Page 110 of Sing with Me

“Yes?” Skye wanted him to finish his sentence. A long time ago when she had been grieving for her parents, it took her a while to be able to talk about them. Once she could, the healing began. “Was she like her parents too?”

“She swung back and forth. Sometimes she liked to be with people. Other times, she liked to be alone—not even with me. Just alone all by herself, doing her own thing, in her own room.”

“Her own room?”

“We each have our own home office.”

“Oh, I see.”

Diehl led Skye across a yard of freshly cut grass. Beyond some butterfly bushes, a stone pathway led to the Brooks Cottage backyard terrace.

It was a little bit cooler in the shade, but Skye would prefer to go indoors for the air-conditioning.

“I think the Bishops felt bad for bringing the DNA news, and then while they were here, Elisa was abducted. In a sense, they can’t blame my mom or me. They were here too on Friday night and Saturday morning,” Diehl said.

He was back to talking about the in-laws. Isobel was a memory.

“How much do the kids know about their biological father?” Skye asked. “I wonder if that could have made Elisa run away—if that’s what she was doing.”

“That was one of my first thoughts too.” Diehl unlocked the back door by texting Malik to open it. “Zeta has a sharp tongue, but also loose lips. I wouldn’t put it past them to talk about it in front of the kids or within earshot. Do you think Elisa ran away?”

“You mean to Italy to see her biological dad?” Skye hadn’t thought about that option, but she did now. She followed Diehl up the stairs. “She’s twelve, so they would probably let her fly alone, but she would need a ticket and a valid passport.”

“None of our credit cards were used. Someone might pay for the tickets for her, but her passport expired last month. I haven’t had time to renew it.”

“So we hope she’s still in the country.”

“Hopefully.”

“Best thing we can do is pray,” Skye said.

“Is it?” Diehl asked.

“Well, what else can you do but wait for Detective Jeong to find your daughter? Of course, Ivan’s search party will help. Ultimately, you need divine intervention to keep Elisa safe.”

“I believe you.”

“Believe God.” Skye entered the empty kitchen. There was a note on the table.

Gone to get groceries.

The scrawling signature had a chef’s hat illustration on top of it.

Diehl ran a finger on Skye’s arm. “Warm.”

“Sticky and sweaty,” Skye said. “I need a shower.”

“You can freshen up in one of my mom’s guest rooms.”

“Thank you, but after I show Ethan how to make the cheesecake, I need to go home. I have a lot of things to do before my trip to Miami Beach.”

Diehl nodded. His eyes were on her lips.

Skye slipped away to wash her hands in the sink. She did not want him near her because she was sweating all the way through her blouse, back and front. If she had thought about it before they went outside, she would have stayed indoors. It was a hot afternoon in July. How could she forget?

“Are we okay?” Diehl asked.

“I’m sweaty,” she admitted.

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