Page 85 of Dreaming at Seaside
Chapter Twenty
CADEN DRAGGED EVAN off the boat and drove like a madman toward Seaside. Anger, worry, and guilt swelled in his chest.
“What the heck were you thinking, Evan? You should have said something to me the minute you got that text.” He didn’t mean to yell, but he had no chance of quelling his anger. “Jamie trusted you. I trusted you. Damn it, Evan.”
“I’m sorry. I texted them and told them not to go near her. You can check my phone. I thought they were just messing around with me.” Evan pressed his body against the passenger door. “Dad, I swear, I would never do anything to hurt her.”
“How did they know about her violin?”
“They asked me to meet them one day when I was with Jamie, and I said no. That night we were joking around, and I said something about her playing the violin. I didn’t think anything of it, Dad. I was just talking. I never thought they’d do anything.”
Caden shook his head. “If anything happened to Vera…” What? There were no words to express how he felt. This was as much his fault as it was Evan’s. He’d been so wrapped up in Bella that he hadn’t spent enough time with Evan. He’d noticed all sorts of clues, but he hadn’t spent enough time investigating them. What had he been thinking?
“I want to know who is involved with this, Evan. Even if it includes you. And I want to know every last detail that you know.”It had better not include you. As he sped into Seaside and the police cars came into view, another reality slap slammed into his chest. If it came down to it, could he turn in his own son?
“Do not get out of this truck, and you’d better pray she’s okay.” Caden cut the engine and went into Vera’s cottage. The smell of freshly baked cookies shot another piercing pain through him. A quick scan of the surroundings told him there hadn’t been a struggle. Nothing was overturned. The officer, who he knew from the station, filled him in, and he headed back out to the truck as the others arrived.
Jamie grabbed his arm. “How is she?”
“She’s okay, but they took her to the urgent care to get checked out.”
Pain etched Jamie’s face.
Caden quickly added, “It was precautionary. She was frightened, but no one touched her. Jamie, I’m sor—”
Jamie was already climbing into his car.
Kurt and the others were talking to another officer. Bella ran to Caden.
“What happened? Is she okay?” Fear riddled her words and filled her eyes.
He spoke fast as he hurried back toward the truck. “She was frightened. They took her to the urgent care center. I’m taking Evan there now.”
Bella kept pace with him. “I’ll go with you.”
Caden stopped walking. He fisted his hands, fighting the urge to take her in his arms and tell her Vera would be okay and that he’d deal with Evan. He struggled against the ache burning a hole in his gut because this whole mess was his fault, and when he finally forced himself to speak, his serious, controlled voice surprised him.
“I think I’d better handle this alone. I’m sorry.” He climbed into the truck and sped out of the community, feeling as though his world was shattering around him.
BELLA RAN INTO the urgent care center with Amy and Jenna on her heels. Leanna, Kurt, and Tony had stayed at the cottages so as not to overwhelm the urgent care center. The policeman at the cottages had told them that the kids broke in, and when they saw Vera was home, they took off, but the intrusion had shaken Vera up very badly. She hoped and prayed that Vera was okay.
They found Evan standing against the far wall of the waiting room with his back to the door. Caden was nowhere in sight. Bella went to Evan.
“What’s happening?”
Evan turned with a shrug. His face was pale, his eyes sorrowful. “They won’t tell me anything. Dad’s in with Jamie. Bella, I swear, I didn’t know they were serious when they texted.”
“Okay. I believe you.” She turned and nearly toppled over Amy and Jenna. “Let me go see if I can get any information.” She left them with Evan and went to the registration desk, where she was able to speak to Bones.
“Hi, Bella.”
“Hi. Sorry to bother you, but our friend Vera Reed came in and I wanted to see how she was doing.”
Bones’s eyes softened. “Oh.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “She’s with a police officer and her grandson. I can’t let you back unless she gives us the okay.”
“I don’t need to go back. I just want to know if she’s okay.”
He nodded and held up a finger; then he disappeared down the hall. When he returned a few minutes later, Bella was relieved to see him smiling.
