“Iwon’t,” I insisted, while knowing I could never promise something like that.“And TJ is safe right now. Webothare. But like I said, I have beenthinking about sending him home. Because you’re right; he shouldn’t be involvedin this. It’s not good for him to be here, and it’s not helping me at all toworry about him.”
Hehesitated, and part of me hoped he would demand I send our son back to him. IfI could have made the choice over again, knowing what I know now, I never wouldhave dragged him onto that plane in the first place. I would have come aloneand held tightly to the assurance that my only son was safe at home. But justas I’d hoped he’d demand for TJ to be with him, I also hoped he’d insist it wasfine and that he was only overreacting, as foolish as I knew it was to hope fora lie. I just didn’t want to be left alone.
“I’lllook into flights,” he finally said, and my heart soared as my stomachplummeted.
“Okay,”I replied, nodding.
“I’lltext you the details when I book the flight,” he said, relieved. “Are you sureI can’t get you a ticket, too?”
“No,”I answered, shaking my head. “I know it sounds crazy, but I need to do this. Ican’t explain why, I just—”
“Youdon’t have to explain anything to me, Rosie,” he replied, using the tone I hadfallen in love with so many years ago. “Whatever you need to do, I accept it,even if I don’t understand it. I just want you to be safe. Please. And if youwon’t do that for me, do it for TJ. Okay? Don’t do anything stupid, for him.”
Isniffed a sad little laugh. “I never do.”
“Iknow. But now really wouldn’t be a good time to start.”
Wesaid our goodbyes and I hung up to face my angry son, betrayal heavy in hissorrowful eyes. He shook his head and snatched his phone from my hands, beforestanding from the couch and heading toward the entryway steps.
“Thisisbullshit,” he shouted, close to tears. “You wanted to do thistogether. And now, you’re sending me away.”
Sighing,I scrubbed my hand over my face. “TJ, your dad is right. Keeping you here couldbe putting you inserious danger. You’ll be a lotsafer at home and—”
“Yeah,and what about you? You don’t need to besafe?” he mocked, sneering, andfurrowing his brow.
Iopened my mouth toreply, whenthe front door opened.My lips clamped shut, as I steered my eyes toward the doorway, and in walkedAlec, looking even more unkempt than he did when he left that morning. His eyesbounced between us, obviously noting that mother and son were once again in themiddle of another heated argument, before they settled on me.
“Rosie,can I speak to ye for a moment?” he asked, dropping his messenger bagunceremoniously beside the armchair Rick had occupied earlier that day.
“Sure,”I said, standing and unofficially putting an end to the conversation with myson, who took the hint and huffed his way up the stairs, where wehearda door being slammed shut.
Wincing,I shut my eyes and shook my head. “Sorry.”
“What'reyeapologizin' for?”
Imotioned toward the stairs with lazy flourish. “You know. That.”
“Yewerefightin' again?”
“Always,”I grumbled, as I opened my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. “I told hisfather I think it’s time he goes home.”
Alecnodded. “It's a good idea. This situation …” He frowned and mirrored my stance,before shaking his head. “I don’t like where it'sheadin'.Hell, if I'mbein' honest, I don’t like the idea ofyoubein' here either.”
Scoffing,I looked away from his insistent eyes and the way they seemed to silently begme to leave on the next plane with my son. “Well, I'm going to tell you what Itold my ex. There's no way I'm leaving, not now. I need to make sure that—”
“Ididnaesay I don’t understand it,” he interrupted,his tone soft yet firm. “And clearly, ye've already madeyerdecision, and I'm notgonnatry to changeyermind. I'm just grateful ye've also decided to takeyerson out of the equation. That's one less thing to worryabout.”
Turningback to him, I nodded firmly. “His father is looking into flights now.”
“Good.”
Then,I asked, “Did you find anything out today?”
Alecsighed and loosened his arms, as he walked to the couch and sat down. “Aye. Ireceived a call today from a woman, who had discovered a bloody shoe in thewoods near her house.”
“Thewoods where you found Gracie,” I guessed, my voice a hoarse whisper.
Iwatched him nod. “It was hers,” he replied.
