Chapter Twenty-One
CHIEF BASSETT’S OFFICE was silent, save for the sounds of Evan’s rapid breathing and the blood rushing through Caden’s ears. Evan sat board straight, with his shoulders pulled back and his hair pushed out of his eyes. He was putting on a brave face, but Caden noticed the slight twitch in the left side of his mouth and his fingers fidgeting with the seam of his shorts. The whole situation sucked. He and Evan hashed and rehashed what had gone down at Vera’s, and Evan told him that two of the other boys were behind the recent rash of break-ins. Caden still couldn’t shake the feeling that if he hadn’t let himself get so involved with Bella, he would have been more attuned to what Evan was going through and more attentive to the changes in his behavior. He might even have been able to avoid the situation altogether, but he knew better than anyone that there was no going backward. He knew what he had to do, and that started with teaching Evan a hard lesson about responsibility, which was why they were at the police station.
“It’s all there on my cell phone.” Evan pointed to his phone, which he’d placed in the center of the chief’s desk. “It was Mike and David who broke into all those places—the campground, the cars at the beach and at that auto shop—and it was them at Vera’s too. I swear I haven’t deleted messages or anything. You can even look at the records.” The strain in Evan’s voice nearly did Caden in. “You can do that, right, Dad?”
“Evan, are there any other kids involved besides the two that you’ve told us about?” Chief Bassett consulted his notes. “Mike Elkton and David Farrell?”
“What about Bobby?” Caden asked.
“No. I told you. Bobby didn’t do anything. It was Mike and David who broke into those other places, and I only know David did it because Bobby told me so. That’s why I stopped hanging out with them.” Evan’s eyes pleaded with Caden to believe him, even though he’d already pled his case back at the house. “I thought they were kidding when they said they’d fingered a car at Nauset, but then I started putting two and two together, and I asked Bobby about it and he told me a day later that they weren’t kidding. They’re the ones who were breaking into places.”
“But not Bobby Falls?” Chief asked again.
“No. I swear it. You can ask him. He stopped hanging out with them when I did.” Evan wrung his hands together and looked from Caden to the chief. “I would never do something like that. Bobby told me that they thought that since my dad was a cop they’d be safe. Like, if my dad found out, there was no way he’d turn them in if I was involved. That was the night I got pissed. Remember, Dad? When Bella was there for dinner? Me and Bobby were chatting online when he said they told him that. I confronted them last night, and I guess that breaking into Vera’s place was payback or something.”
“Evan, we’re going to bring these kids in, and we’ll ask them for their side of the story.” The chief leaned across the desk. “You realize that we have to listen to all sides.”
“Yes, sir. And I know they might try to say that I was involved. But that’s why I’m giving you my phone, and Dad said you could get the records from our online chats. That will also prove that I wasn’t involved.” He shot a worried look to Caden, and his voice escalated. “They can’t fake that, can they? You can search IP addresses to see what messages came from our house, can’t you?”
Caden placed a hand on Evan’s forearm. He held on tight and hoped that Evan would take comfort in his touch.
“Evan, they can do all those things,” Caden assured him. “What Chief Bassett wants to know is if there is anything you want to admit to so that he hears it from you first. Remember my rule. Please, of all times, this is the time to honor it.”
Evan nodded. “I know.” He drew in a breath, and Caden felt him shaking beneath his touch. “We went to Payton’s Campground one afternoon, and I didn’t do anything, but Mike and David left me and Bobby for about twenty minutes, and when they came back, they told us to get the heck out of there.” His tone was apologetic, and his hooded eyes were dreadfully sorry. “That was the time Bella said she saw me and I said she didn’t. I’m sorry, Dad.”
The day just got even worse.
Evan brought his attention to the chief once again. “Bobby told me later that night that they told him they’d broken into a trailer and stolen some stuff, but he didn’t know what. I should have said something, but I was afraid to. I’m sorry, Dad. I’m sorry, Chief Bassett. If I had said something, maybe they wouldn’t have had the chance to break in to Vera’s cottage. And I take responsibility for that.” Evan sat back and covered his face with his hands. “I’m so sorry.” He drew in another deep breath. “Dad, when we’re done here, I want you to take me to Vera’s. I need to talk to her and Jamie.”
“I don’t know, Evan. This isn’t a little thing. Vera could have had a heart attack. They could have hurt her in some other way. She’s stressed. She feels violated and unsafe in her own cottage. Jamie’s livid. His grandmother, the woman who raised him, was put in danger. Do you understand that?” He didn’t give him a chance to answer. “I’m not sure they’ll be receptive to talking to you just yet. They might need a few days to get past this.” Or a few weeks, or years. He had no idea if Jamie and Vera would ever get past it. He needed time to digest it.
