Chapter 13
Maggie hadn’t said a word since they’d left the diner. She returned from the restroom with puffy, red-rimmed eyes, appearing
ravaged by grief. Josh wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her—comfort them both. But Zoey looked on and Maggie wouldn’t
want to frighten and confuse her.
Somehow Josh held it together while Rocky told him stories about Ethan. When the man was called back to work, they exchanged
heartfelt hugs and promises to keep in touch.
Now Josh glanced in the rearview mirror. Zoey talked to herself, her chatter barely filtering through his fog of disappointment.
Yeah, he’d told himself they were only coming here to eliminate all doubt. But that seed of hope had sprouted in both of them.
He could only imagine what Maggie was feeling, but they’d been unable to talk with Zoey nearby.
Following the guidance of the GPS, he turned into a residential neighborhood and spotted the destination ahead. He shut off
the navigation, then pulled along the curb lined with two-story homes situated on small lots.
“Where are we?” As if awakening from a long slumber, Maggie glanced around, looking lost, and he felt a pinch in his chest.
“At a park. I thought we could let Zoey burn off some energy before the trip back.” He shut off the engine.
“Okay.” Maggie got out, moving slowly.
“Zoey, stay put a minute, okay? I’m gonna help your mom with something.”
“Okay.”
After turning up the playlist of her favorite songs, he exited the car and met Maggie at the back. Those big brown eyes were
so sad. Her wet eyelashes clumped together. Pink bloomed on the tip of her nose.
He opened his arms to her, and she fell into him, clutching him tightly. His embrace seemed to unleash a torrent of sorrow,
and the raw sound of her grief wrenched his heart. “I know, honey. I know.”
“I... I let myself hope he was—” Her words broke off on a sob.
“I know. Me too.” His eyes stung as he tightened his arms around her and buried his face in her hair. He wished he could absorb
all her pain. That he could carry it for both of them. “I’m sorry this is happening.”
The familiar smell of her hair, the warmth of her body, and the softness of her skin comforted him. For a while there he’d
let himself hope he might have his big brother back. Hope his family might be whole again. But it had all been a ridiculous
dream.
And now grief was wrecking them all over again. At least they hadn’t told his parents and sister. They’d be spared this second
wave of sorrow. He never should’ve let Maggie hope again.
Though he still couldn’t conjure a rational explanation for the Ethan look-alike who roamed Seabrook.
Maggie shuddered as she brought her sobs under control. “He seemed pretty certain... didn’t he?”
Josh hated to remove that last thread of hope, but it would be unkind to allow more false hope. “He did.”
“And you—you believed he was telling the truth?”
“No doubt in my mind, honey. The whole thing left him pretty messed up.” He kissed the top of her head. “We were wrong. We
hoped for the best and we hunted down the answers we needed. We did what we had to do.” And now it was over.
Her body shuddered reflexively. “I don’t like the answers.”
“I don’t either.”
She drew back, studying his face in a way that drew heat to his cheeks. She feathered away the dampness on his cheek. “Are
you okay?”
He tried for a smile but it wobbled and gave way. “I’ll get there.”
“You always take such good care of me. But who’s taking care of you?”
“We take care of each other. And we’ll both be just fine.”
“I don’t like seeing you so sad.”
“I don’t like seeing you sad either.”
They took each other in, time suspended in a way that sent Josh’s mind back to a December evening when they’d shared that
monumental kiss.
Just as quickly, guilt torpedoed the memory.
“We should get Zoey out before the car gets hot.” She withdrew from his arms and wiped her face dry. “Do I look okay? Can
you tell I’ve been crying?”
Mouth tipping in a mirthless grin, he plucked a wet strand from her temple and brushed it back behind her ear. “You’re good
to go.”
Maggie went to open Zoey’s door while Josh collected his phone. He shut off the rousing strains of “Let It Go” as Maggie helped
Zoey from the car.
“Ready to play at the park, Chickadee?”
“Are there swings?”
“There sure are.”
Josh checked both ways, and as they crossed the street, he caught Zoey studying her mom’s face.
“Did your friend make you sad, Mommy?”
Josh traded a glance with Maggie. That daughter of hers missed nothing.
Maggie offered Zoey a smile. “Yeah, honey, I guess he did. But I’ll be okay.”
“That wasn’t very nice of him.”
“He didn’t mean to make me sad. Sometimes it’s nobody’s fault.”
Zoey’s brows furrowed as they stepped up onto the curb and headed toward the playground. “Like when Swishy died? That made
me very sad and it wasn’t my fault.”
“That’s right. Goldfish die sometimes. It was nobody’s fault.”
Zoey tugged Maggie to a stop in the grass and held her arms up.
Maggie picked her up and Zoey wrapped her arms around Maggie, squeezing her in a hug. “Feel better now, Mommy?”
Josh met Maggie’s gaze, finding her eyes wet with tears.
“So much better, honey. Thank you. I love your hugs.”
A moment later Zoey wiggled free and Maggie set her down. The girl ran toward the playground, her little legs eating up the
distance.
“Uncle Josh! Come push me high on the swings!”