Grave Concerns (15 page)

“I know. I … .”

“How did you know we were in trouble?” Hayley asked, wrinkling her nose. “You guys knew I was in trouble before you even saw me. How?”

“I just had a feeling,” Nick lied, exchanging a worried look with John as he hugged Maddie again. “It was a really bad feeling.”

“I don’t like the idea of leaving you here,” Nick said the next morning, rubbing Maddie’s back as he snuggled closer to her next to the river. “Why don’t you come with me?”

After the drama of the previous evening, the men decided they were going to hike through the woods for signs of the mysterious figure. Even though there were two police officers present, they couldn’t file a report because the stranger didn’t technically do anything wrong. They couldn’t use the testimony of a ghost as a reason to get a search party – or dogs – out to the scene.

While the figure’s actions appeared nefarious, they also could be construed as an innocent prank. Anyone could’ve dressed up in black clothing and pretended to stalk Hayley and Maddie. Deep inside, Maddie knew that whoever was out there had mayhem on the brain. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something she could prove.

“I want to stay here,” Maddie replied, keeping her voice low. “No one is going to go wandering off this morning. I would feel better if I was here and watching the kids, though. My mother will pop up if there’s any danger.”

“And she’ll come to me if you’re in danger,” Nick muttered, running a hand through his hair. “We really need to have a discussion with her one day about why I can hear her when you’re in trouble but no other time. I’m not complaining, mind you, but it might be nice to hold a conversation with her that didn’t involve you being in danger.”

Maddie patted his hand. “It would be nice,” she agreed. “I promise I’ll be safe here, Nicky. I’ll stay here and not go back to the cabin. It’s probably safer for me to remain with your family instead of tromping around in the woods anyway.”

“I like it better when I can see you.”

“I like it when I can see you, too … mostly because you’re so handsome … but we can’t be with each other twenty-four hours a day,” Maddie said. “I want to stay here.”

Nick sighed, resigned. “You stay within sight of someone at all times, Mad. If I find out you wandered off when I get back, we’re going to have a huge fight.”

“I’m still waiting for us to have a huge fight,” Maddie said, her eyes bright. “Christy says that make-up sex is amazing.”

“We’ll consider that when we’re not on an outing with my family,” Nick said, leaning down to kiss her. “I love you, Mad. Stay safe for me.”

Maddie rested her hand above Nick’s heart. “Stay safe for me, too.”

“Always, love.”

“WHAT
are you doing?” Maddie asked, sitting in the chair next to Hayley and curiously studying the girl. The men took off into the woods an hour before, and after helping Sharon clean up the breakfast dishes, Maddie was at a loss for something to do. That’s when she saw Hayley, bright pink sunglasses perched on her nose as she stared up at the sky, sitting in the shade off to the side.

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

Maddie had no idea. “Getting a tan? You should put on some sunscreen. You’re not going to believe this now, but you’ll regret getting too tan in your teens when you’re in your twenties and you’re already getting wrinkles.”

Hayley snorted. “My mother makes me lather up every day in the summer.”

“Oh, well, that’s good,” Maddie said. “What are you doing then?”

“I’m being mysterious.”

“Oh,” Maddie said, pursing her lips to keep from laughing as she glanced toward the nearby field where the boys played a game of catch. Maddie wasn’t surprised to see Kevin and Kyle hanging around again. They’d stopped by every day since the first, although Maddie couldn’t remember seeing their father in that time. “How is the mystery game going?”

“So far all I’m doing is sweating,” Hayley replied. “I’m sure it’s going to pay off any minute, though.”

“At least you’re diligent,” Maddie said, her eyes never leaving the boys. “Have you seen Howard since that first night he joined us for dinner?”

“Who is Howard?”

Maddie internally chuckled. The teenage mind was a wonder. It never occurred to Hayley that Kevin and Kyle were hanging out when their father was nowhere to be found. Apparently some people ceased to exist when they became old enough to vote. “Kevin and Kyle’s father.”

“Oh,
that
Howard,” Hayley said, knitting her eyebrows together. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen him since he had dinner with us.”

“Have Kevin and Kyle mentioned him?”

“No,” Hayley replied, shaking her head. “Why are you so worried about their father?”

“I’m not worried,” Maddie countered. “I’m just … it seems weird to me that they’re on a family vacation and yet Kevin and Kyle are spending all of their time with us. Shouldn’t they want to hang out with their dad?”

“You really
are
old,” Hayley said. “No one wants to hang out with their parents when they’re young. That’s something you do when you’re too old to have fun.”

“Oh, well … .” Maddie had no idea how to respond to that. Thankfully, she didn’t have to because Kelly picked that moment to interrupt them.

“Hey, Maddie,” Kelly said, her voice strained.

“Hi, Kelly.”

“Um … do you think we can talk for a second?” Kelly shifted from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable.

Maddie swallowed hard. The last thing she needed was a showdown with Kelly. Of course, that was exactly what she would get if she opted not to give the woman what she wanted.

“Of course we can talk,” Maddie said, getting to her feet. “What do you want to talk about?”

“WHAT
do you think?” John asked, kneeling next to Nick as they studied the crushed grass beneath a large pine tree.

The men went out in a large group, pairing off so they could search but agreeing to stay close in case they discovered something. Nick didn’t expect anyone to find anything, but even so he asked Maddie to identify exactly where she thought she heard rustling during her walk the night before. Sure enough, there were footprints in the spot she identified.

“I think someone was standing here for a decent amount of time,” Nick replied, keeping his voice low. “I think the noise Maddie heard when she was walking was whoever went after Hayley.”

“Why do you think he decided to go after Hayley instead of Maddie?” John asked. “No offense to our niece, but if it was some random pervert, Maddie would make a more … appealing package.”

Nick scowled. “Nice.”

