Chapter Twenty
It didn’t matter how deep into the recesses of his brain Andrew reached, he couldn’t find a witty story or clever joke or sexy anecdote for the situation. Susan insisted she wanted to join him for lunch, that it was miles better than being stuck in the house, alone with her thoughts.
Now she sat across from him, picking at her pasta, and not eating anything.
“It’s true, there are other options.” She stabbed a noodle. “I haven’t exhausted my Round One.” She speared a piece of chicken. “But this chance was so good, and—” She dropped her fork, and it clattered to the plate. “Why is he doing this? What did I do wrong?”
Andrew didn’t want to filter his thoughts. It wasn’t a priority for him under normal circumstances, and this was anything but. However, he had a feeling he’s a vile old man who hates anyone who isn’t like him was the wrong answer. He didn’t know how to approach this. “You didn’t do anything wrong. If he can’t accept that, it’s not your fault.”
That drew a flash of a smile that faded in an instant.
Andrew had the waiter box up the rest of Susan’s lunch, paid, then pulled her to her feet. “Come on,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m up for a mall montage, if that’s where we’re going.” She didn’t withdraw her hand from his as they walked toward the parking lot.
He intertwined their fingers. “It’s not. I’m not taking you shopping unless I get to help you try on clothes.”
“You have to wait until tomorrow for that.” She peeked up at him through her lashes.
“Why tomorrow?”
“I figure I’ll be all cured and happy again by then. Sleep and chocolate fix everything, don’t they?”
“I think that’s exactly how it works.” He wouldn’t call her on the false cheer. A genuine hope lingered underneath, and that was a nice change. “I’m going to kidnap you for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Unless you have objections.”
“I get a say in my own kidnapping? Seems dangerous. No objections.”
He drove along one of the back roads, twisting and winding toward the summit—a location he discovered a couple trips ago that always seemed to be deserted. She probably saw views like it all the time, growing up, but he thought it was stunning, and it would do her some good to get away from everything for a few hours. They didn’t say much on the half-hour drive. Each time he glanced at her, she was staring out the window, the glass reflecting her sad expression.
He parked a few feet from the main road, and took her hand when she hopped from the SUV. Snow-covered trees stretched out behind them, and a guardrail separated the road from a several-hundred-foot drop.
Susan made her way to the edge and looked down. A soft gasp floated from her. “It’s gorgeous. I didn’t know a spot like this existed.” She spun, to see more of the landscape, never untangling her fingers from his. Her awe was contagious. Nearly tangible.
“You’ve never been up here?” he asked.
“No. I love it.” A sharp gust of wind tore through the afternoon, and she shivered.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into his chest, not realizing what he’d done until he held her close. Didn’t matter. He wasn’t interested in letting go. Especially when she leaned more weight into him.
“I was driving. I stumbled on it.” He rested his chin on her shoulder and kept his voice low. His phone rang, shattering the mood. It was Kandace. “I should get this.”
“It’s fine.” Susan took a few steps back. Some of the lines had vanished from around her eyes and mouth, and her voice was lighter than earlier.
“Hey, sis.”
“Oh God. I’m so glad you’re there. Lucas is missing.”
The bottom dropped from Andrew’s world. It wasn’t just the words, but her panicked tone. “Missing, how? When?”
“He stayed at a friend’s last night after therapy. I got a text from him, saying he was there, and another this morning, checking in. But the school called, and he never showed up. His friend’s mother says he was gone before she woke up. His friend said he left in the middle of the night, crying, but he didn’t want to wake up his parents, because he was scared they’d be mad, so he didn’t tell them until after school.”
Jesus. Andrew rested against the SUV, thoughts spinning out of control. “It’s a fluke. He’s somewhere safe, and his phone is dead. What did the cops say?” He didn’t have to ask if she called them.
“They’re asking questions. Have a current picture. He’s only ten. They just left to start looking, and I’m going to gather everyone in the neighborhood. I hope you’re right and he’s someplace I haven’t thought of.”
“I’ll be there in an hour. Forty-five minutes if I punch it. Call me if anything changes.” He was going to be sick. It didn’t matter how many reassurances he sent through his head, none stuck. He disconnected and looked up, to see Susan standing next to him.
“I’m going with you,” she said.