Page 41 of Unburied

He lifted one shoulder, completely at a loss. “Maybe she felt she couldn’t. Maybe she thought she’d go to jail and you’d be alone again. Desperate people do stupid things all the time.”

Vivi nodded slowly. “She could have covered it up.”

“Possible.” He nodded. “She’d have reached out to someone she could trust.”

Vivi’s chest hitched. “Like Elijah.”

His thoughts exactly. “We should talk to him. Can you call and see if he’ll meet up with us?”

Vivi nodded her assent, but her face was tinged slightly green like the thought made her sick to her stomach. He couldn’t imagine what she was thinking or feeling right now. If this had truly happened to her…

Anger burned in his stomach. He wanted answers on her behalf. He stood and moved around the table to her, then knelt next to her chair. He cupped her face in his hands. “Whatever we find, I’ll be right here.”

“Okay.”

The word was a whisper, but he saw the truth of it in her eyes. She was putting her faith in him—and he wouldn’t let her down.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Elijah had agreed to meet with them under the condition that they do so on his lunch break. He hadn't said as much, but Vivi had a feeling he wanted to keep it away from family so he didn't have to bring up the bad memories around his wife and kids.

Mason held the door for her as she stepped into the restaurant and removed her sunglasses so she could see better. Scanning the small room, she found Ellen’s son seated at a table in the back corner near a window. He lifted a hand as his gaze met hers, and she offered a little wave in return. Mason fell into step next to her, and Elijah greeted Vivi with a hug before offering his hand to Mason.

“Elijah.”

“Mason Kane.”

Elijah waited until they were seated before turning his attention back to Vivi and speaking. “How is the house coming along?”

“Good. Still packing things up, getting them moved to the storage unit.”

“I appreciate it,” Elijah said with a little nod.

“I actually came across a few of your things too,” Vivi said. “I set them aside if you want them.”

He smiled. “God, I can't even begin to imagine how old some of that stuff must be. I'll be sure to stop by and get it out of your way.”

“It's no problem,” she assured him. “There were some yearbooks and things I figured you might like to have.”

“Great, thanks.” His gaze jumped between Vivi and Mason.

She waited for the inevitable question as to whether she and Mason were dating, but the waitress stepped up next to the table to take their orders. Once she was gone, Vivi looked back to Elijah. “Have you had a chance to speak with your mom lately?”

The corners of his lips turned down. “No, how is she?”

“More bad days than good.” She made a little face. “I stopped in to see her a few days ago, but she didn't recognize me.”

Elijah’s face fell and creased with sympathy. “I’m sorry, Vivi. That must be hard for you.”

She lifted one shoulder and threw a grateful look Mason’s way when he dropped his arm over the back of her chair and lightly rubbed her shoulder. Vivi turned her attention back to Elijah. “I really don't have any room to talk. I mean, you're her son.”

“But you're her daughter,” Elijah said. “In her eyes, in all the ways that matter, you're just as much a part of the family as I am. Maybe more.”

He sat forward in his chair and looked at her. “After Christine passed away, mom fell into a deep depression. But having you come live with her changed things. You breathed life into her, gave her a reason to get up every day and go on. I don't want to say that you were a replacement for Christine, because that wouldn't be fair to either of you. But know that I appreciate everything you've done for my mother, and I know that Christine would too.”

Tears clogged Vivi's throat and stung her eyes, and she took a moment to battle them back before speaking. “She's more of a mother to me than my own ever was, and it kills me to see her like this.”