“You know what I mean,” John said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “It sounds to me like he was watching Maddie first. Why change tactics and go after Hayley?”

“Hayley would be an easier target,” Nick supplied. “She’s younger. Maddie has thirty pounds on Hayley. She’s stronger and would put up more of a fight. Plus, well, I love Hayley, but she’s not great at paying attention. Maybe whoever it was thought they could sneak up behind Hayley and blitz her.”

“I guess,” John said, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “Still … I can’t quite wrap my head around this. From what you told me, Olivia saw someone in the woods watching Jessica. Maybe he wasn’t watching Jessica at all. Maybe he was watching Maddie. She’s the common denominator in both of these scenarios.”

“She is,” Nick agreed. “However, she went after Jessica because she heard her crying in her head. She knew Jessica was in danger. Sure, Jessica could’ve been in danger simply from being out in the elements all night, but if I’ve learned anything about Maddie’s abilities it’s that they lead her to where she’s supposed to go for a specific reason.”

“And you think the specific reason Maddie found Jessica when she did is because the girl was in danger from something else at that moment in time,” John surmised.

Nick nodded. “You’re missing the other important detail about this,” he said. “Maddie may be the common denominator, but Hayley and Jessica have something in common.”

John furrowed his brow, confused. “What?”

“They’re both kids,” Nick replied. “Maybe whoever was out here last night is interested in younger models than my Maddie.”

John clenched his jaw, realization washing over him. “Well … crap. That means there could be a child predator out in these woods.”

“That’s exactly what that means.”

“SO, UM,
I think I owe you a really big apology,” Kelly said, clasping her hands together as she shuffled in front of Maddie.

“For what?”

“For all of it,” Kelly said. “I’m sorry for what I did with the kayak. I’m really sorry I called Sydney and invited her. I’m also sorry that I didn’t realize what a good person you are.”

Maddie was surprised. “I … thank you.” She had no idea what else to say.

“No, Maddie, you don’t understand what I’m saying here,” Kelly said. “I was wrong. I don’t like saying those words, but there it is. I was terribly wrong and I would understand if you never forgive me.”

Maddie’s smile was rueful, even as her heart swelled. “I was wrong, too, Kelly,” she said. “I understand why you did what you did.”

Kelly narrowed her eyes. “You do?”

Maddie nodded, her flaxen ponytail bobbing. “Kelly, I’m not going to pretend that I know you very well,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “You were older than us and you had different interests. Still, the one thing I do know about you is that you’re loyal to your family. They’re the one thing you love more than anything else.

“I get that … and I respect it,” she continued. “From your perspective, I did a horrible thing when I left Blackstone Bay. I crushed Nick and I broke both of our hearts. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I had my reasons. Unfortunately, they were all bad ones.

“I can’t go back in time and undo what I did,” Maddie said. “That’s my biggest regret. I hurt my mother … and I hurt Nick. It’s always going to haunt me. I missed out on seeing my mother for the bulk of her last ten years.”

“I guess I never thought of that,” Kelly admitted. “Still … what I said about Maude was one of the worst things I’ve ever said … and that’s saying something because I say awful things every chance I get. I know you love Maude. I know you would never want anything to happen to her.”

“Thank you for that.”

“As for the kayak, that was just juvenile and stupid,” Kelly said. “I have no idea why I did it. It never even occurred to me that I was putting you in a bad position. Nick told me about that guy … and if he’d been anything other than nice, something horrible could’ve happened to you.”

“I’m fine,” Maddie replied. “You don’t have to worry about that. I flipped myself out where Darrin was concerned. He didn’t do anything overt. I still got worried and hurried away from him. It was … kind of an embarrassing assumption.”

“I think it was a reasonable one to make, though,” Kelly supplied. “You were alone and something could’ve happened to you.”

“Thank you for the apology, but … it’s really not necessary,” Maddie said. “I know you didn’t mean any real harm by what you did.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but I did mean real harm to you when I called Sydney,” Kelly countered. “I didn’t mean harm to your person, but I did want her to drive a wedge between you and Nick.

“Don’t get me wrong, I knew Nick would never fall for her,” she continued. “I was just hoping Sydney would make you so upset you’d snap and make a scene.”

Maddie tilted her head, confused. “Why did you want me to make a scene?”

“Because I thought that was what would finally make my mother like me more than you,” Kelly answered, her cheeks coloring. “I’ve always been jealous of you because … I know this is going to make me sound petty … I’m positive my mother likes you more than she likes me.”

Maddie laughed, taking Kelly by surprise. “Oh, Kelly, you couldn’t be more wrong,” she said. “Everyone thinks their mother hates them at some point or other. My mother and I were very close and yet there were times I knew she liked Nick more than me.

“The truth is, though, no one is every going to love you like a mother does,” she continued. “Your mother adores you. She just doesn’t always understand you.”

“I can’t believe you’re being so nice to me after the way I’ve treated you,” Kelly said. “Not only are you forgiving me, but you also went out of your way to save my daughter last night.”

“That was nothing special.”

“Maddie, I know what John and Nick aren’t saying,” Kelly interjected. “They’re officially worried. They’re not out on a hike. They’re looking for evidence. They think you saved Hayley from something last night … and I happen to agree with them.”

“It was just instinct,” Maddie replied. “I … I would never let anything bad happen to Hayley. I hope you know that.”

“I
do
know that,” Kelly said. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I was hoping we could start over. I promise to stop messing with you and treat you with respect if you’ll give me another chance.

“I don’t blame you if you want to wipe your hands of me,” she continued. “It’s just … you’re going to be in my brother’s life forever. I would like to be a part of the same family you guys are in.”

A wide grin split Maddie’s face. “That sounds like a plan.”

Kelly sighed, relieved. “Thank you.”

“Thank you.”