of women’s health issues.”

“Well, I’m not pregnant, so no issues there.”

Charlotte smiled. “Where do you fall in the Silveira family lineup?”

“I’m the baby. There’s twelve years between me and Joe.”

“And you have a couple of sisters as well, don’t you?”

“Three. Two of them are married with kids. The other one is engaged.”

As Charlotte examined her, Isabella couldn’t help thinking that Charlotte was the exact opposite of Rachel in looks, with her golden blond hair, blue eyes, and light tan. She moved with athletic grace and had a warm smile and a reassuring bedside manner. Rachel was model skinny, with jet-black hair, dark eyes, and pale skin. Although why she was comparing them, she couldn’t say. There was just something about the way Joe had looked at Charlotte.

“I don’t see any signs of internal injuries,” Charlotte said. “I would suggest taking it easy for a few days.”

“Thanks,” Isabella said as she sat up. “Are you and my brother close friends?”

“I don’t know about close, but we’re friends. Angel’s Bay is a small town. Everyone knows one another.”

“Joe seems to love it here.”

“He’s an excellent chief of police. And usually very calm. When he called me tonight, there was pure panic in his voice. I’ve never heard him so upset.”

“He’s always been protective of family.” She paused, then said, “We’ve been a little worried about Joe since he and his wife decided to divorce. Did you know Rachel?”

“We met a couple of times,” Charlotte said, her voice neutral. “I was sorry it didn’t work out for them.”

“I can’t remember a time when Joe and Rachel weren’t together. She was like another sister to me. Not that I needed any more,” she said dryly. “I still have hope that they’ll work things out.”

Charlotte nodded. “I hate to see any marriage break up. I’ll tell Joe he can come back in, and then I’ll find someone to take you to X-ray. I’m sure you’d love to get out of here.”

“I really would.” She’d barely finished speaking when a nurse entered with a wheelchair. “It looks like my ride has arrived. Thanks, Dr. Adams.”

“Please call me Charlotte.” She helped Isabella off the table and into the wheelchair.

Joe was waiting outside the door when they left the room. “I’ll be here when you get back,” he said.

As the nurse wheeled her away, Isabella saw Joe put his hand on Charlotte’s arm in a manner that suggested far more than friendliness. Maybe it wasn’t Angel’s Bay that Joe didn’t want to leave. Maybe it was Charlotte.

“How is she?” Joe asked, letting his hand rest on Charlotte’s arm for a moment. He felt more unsettled than he had in a long time, and he didn’t like it. He’d always been in control of his life, especially since he’d come to Angel’s Bay, where he only had himself to worry about. Now Isabella had dropped into his life, almost dying in the process. He couldn’t imagine having to make that call to his parents.

“She’s going to be fine,” Charlotte said with a reassuring smile. “I’m more worried about you.”

“Isabella could have died. If Nick Hartley hadn’t seen her go over the side of the road, she—”

“Don’t even go there,” Charlotte interrupted. “Don’t think about it.”

“I can’t think of anything else. Isabella is the baby of the family. I’m used to taking care of her—or least knowing that someone else is taking care of her.”

“She’s all grown up now, Joe, and she seems very resilient.”

“She’s never been short on courage.”

“She has amazing eyes, doesn’t she? Where does that blue come from?”

“Our Mayan ancestors, according to my grandmother.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“I guess.” He paused, noting the dark shadows under Charlotte’s eyes, her weary posture. “Thanks for coming down. I owe you.”

She waved a hand. “Not a problem.”

“You look tired.”

“It’s been a busy couple of days,” she admitted. “I’m still recovering from Annie’s long labor and delivery. I’m usually not so personally involved in the process. Annie has become like a little sister to me, and I wanted everything to go perfectly for her.”