I stumble forward, emerging around the side of the house into the yard. They both turn sharply. My aunt’s eyes widen.
“Ryan. Darlin’. What are you doing up?”
I ignore her, focusing on Dan. “Did you have an affair with Leah Devereaux?” I demand.
The color drains from his face. He glances at Maggie, then back at me, resigned. “Yes. I did.”
I blink. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting him to admit it.
“Dan,” Maggie warns, but he shakes his head at her.
“It’s fine, Mags.” His gaze finds mine again. “I’m not proud of what I did, Ryan. And although I don’t want to stand here and make a bunch of excuses, your aunt and I were having problems.The twins were so young, demanding all of our time. We were stressed and tired, and I felt…unwanted, I suppose. Underappreciated. And it drove me to make the biggest mistake of my life. I felt lost—” He falters. “And Leah understood. She felt the same way.”
“You cheated on Aunt Maggie?” My voice wavers. This was the man I leaned on, trusted more than anyone here.
“It was wrong,” he says simply. “I knew that then, and I know it now. But it ended before she disappeared. Whatever happened to Leah, I had nothing to do with it.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
Maggie jumps in, her tone brittle. “Because we were trying to put it behind us. For the kids, for us. But now…now I don’t know what to think.” She turns to her husband, her eyes hard and brimming with anger. “If she wasn’t one of Gabriel’s victims, then where is she, Dan? Where the hell is she?”
His face crumples. “I don’t know. But I swear to you, tobothof you, I never would’ve done anything to hurt Leah.”
I want to trust him. Ineedto. But I keep picturing Everett, his quiet grief, his endless questions, and I have no idea what to think.
Clearly, Maggie doesn’t either. “Maybe you don’t know what happened to her, but you’re deluding yourself if you think you didn’t play a part in it. She was leaving her family.”
“I never asked her to leave JP. Not once. Leah was a free spirit. She did what she wanted.” Dan visibly swallows, his Adam’s apple trembling in his throat. “Mags. I’ve been honest with you about everything since the moment I chose you. Choseus.”
Maggie is quiet for several seconds. Finally, she shakes her head and reaches for my hand. “C’mon, darlin’. It’s late. Let’s go to bed.”
She drags me inside the house, leaving Dan alone in the darkness.
I hardly sleep that night. My racing mind keeps waking me up, and by seven a.m., I admit defeat. I dress quietly and leave through the mudroom, heading for the trail. I take off at a brisk walk, hoping to see Everett, but when I find the forest silent and deserted, I make my way to his house, realizing I don’t just want to see Everett—Ineedto see Everett.
Maybe he won’t want to see me. Maybe he’s still reeling about the discovery we made in my father’s bunker. But I’m worried about him, and now that he knows my father didn’t murder Leah, maybe he’ll be able to look at me again without seeing his worst nightmare.
JP lets me in, while the dogs race around our ankles, barking to get my attention. As I bend down to provide unlimited pats, JP smiles and says, “It’s good to see you, Ryan.”
“It’s good to see you too.” Guilt floods my stomach over the way I abruptly quit my job at the shelter after the Valentine’s Day dance. “Is Everett home or did he leave for school?”
“He’s in the shower. Just got back from his run.”
“Do you mind if I go up and wait for him?”
“Of course not. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”
Will he? At this point, Everett’s been on such an emotional roller coaster, I have no idea where his head is at.
I’m nearly at the stairs when I stop and glance at Everett’s dad. It suddenly occurs to me that during my confrontation with Dan and Maggie last night, I neglected to ask one important question.
DidJPknow about the affair?
It bites at my tongue now, but I force myself to tamp it down. It’s not my place to bring it up, at least not without talking to Everett first.
Still, I can’t stop myself from saying, “I’m so sorry about Leah. Not knowing what happened to her.”
Pain flashes in his eyes. “Ev and Nikki aren’t taking it too well. I don’t blame them, I suppose. But it’s been tough, trying to stay strong for them.”
