Chapters (97)
- Cover
- Back Cover Text
- Praise
- Booklist
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Eighty-Eight
- Eighty-Nine
- Acknowledgments & A Personal Note
- Excerpt
Kayla did her best to welcome Emma into their lives. Ben knew that for Kayla, Emma’s presence had upset the equilibrium of their father-daughter universe, changed the dynamic of their survivors’ unit. He knew how hard it was. Even now, a year into their marriage Kayla was still having trouble making room for Emma in her grieving heart.
Tug’s bark pulled him from his thoughts. Someone had come in. He went to the kitchen where he found Emma.
“You’re home early,” he said reading concern in her face. “What is it?”
She stood at the counter, hands shaking, cupping her face. He got her a glass of water and she recounted her close call with Carson. Listening, nodding at the seriousness of her ordeal, he took her into his arms.
“I almost lost him, right in front of me,” she said into Ben’s chest. “There I was in my office and he was a few feet away intent on ending his life.”
“But you stopped him, Em. You saved him.”
“Yes, but it was just dumb, stupid luck.”
Tug barked, Emma lowered herself and hugged him, letting him lick her face, just as Ben’s phone rang.
“Mr. Grant, this is Shawna Voight at the attendance office of Kayla’s school.”
“Yes?”
“In keeping with our policy, I’m calling to inform you that Kayla had an unexcused absence today.”
“What?” Ben turned to Emma: “Kayla wasn’t at school today.”
“I texted her all morning. She never responded.” Emma got her phone from her purse to check it.
“Are you sure?” Ben said into his phone. “There has to be a mistake.”
“She did not attend any classes today,” Voight said. “As a result she’ll need a handwritten explanatory note when she returns. Because this is her second instance, a third will mean truancy and her case will go to the Attendance Review Board for follow-up action. And, Mr. Grant, looking at her file, a reminder that Kayla’s past behavioral incidents, her outbursts at teachers, will be taken into consideration by the Board. Sir, we’re aware Kayla lost her mother several years ago and we’ve been sympathetic but there are policies. Kayla could face suspension.”
“I understand. Thank you, Ms. Voight,” Ben ended the call.
Momentarily bewildered, he dragged his hand over his face and shook his head, barely noticing that Emma, her back to him at the counter, was staring at a letter before sliding it back into her purse.
“She didn’t go to school?” Emma said, turning to him. “Then where is she?”
Six
Cielo Valle, Orange County, California
Present day
Tug kept pace with Ben as they moved through Suntrail Sky Park. Ben scoured the grassland hills and tangled brushwood ascending the twisting pathway with a sick feeling squirming in his stomach.
Kayla had to be here somewhere. Let her be safe.