She’d picked up the second pillow, and now it slipped out of her hands. When tears swam into her eyes, she closed them, squeezed tight. ‘‘I thought I could live without ever hearing you say that. Now I need to hear you say it again so I can get my breath back.’’

‘‘I love you, Grace.’’

Her lips curved, her eyes opened. ‘‘You sound so serious, almost sad when you say it.’’ Wanting to see him smile again, she held out a hand. ‘‘Maybe you should practice.’’

His fingers had just touched hers when the screen door slammed downstairs. Feet pounded on the stairs. Even as they jerked apart, Seth raced down the hall. He skidded to a halt at the door to his room, then stood, stared.

He glanced at the bed, the sheets not quite smoothed out, the pillow on the floor. Then his gaze shifted, and filled with a bitter fury that was much too adult in his young face.

‘‘You bastard.’’ There was loathing in the tone as he snapped at Ethan, then disgust as his eyes locked on Grace. ‘‘I thought you were different.’’

‘‘Seth.’’ She took a step forward, but he turned on his heel and ran. ‘‘Oh, God, Ethan.’’ When she started to rush after the boy, Ethan took her arm.

‘‘No, I’ll go after him. I know what he’s feeling. Don’t worry.’’ He gave her arm a squeeze before walking out. Still, she followed him to the steps, worried sick. She’d never seen such dark hate in the eyes of a child.

‘‘Damn it, Seth, I told you to hurry up.’’ Cam slammed in the front door just as Ethan hit the bottom of the steps. Cam glanced up, saw Grace, and felt a grin tug at his mouth. ‘‘Oops.’’

‘‘I don’t have time for lame jokes,’’ Ethan shot back. ‘‘Seth just took off.’’

‘‘What? Why?’’ It struck him even before the word was out. ‘‘Oh, shit. He must have gone out the back.’’

‘‘I’m going after him.’’ He shook his head before Cam could protest. ‘‘It’s me he’s pissed off at right now. It’s me he figures let him down. I have to fix it.’’ He glanced up to where Grace sat on the steps. ‘‘Look after her,’’ he murmured to Cam and headed for the back door.

Ethan knew Seth would have headed into the woods, and he had to trust that the boy wouldn’t run too far into the marsh. He was a survivor, Ethan thought. But relief shimmered through him when he heard the rustle of brush and old leaves.

It was simple enough to spot where Seth had veered off the path. Ethan pushed through tangled vines, the prickle of briars, and followed. The leaves on the trees that arched overhead blocked the glare and the worst of the sun’s heat. But the humidity was immense.