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I don’t even know what scared me. There wasn’t a nightmare or a sound or something to remind me of what happened. It was just straight up fear. Fear of the unknown.
With this guy still out there, I will always have that unknown in the back of my mind. I don’t even have a description of him. I have nothing to tell the detectives tomorrow, nothing of substance.
“What was it?” Ethan now asks, taking me in his arms and easing me back down on the bed.
“I don’t know,” I reply, swallowing hard, wishing I could tell him what just happened, but even I don’t know.
“You can tell me, Zoey,” Ethan whispers, his lips resting against the top of my head, and I burrow closer to him. I don’t want him thinking I’m keeping things from him, that I can’t tell him what happened. I will tell him, but right now, there’s nothing I can say that will ease either of our fears.
“I know I can, and I love you so much for that,” I say, closing my eyes, the racing of my heart has begun to settle, and my body grows heavy. I start to fall asleep in Ethan’s arms, hoping I don’t wake up again.
“Sleep, Zoey,” he whispers as everything around me finally falls into a hazy slumber.
I wake the next morning, reminded that this isn’t over and that today I have to face what happened, reliving it through my deposition with the detective. I’ve committed everything to memory. Every detail stands out like it has been burned into my brain. It shouldn’t be too hard to tell the detective everything I know, but I have no idea if any of it will help. Without seeing his face or any distinguishing marks, I can’t imagine I’ll be much help.
Ethan is missing from my bed, and I wonder if he’s gone back to his house. It must be weird for him sleeping at my parents’ house when he has that gorgeous home in the mountains. I’m ready to go back there, ready to face what happened and move on from it. I won’t let my abduction ruin Ethan and I living together. I was so excited for us to move in together, and I still want that.
My mom is in the kitchen, her back to me when I walk in, but she still hears me. “How are you this morning?” she asks, her voice loaded with concern.
“I’m okay. I slept,” I say, glancing at the clock and seeing it’s nearly eleven. Saying I slept is about as good as it gets right now. “Where’s Ethan?”
“Your dad took him over to get his car. I think he wants to be the one to take you to talk to the detective,” my mom says, just as Max comes into the kitchen.
“I want to go with you too,” Max announces, and while I love that my family wants to support me, this feels like something I need to do on my own.
“I’m sure you do, but we talked about this last night,” I say to Max, my tone almost a warning to not start an argument with me again.
“I don’t like you doing this on your own,” Max insists, and our mom sighs hard.
“I really need you two to stop. You’re adults, and Max, if your sister says she’s doing this on her own, then you’re letting her.” Her words are firm and they make us both smile, as I hit Max with a side eye.
“Just like you let us take jobs outside of Holden?” Max questions, and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
She turns around, her eyes wide in a warning, and that’s when both of us burst out laughing. While our parents supported our decision to go to college and get degrees, they weren’t one hundred percent on board with neither of us working at Holden. I think they always thought it’s where we’d end up, but we both went entirely different routes.
Holden will always be here. When both of them decide to retire, Max and I will step up and take over, but for now, we’re content with doing something we both love. They’ve come to terms with it now, and I know they’re proud of us. We couldn’t have done it without them.
“I swear, you two will be at each other’s throats and then when it comes to ganging up against me, you’re best friends,” our mom quips, shaking her head.
Seconds later, Ethan comes through into the kitchen with my dad following behind him. They’re chatting about something, both of them smiling, and I love seeing my dad getting along with Ethan. I worried that the age gap and keeping things a secret would make my parents resent him, but it’s been the complete opposite.
They’ve welcomed him into our family, and it feels like he’s been here for years, rather than just a few days. I would guess that a traumatic experience like we’ve all had is something that has bonded us together.
“I’m going to take a shower, and then do you want to go with me over to the police station?” I say, directing my comment at Ethan, but of course my dad and my brother both answer in unison, echoing that they would like to come too.
“I was talking to Ethan. I’d like to do this alone. I don’t need anyone talking over me or asking me questions,” I say, narrowing my eyes at my dad and my brother. Not that I think they mean any harm, they want this guy caught as much as I do, but this is a delicate situation. I want to make sure I share every detail, and I’m not worrying about upsetting anyone with what I say.
I know my dad and Max will be on edge the entire time I’m talking, not that Ethan won’t be either, but I want him to hear what happened, I want him to see if he has anything to add. Max and my parents have shared what they can with the detective already and mostly this involves Ethan and me and our relationship possibly being the reason for my abduction.
“I’ll wait for you here,” Ethan says, and while I know we squashed the issues with Max, I do worry just a little about leaving Ethan alone with him. I’m sure my mom will keep Max in line.
An hour later, we’re on our way to the police station. Neither Ethan nor I have said anything about what we’re going to do. It feels like what happened hangs heavy between us, loaded down with worry and fear. But I don’t want it to be this way. I don’t want either of us to carry this with us. I’m back and I’m safe. I’m here with Ethan, where I belong.
“You ready?” he asks me as he parks the car. I watch him swallow hard, closing his eyes as he takes in a deep breath.
“I don’t want you to feel guilty,” I suddenly say, knowing this is what is causing the silence between us. I can tell he has this weight of guilt he’s been carrying ever since I was found.
“I do though,” he admits, reaching over to take my hand. “I’m having cameras installed at the end of the driveway today. I have added more security boxes all around the lodge and anywhere I feel like might be areas of concern at Badger Creek. While you’ll always be my number one concern, I also know there are other women out there like you and this guy is still out there.”
