Page 47 of Stand By You
“Who says he’ll be returning?”
“Robert! What has gotten into you?” she cried.
“Sh-h-h. Watch your voice,” he warned. “I don’t want Geneva overhearing us. We don’t know how she’d react, and she has been doing so well. I’d hate to see her backslide.”
Geneva felt her breathing get labored as she listened and tried to make sense of what she was hearing. Had her father killed a man? And was he saying to he was going to have another one killed while out of the country? But more important of all, did her parents know where Travis is? Were they behind his abduction?
“I really think we should tell her.” Her mother’s voice drifted into the hallway. “She should know her son is safe.”
“Not yet,” her father said. “Not until we know that the police will not pull her back into the station for more questioning.”
“Very well,” her mother said. “But I think we’re risking how she will react the longer this goes on.”
Geneva listened and heard footsteps approaching. She quickly tiptoed back to the curved staircase and went up a few of them. Then she called, “Good morning, is anyone here?”
Her mother stepped out into the foyer, a pleasant smile on her perfectly made-up face. “Good morning, darling, did you sleep well?”
“I did. Is father still here?” she asked.
“Having coffee in the kitchen. Do you want to join us?” her mother asked. “Goodness, you forgot your slippers.”
She nodded, looking down at her bare feet. “I did, coffee sounds marvelous. I need my morning caffeine rush to fully be at my best. Where’s Esmé?”
“She took the morning off for her doctor appointment. I’m afraid if you want something you’ll have to make it or go out,” her mother said.
“I can do toast,” Geneva said, following her into the kitchen. Once she had her coffee, she put bread in the toaster and leaned against the counter, sipping her beverage and studying her parents. “Tell me what the two of you were arguing about? I could hear you all the way upstairs.”
“It was nothing, just a business deal we are thinking about and have differing opinions over,” her mother said trying to brush her question away.
“I don’t believe you,” Geneva said. “You and daddy never argue. Even over business.”
“We disagree all the time,” her father contradicted sternly. “And it is nothing for you to worry about.”
“It is my concern, especially if you’ve done something illegal,” Geneva said.
There was a silence that fell over the kitchen and her parents exchanged worried glances.
“Do you know where Travis is?” Geneva asked, and her voice rose. “Did you have something to do with his going missing?Because I swear to God if you did, I’ll never forgive you. I’ve been working so hard to get and stay sober so I can get him back in my life. I will not be able to live if you have ruined that for me.”
“I don’t know what you thought you heard, but that isn’t it at all,” her father said.
“Don’t lie to me, Daddy,” Geneva said. “I’m too old for you to fracture our relationship with lies.”
“Geneva,” her mother said.
“I want the truth,” Geneva shouted. “I want to know what you’ve done with my son!”
There was another silence in the kitchen as neither of her parents spoke but stared at one another. Then her mother looked at her and shook her head. “We only wanted to get him away from Nathan. For you. It was all for you.”
The coffee cup in Geneva’s hand shook and the hot liquid sloshed over the rim and onto the floor. “What did you do?” she repeated.
The toast popped up, but she ignored it.
“We hired someone to take Travis and he’s been keeping an eye on the boy ever since at a house we bought for you and Travis to live in together.”
Geneva stared at her father in disbelief. “How are we supposed to do that? When you basically hired someone to kidnap him? Do you think the police are going to believe I had nothing to do with this?” Her voice was loud and high pitched. She sat the cup on the counter and pointed an accusatory finger at them. “How could you do that to your own grandchild? He has to be frightened of being held against his will by a stranger.”
“He knows nothing because he sleeps all the time,” her father said. “He’s given a sedative to keep him quiet.”
