“And he gave you Candy’s home phone number?”

“No, he didn’t have it. But he told me the name of the last vet. Candy’s dad was Dr. Allen Roberts. He died last year, so Candy didn’t lie about that.”

“I didn’t think she was lying.” Hannah shook her head when Rose held up the coffee pot. Her mug was almost empty, but now that Andrea had finally started to tell her about the phone calls, she didn’t want anything to interrupt her. “So Candy’s last name really does start with an R.”

“That’s right. I called information for her home phone number, but there was no listing for Allen Roberts. I figured that Candy’s mother must have put it in her name after her husband died, so I got a list of every Roberts in Des Moines.”

“Were there a lot of them?”

“I’ll say! I never thought of Roberts as a common name before, but the operator gave me dozens of numbers. I started calling right away, but I had to stop when Bill came home.”

“But you managed to find Candy’s mother?” Hannah asked, cutting to the chase.

“Right before I called you this morning. She cried on the phone, Hannah. She’s been worried sick about Candy and she was so happy to hear that she’s all right.”

Hannah couldn’t even begin to imagine the stress Candy’s mother had been under. “Did you ask her to come here so we could help work things out with Candy?”

“Yes, and she agreed. I put her on hold and called Sally at the inn to see if there were any vacancies. When Sally said there were, Deana told me she’d throw some things in a suitcase and they’d get on the road right away.”

“They’d get on the road?” Hannah picked up on the plural.

“The three of them. Deana is Candy’s mother. I told you that already. And then there’s Deana’s new husband, Larry. And his daughter, Allison.”

Hannah looked thoughtful. “When did Candy’s mother get married again?”

“The day before Candy ran away. And I know what you’re thinking, Hannah. I’m pretty sure that has a lot to do with it, too.”

Hannah sighed, her heart going out to the teenager whose life had changed so drastically in the past year. “A death in the family, a new stepdad, and a new stepsister. That’s bound to upset anybody. Did Candy leave a note?”

“Yes, and Deana’s bringing it with her. She said she cries every time she reads it.”

Mommy,

I love you so much, and I just want you to be happy. I know you love Larry and he makes you laugh the way Dad used to do. I’m really glad you married him. He’s been good about not trying to take Dad’s place and I know he doesn’t mind it if I call him Larry instead of Dad. If it was just you and Larry, I think we’d be okay. But it isn’t.

I can’t compete with Allison. Larry says she’s perfect and she’s won all those awards. He told me that she’s beautiful, and she sings better than anyone on television, and she makes the honor roll all the time. She’s totally different than I am. And Larry is going to compare me to her even if he tries not to.