“It’s not that easy.”
“It is. She’s a kid. You’re the parent. Make it happen.”
I hated arguing with my brother, but he was right about me needing to be there. I got up out of bed and packed a couple things. We were on the road ten minutes later and I was more nervous than upset.
I didn’t argue with Conner in the truck, knowing he wouldn’t shut up until I admitted he was right. Since I wasn’t willing to do that, I said nothing.
We pulled up at the departures and he unlocked the door. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Who is pickin’ me up? Do I call Ty?”
“No! Don’t call him. He doesn’t know you’re comin’. Colt said he turned off his phone and went to the guest house. In my opinion, Van probably offered to go after him and Colt put his foot down. He may be better with the two of them, but he still gets jealous sometimes. Don’t tell him I said that.”
I shook my head and laughed. “I won’t.”
“Anyway, Colt is comin’ for you. Look for his truck when you come out.”
I hugged my brother. “Thanks for this.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just a messenger. Besides, you need to be with your husband and daughter.”
After finding a customer service representative, I had a boarding ticket and was ready to go. Thirty minutes later I was boarding the plane. I tried to focus on the flight and getting there in one piece, but all I could think about was my need to be with my husband.
Conner had been right about my cousin being there to pick me up. My flight was a little over and hour and Colt was there waiting for me in the arrival lane. I climbed in the truck and reached over to hug him. “How bad is it?”
“We ain’t seen Ty all night. I know he’s over at the guest house, but he won’t answer the phone. Bella’s bein’ stubborn. She refused to eat dinner. Van’s a mess. She thought she was helpin’ and now she’s afraid she’s made things a lot worse.”
“It’s not your fault. None of this is your fault.”
I was being driven into a mess and I didn’t know who I needed to comfort first; my messed up daughter, or my broken husband.
Colt drove us to his house and I wasted no time getting out and running up the porch steps. Van was in the living room, sipping on a cup of tea. She chippered up when she saw me standing there. “Hey.”
I walked over and hugged her. “Stop blamin’ yourself. This ain’t your fault.”
“I feel terrible.”
I looked around and didn’t spot any kids. “Are they all sleepin’ already?”
She shook her head. “The little ones are, but I think Noah and Bella are in his room, playing a video game.”
I walked upstairs quietly and opened Noah’s bedroom door. He was sitting on the edge of the bed playing a game, but Bella wasn’t in the room with him. “Hi, Aunt Miranda. I didn’t know you were here.” He looked like he was up to something.
“Where’s Bella?”
He shrugged and looked even more guilty. “I don’t know.”
“Noah, your mother said she was up here with you.” I put my hands on my hips demanding him to answer me.
“She told me not to tell anyone.”
“You better tell me, right now!” I was raising my voice, demanding an answer and I wasn’t leaving his room until I got one.
“She said she wanted to be alone and for me to not come lookin’ for her.” He knew he was in trouble when he admitted it.
“So, you don’t even know where she is?”
He shook his head. “No. she went out the back door with her bag and a flashlight.”
“WHAT?” I couldn’t believe he let her go outside all alone.
I ran down the stairs, alarming Van and Colt immediately. “She’s gone. Noah said she left a while ago claiming she wanted to be alone. She’s out there somewhere, all alone!”
“Calm down. Maybe she’s with Ty?”
I shook my head. “I have a terrible feelin’.”
Colt went into the pantry and came out holding three flashlights. “Take this. I’m goin’ to fetch Noah and we’ll all start lookin’. Hopefully she’s hidin in one of the barns, or she’s with her dad. Try to calm down, Miranda. She won’t go too far.”
I was freaking out. Clearly, they weren’t considering how devastated my child was. She’d learned that her biological father not only didn’t want her, but was also a murderer. She’d also learned that her perfect aunt had ended his life to save her own. I couldn’t imagine how messed up the child was and I hated myself for allowing it to happen.