“No, it’s not. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.” Kate’s voice trembled as she spoke. “Nobody forced me to go anywhere. I left you and your dad to become a disciple of Love International.” The pain of her decision carved deep lines in her face, but I’d never heard her sound so real and authentic. “God called me, and I went because I believed in them. I thought I was joining a movement that would change the world, and eventually you would join me.” She hung her head as she continued, too embarrassed to make eye contact with anyone. “You must think I’m so stupid. But I waited for you to come. Both you and your dad.”

Scott frowned. “How could we? We didn’t have any idea you were with them.”

“You should’ve talked to Ray,” she said with a hint of anger. “He would’ve explained things to you if you’d have let him.”

“Talked to Ray? I talked to him all the time.”

Something passed through Kate—a memory, recognition, something—and then it was gone.

“I don’t understand.” Her voice slowed. “You talked to Ray?”

“And Margo and Bekah and some other guy that was always with him. There were a lot of them who came out, and I can’t remember their names after all these years. But, yeah, a bunch of people came out from Love International and helped with your search.”

She stared at Scott with a blank expression, like he was speaking a foreign language. “But why didn’t he tell you where I was or what was going on?”

The reality slowly registered on Scott’s face. “Kate, he helped us look for you. He organized search parties and led teams trying to find you.”

I’d watched Kate’s world crumble after Scott had told her about Ray. His brain had been spinning almost as fast as hers.

“How could he do that? I mean, what kind of a man helps look for the woman he’s keeping in a locked cellar? It’s sadistic,” he’d said. He’d called Ray all kinds of names when Kate told him the story. Abbi’s eyes had grown huge at the things that came out of his mouth tonight. She’d only ever heard him use the soft cuss words, and he’d taken it to another level.