“Please? I know all that, Dad. That’s why I need to talk to them,” Evan begged.
“I think that’s a good idea, Caden.” Chief Bassett held a steady gaze on Caden. “You’ll be there to buffer the situation. Unless you worry they’ll retaliate in some way, I think it’s important to give Evan a chance to make amends.”
“Yes, sir.” Caden realized that he hadn’t said no just because of his concerns of how Jamie and Vera might react, but also because he wasn’t ready to face Bella just yet.
“What will happen to David and Mike?” Evan asked.
Caden found it interesting that Evan wasn’t asking about what would happen to him. He must have truly come clean, which was honorable, even if he should have come to him sooner.
“Well, son, that’ll depend on how the investigation goes, and if Mrs. Reed presses charges. And, of course, if those other thefts are confirmed. If you don’t mind, I’d like a word with your father alone. You can wait right outside the door by Ms. Palken’s desk.” Chief Basset nodded a dismissal to Evan.
“Yes, sir.” Evan left the office, and Caden’s eyes tracked him through the glass until he disappeared in the direction of Kristie’s desk.
Chief Bassett leaned back in his chair. “That’s a pisser, huh?”
“That’s one way to put it.”
“You okay?” Chief Bassett asked.
“Yeah. Fine. Just, you know…When it’s your kid, all sorts of stuff goes through your head.” Like if we never moved, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Yes, I do know. Like, what if he had been involved? What if he’d been the one to break in?”
Caden rose to his feet. “Yeah.”
“Don’t be too hard on him, Caden. He did the right thing.”
“I know. Thanks, Chief.”
On the way out of the station, Evan apologized again.
“I know you’re sorry, Ev. You did the right thing by telling us. I just wish you would have come to me sooner, but in the end, you did the right thing, and I’m proud of you for that.”
Evan had been strong throughout the last few grueling hours. He hadn’t shed a tear since they left the boat, and he hadn’t lost his cool. Now, at his father’s words, his eyes dampened again.
“I didn’t mean to mess up so badly, Dad, but I swear to you that I didn’t have anything to do with any of the break-ins. I just wanted friends to hang out with, and then, when I realized what they were into, I didn’t really believe it at first—then I did…”
Caden pulled Evan into his arms. His thin frame shook within Caden’s stable embrace.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I’m so sorry.”
Caden cupped the back of his son’s head and held him close. He’d held him through scraped knees, broken fingers, and hurt feelings. He’d held him through tears shed over an absentee mother, and George’s death, which had sent them both crumpling to their knees. But this, holding Evan after watching him do what most adults wouldn’t have the courage to do—snitch on kids he’d have to face on a daily basis in the fall—this was powerful. Petrifying. This was why he needed to be there for Evan every minute he could.
On the way out of the parking lot, Evan asked to see Vera again.
“Evan, she’s had a terribly hard day. It’s seven o’clock. I think it might be better to wait until tomorrow.”
Evan pressed his palms to his thighs. “Please, Dad? I want to talk to them.”
“As I said, they may not be very receptive.”
“I know. That’s okay. You’ve always taught me to say I’m sorry, and I don’t want to wait to say it.” Evan’s eyes were hooded, tired, but his voice was determined.
Caden knew that Evan would stay up half the night thinking about it if he didn’t take him to see Vera now. He also knew that the longer he waited to talk to Bella, the more difficult it would be.
“Okay.”
The sun was beginning to set when they pulled into Seaside. Evan’s eyes jumped over each cottage on the way around the gravel drive.
“No one’s outside,” he said.
“It’s been a tough day.” Caden looked at Bella’s cottage and caught sight of a shadow through the window. His chest ached with the memory of being with her last night.
He parked by Vera’s cottage and told Evan to wait in the car so he could ask Jamie if it was okay for Evan to come in. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy for any of them, but Jamie had looked like Caden had felt earlier in the day when they were at the urgent care center—ready to tear someone’s head off. He couldn’t protect Evan from what he went through with those kids, but he could, and would, protect him from whatever else he was able to. Jamie had a right to be angry, but Caden hoped he’d be able to control his anger where Evan was concerned, at least until he heard him out.
Jamie answered the door with surprise in his eyes. “Caden.”
“Hi, Jamie. How’s Vera?”
“She’s okay. Would you like to see her?” He stepped to the side, and Caden saw Vera sitting on the couch, reading.
“Actually, Evan’s in the car, and he’d like to talk to both of you.”
Jamie furrowed his brow.
“Jamie, I tried to dissuade him, but he really wants to make amends. We’re just coming back from the police station. He didn’t have anything to do with any of this, and he feels horrible.”
“Jamie Joseph, you let that boy come in and say his piece,” Vera said from behind Jamie. “Hello, Caden. How are you, dear?” Vera peered around her grandson.
