"It was late. I was going to call you this morning. Did you watch the video?"

"Yes. It was eerie. I can see why Dad has gone off the deep end. He must be confused, heartbroken, and angry," Dani said. "His wife faked her death and left him with two small children. It's not surprising he'd be overwhelmed and need space."

Dani was eager to make excuses for our father. She'd always given him more breaks than I had, but then they'd had a closer bond. I had felt more connected to my mother than him. "Well, whatever the reason for his absence, we need to find him before the police do."

"Jeremy said he's going to make finding him a priority."

"I thought I was working with Jeremy," I said.

"Steve just wanted to check in. With Jeremy on the case, you can come home, Brynn."

"I can't do that, Dani. I need to stay close to Mom. I'm going down to the hospital shortly."

"Are you sure you want to keep seeing her, Brynn? It can't be easy."

"It's not, but that video of her saving that man's life made her seem real again. It made me remember she was a good person. Maybe she still is."

"Is she getting any better?"

"I haven't heard anything different."

"You should give Jeff a call, Brynn. He's worried about you."

I hadn't given Jeff one single thought since I'd seen him on Thursday, right before the bottom of my world had fallen out. "I can't talk to him now. Tell him I'm busy and when this is all over, we'll have a conversation."

"That doesn't sound promising."

"It's not, Dani. I'm not in love with Jeff. To be honest, I think I've just been dating him as a distraction."

"But you two have fun together."

"He's fine. It just isn't going to be anything."

"You don't have to decide now. You're upset. Jeff is a good guy, someone you can count on."

"We'll talk soon," I said, hanging up before she could sing any more of Jeff's praises. I'd known there was no future with Jeff weeks ago, and I'd just let things drift along, because that's what I'd been doing in every part of my life. That had changed now. I wasn't drifting. I was caught up in a rip current, a current I wasn't sure I could survive. But that current was also bringing out a strength in me I hadn't known I had.

Grabbing my purse and keys, I left Kade's apartment and went upstairs to the main house. Everything was still locked up nice and tight. I took a shower, changed clothes, and then headed to the hospital.

* * *