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“They’re not exactly close. But it’s a big property. If they wanted to hide out, they could.”
“It’s worth checking out. I’ll get someone on it.”
Colton moved away to assemble a team to head to Mark’s parents’, leaving me alone with Mark.
“I know you said to stay out of it, but I might be able to help.” We’d already figured out that Drew was most likely with Kendall.
Mark nodded tightly. “I was upset.”
It was understandable, but it still hurt. I wanted to say we should talk about it when Kendall and Drew were home, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth. I couldn’t offer false platitudes either. Mark wouldn’t want me to.
“Are you going to stay here?” I asked.
“It sucks not being able to search for her.” Mark’s face twisted, and I wanted to reach for him. To soothe him. But it wasn’t the time or place. Especially since he’d pushed me away.
“The best place for you to be is here. When she comes, she’ll see your face.” I remembered the pain of knowing I’d never see my mother’s face at home again.
“Maybe that’s what Kendall had been struggling with—a fear she’d never see her mother again.” I was thinking out loud.
Mark winced. “It’s a possibility. I should have talked to her about it.”
“She’s only a kid. I don’t think you were wrong in keeping her in the dark.”
“Parenting is full of difficult decisions. I feel like I’m making my way in the dark most of the time.”
“But it’s also learning to listen to your intuition.”
Mark pulled out his phone. “I’ll text Kendall and tell her Melanie is coming to see her. That she’s worried about her.”
“Maybe her mother being here will be enough to draw her out.”
Colton came over to us and must have heard part of our conversation because he said, “That could work.”
Mark pulled out his phone to deliver the message.
“I’d better head to the bakery.”
“I’ll get a deputy to drive you,” Colton offered.
It wasn’t the right time to talk about what any of this meant for Mark and me. There’d be time after Kendall and Drew were found safe. I tried not to think about what it would mean if we didn’t. Or if Mark decided the best thing for Kendall was to move back to her home in Indiana.
My head ached. How had things gone so off the rails in just a few short hours? Kendall was gone. Drew was, too. My relationship with Mark was in jeopardy.
Mark might feel pressured to keep their family intact. What if he decided that it would be irresponsible to continue something with me?
I’d always known something like this would happen. I’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was always something—my mother dying, Mark enlisting, and now this. We were destined to hurt each other.
We weren’t what each other needed. I should go back to finding the nice, safe guy. The one who lived and worked in Annapolis all his life. His family was from here. And he’d have no intention of ever leaving. Maybe he’d never traveled like me, too. Except the idea deflated me. I’d tried that, and it didn’t make me happy.
What did it say about me that I liked the guy who was impossible instead of inevitable? I wanted the complicated relationship, not the easy one. I was seriously messed up.
ChapterTwenty-One
MARK
Ilooked up from my phone in time to catch Sophie getting into a patrol car.
“She’s going to the bakery in case the kids show up there. We’ll find her.” Colton’s hand was a reassuring pressure on my shoulder.