“We’ve seen better days. I’m truly sorry, Vera.”
“Yes, dear. You told me that at least a dozen times today, and I do appreciate it. You know I think I scared those boys as much as they scared me. They left as quickly as they came when they realized I was here. I think they expected the place to be empty. Please bring Evan inside. I’d like to speak to him.”
“Thank you, Vera.” Out of respect, Caden also deferred to Jamie. “Jamie?”
“Of course. Bring him in.” Jamie sat down on the couch.
Caden went to the car and leaned over Evan’s open window.
“They’ll see you, but, Evan, don’t expect this to be easy. No matter what they say to you, I expect you to remain respectful. Got it?”
“Yes. I know.” Evan stepped from the car. “I know this is my fault, Dad. I can handle it. I owe them an apology.” Evan followed him inside the cottage. He brushed his hair out of his eyes and stood before Vera, who had settled back onto the couch again.
Caden’s chest constricted as he watched the boy he’d raised stand up and act like a man.
“Sit down, Evan. Please,” Vera said.
Evan sat in a rocking chair beside the couch. He drew in a deep breath before turning his attention to Caden.
“Dad, can you please give us a minute?”
Caden was taken by surprise. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Please?”
The confidence in Evan’s voice was another surprise. He had no idea what his son might say, but he left him to make amends and hoped for the best. He’d handled himself well with the chief, and Caden had a feeling he’d do just fine with Vera and Jamie, too. He walked out of the cottage and over to the grassy area behind Bella’s cottage. He couldn’t stay away. He heard dishes clanking inside, and as he neared her deck, Bella glanced out the window and their eyes met. Caden’s chest constricted as she came outside.
“Hi. How’s Evan?” She hooked her finger in the waist of his shorts.
“He’s okay. He’s with Jamie and Vera.” Man, he loved her. He loved her generous heart, her thoughtfulness, the way she claimed him with one small finger in his waistband. She went up on her toes, and he met her halfway for a tender kiss. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “Bella…” He heard the devastation in his own voice.
Her smile faded. “Caden? What is it?”
Don’t do it. Don’t say a word.
“Caden. You’re worrying me.” She searched his eyes.
“Bella, I think I need to take some time and focus on Evan.” Stop. Just stop before you screw this up. He hadn’t realized he had come to this resolution so definitively until the words left his lips.
“Of course. I assumed that’s why you hadn’t called.” She sighed. “You scared me. You looked so…” She searched his eyes. “Caden?”
“Babe.” He reached for her hand, and she pulled it away. “Look at what’s happened, Bella. Vera could have been hurt. Evan could have gotten into real trouble. If I were more focused on him, this might never have happened.”
“Wh-what are you saying?” Her lower lip trembled.
“Bella, you know what I’m saying. I need to focus on Evan and make sure he gets straightened out.” The pain in her eyes sliced through every fiber of his being.
“I don’t understand.” She lowered her voice, and a tear slid down her cheek.
He wiped the tear with the pad of his thumb and gritted his teeth against the sadness that snaked around his heart and squeezed so tight he could barely breathe. “I’m sorry, Bella,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry, but I’m obviously not very good at being a father and a boyfriend. I’ve failed Evan. I think we need to take a break.”
“I don’t need a break, Caden. You need a break. I want to be there for you and for Evan.” She crossed her arms and turned away. “I thought you were all about commitment.”
“I am. I always said that Evan was my top priority. I never hid that from you.” He touched her shoulder, and she pulled gently from his reach. “I’m sorry, Bella, but I think Evan needs me around right now.”
She turned to face him again with damp eyes. “So this is what you do? The going gets tough and you…end things?” Her shoulders rounded forward.
“That’s not a fair statement. The going gets tough and I…Come on, Bella, I think I’m doing the right thing for Evan. We’re adults; he’s a kid. He needs guidance and attention. I didn’t say I wanted to end things. I said take a break.” He didn’t even know what he meant. He wanted to be with her every second of every day. But he needed to be there for Evan and make sure he got back on the right path without feeling cast aside, and how on earth could he do that if his heart was drawing him out the door?
“I want you, Bella. I just—” He’d kept his eyes off of Evan for too long, and look what almost happened. He needed to remain strong. For Evan.
“Please don’t say any more.” She turned away again, and when she spoke, it was with the same compassionate tone that had reeled him in when he’d first gotten to know her.
“I understand, Caden. I really do. But please, just go. It’s too hard.”
He stood behind her, desperately wanting to wrap his arms around her and press his cheek to hers. He wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but how could he, when he first needed to make sure his son was okay?
He lifted his hands to touch her shoulders—to comfort himself as much as to comfort her—then he lowered them to his sides without ever touching her, feeling impotent and sad.
So, damn sad.