Finding Eden(59)

I kept my eyes focused on Eden when I could and looked her way as often as possible when she was turned away for some reason. I watched her talk to a young-looking detective in a suit and she seemed to feel comfortable with him, even laughing softly several times as he jotted down notes. He looked at her with a sort of reverence in his eyes. My stomach twisted in jealousy and I had to remind myself that a reaction like that wasn't normal. We were out in the big society now, the world. Lots of men were going to look at Eden and try to make her laugh. I didn't have to like it, but I also didn't have to act like a jealous idiot.

I had called Xander once the police arrived and a couple hours later, he rang the bell and began being questioned by the police as well.

I hadn't been prepared for that day, and despite my nervousness, something inside me also felt relieved. It wasn't hanging over our heads anymore. And it didn't seem that us not coming forward sooner was an issue anyone was going to press. And maybe now I'd have a name. Surely someone out there knew who I was? Was it possible someone like Eden’s mother cared that I had been missing all these years? Guilt knotted in my stomach when I considered the fact that I could have put someone out of their misery much earlier than this. But I hadn't been ready, and that was the simple fact of the matter.

Finally, as the sun began to set outside the windows, we said goodbye to Xander and then a little while later, the police started to gather their things and leave Carolyn's house, too. Eden came around behind me and leaned over my chair, wrapping her arms around my shoulders and kissing my neck. "We did it, Butterscotch," she whispered. Butterscotch. How long had it been since I'd heard Eden call me Butterscotch? I closed my eyes and welcomed her physical and emotional comfort. Her strength, her resilience, it had given me courage before and gave me resolve now. We did it. We. I wasn't sure if I could have coped with this day without her, but together, we could, I could.

I looked back around at her and smiled. "Yeah, we did."

"And now," she whispered in my ear, "I'm going to cook you dinner and then you're going to sneak into my small, pink, twin-sized bed with me." She frowned slightly. "My mom made up the guest room for you, but we'll work around that." She kissed my ear and I chuckled softly.

I looked around for Carolyn, but she must have been showing the police out. "What does your mom think we've been doing for four days?" I whispered.

"I'm sure she's trying not to think about it," she said, standing and coming around in front of me. "She's sort of in denial about me being a woman. She can't help but regard me as a little girl, I think." She furrowed her brow. "I'm trying to be respectful of that. But there's no way you're going to be under the same roof as me and not be in my bed for at least part of the night," she said, sitting down on my lap.

I smiled at her and leaned forward, kissing her lips and feeling a calm joy descend over me. This wasn't ideal, but we were together. We were safe.

A woman cleared her throat and I looked up to see Carolyn standing in the doorway. Eden and I smiled at her and Eden stood up and went to her, hugging her.

"You did so well," Carolyn said when Eden had pulled away. She came into the room and sat down on the chair across from me. "Now there is going to be news coverage about this ad nauseam, just like there was after Acadia . . . just like there was after your father . . . " She trailed off, looking sad and worried, but then took a deep breath and continued. "The phone isn't going to stop ringing, and you're going to be hounded when you leave the house." She looked from me to Eden and back. "We all just have to be prepared. It will stop eventually, but not for some time. Are you going to be okay with this?"

I bent forward, my elbows on my knees and raked one hand through my hair. "No, I'm not okay with this," I said, sitting up. "But what choice do we have? We'll have to make the best of it."

Eden nodded, coming over to stand next to my chair, her hand reaching for mine. I grasped it, squeezing it three times unconsciously. And suddenly, a peace filled my heart, some inexplicable feeling I had trouble naming.

"Yes," Eden said softly, looking down at me. "We'll make the best of it." She looked at Carolyn. "Mom, obviously we don't want to watch all the news coverage, but is there a way someone can watch enough to give us any information on Clive Richter, or if someone comes forward about Calder?"

Carolyn glanced at me quickly and nodded. "Of course. I'll make sure that happens. So this is a no-TV zone for now. And we hole up for the next few weeks and wait until the worst of it has died down."