Chapter Twenty
CADEN DRAGGED EVAN off the boat and drove like a madman toward Seaside. Anger, worry, and guilt swelled in his chest.
“What the heck were you thinking, Evan? You should have said something to me the minute you got that text.” He didn’t mean to yell, but he had no chance of quelling his anger. “Jamie trusted you. I trusted you. Damn it, Evan.”
“I’m sorry. I texted them and told them not to go near her. You can check my phone. I thought they were just messing around with me.” Evan pressed his body against the passenger door. “Dad, I swear, I would never do anything to hurt her.”
“How did they know about her violin?”
“They asked me to meet them one day when I was with Jamie, and I said no. That night we were joking around, and I said something about her playing the violin. I didn’t think anything of it, Dad. I was just talking. I never thought they’d do anything.”
Caden shook his head. “If anything happened to Vera…” What? There were no words to express how he felt. This was as much his fault as it was Evan’s. He’d been so wrapped up in Bella that he hadn’t spent enough time with Evan. He’d noticed all sorts of clues, but he hadn’t spent enough time investigating them. What had he been thinking?
“I want to know who is involved with this, Evan. Even if it includes you. And I want to know every last detail that you know.” It had better not include you. As he sped into Seaside and the police cars came into view, another reality slap slammed into his chest. If it came down to it, could he turn in his own son?
“Do not get out of this truck, and you’d better pray she’s okay.” Caden cut the engine and went into Vera’s cottage. The smell of freshly baked cookies shot another piercing pain through him. A quick scan of the surroundings told him there hadn’t been a struggle. Nothing was overturned. The officer, who he knew from the station, filled him in, and he headed back out to the truck as the others arrived.
Jamie grabbed his arm. “How is she?”
“She’s okay, but they took her to the urgent care to get checked out.”
Pain etched Jamie’s face.
Caden quickly added, “It was precautionary. She was frightened, but no one touched her. Jamie, I’m sor—”
Jamie was already climbing into his car.
Kurt and the others were talking to another officer. Bella ran to Caden.
“What happened? Is she okay?” Fear riddled her words and filled her eyes.
He spoke fast as he hurried back toward the truck. “She was frightened. They took her to the urgent care center. I’m taking Evan there now.”
Bella kept pace with him. “I’ll go with you.”
Caden stopped walking. He fisted his hands, fighting the urge to take her in his arms and tell her Vera would be okay and that he’d deal with Evan. He struggled against the ache burning a hole in his gut because this whole mess was his fault, and when he finally forced himself to speak, his serious, controlled voice surprised him.
“I think I’d better handle this alone. I’m sorry.” He climbed into the truck and sped out of the community, feeling as though his world was shattering around him.
BELLA RAN INTO the urgent care center with Amy and Jenna on her heels. Leanna, Kurt, and Tony had stayed at the cottages so as not to overwhelm the urgent care center. The policeman at the cottages had told them that the kids broke in, and when they saw Vera was home, they took off, but the intrusion had shaken Vera up very badly. She hoped and prayed that Vera was okay.
They found Evan standing against the far wall of the waiting room with his back to the door. Caden was nowhere in sight. Bella went to Evan.
“What’s happening?”
Evan turned with a shrug. His face was pale, his eyes sorrowful. “They won’t tell me anything. Dad’s in with Jamie. Bella, I swear, I didn’t know they were serious when they texted.”
“Okay. I believe you.” She turned and nearly toppled over Amy and Jenna. “Let me go see if I can get any information.” She left them with Evan and went to the registration desk, where she was able to speak to Bones.
“Hi, Bella.”
“Hi. Sorry to bother you, but our friend Vera Reed came in and I wanted to see how she was doing.”
Bones’s eyes softened. “Oh.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “She’s with a police officer and her grandson. I can’t let you back unless she gives us the okay.”
“I don’t need to go back. I just want to know if she’s okay.”
He nodded and held up a finger; then he disappeared down the hall. When he returned a few minutes later, Bella was relieved to see him smiling.
“She’s okay, and she’s talking up a storm. They’re just monitoring her. I’m sure she’ll be released soon.”
“Oh, thank goodness. Can I bother you to just ask Caden Grant, the officer who’s with her, if he wants me to take his son back to my place? I hate to leave him here.” She pointed to the waiting area, where Jenna and the others were hovering around Evan.
“Sure. Hold on.” He left again, and returned quicker this time. “He said to leave Evan here and he’d take care of him.”
He said to leave? Leave? Caden’s response took her by surprise. She thanked Bones, even though she was tortured inside, and drew in a few deep breaths before returning to the others.
“Well?” Jenna asked.
“They said she’s okay and she’ll be released soon.” She touched Evan’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
He shrugged.
“Your dad should be out soon. Do you want me to stay with you until he comes out?”
“No. I’m okay.”
Bella didn’t hesitate before wrapping her arms around him. She was surprised when he returned the embrace.
“Call me if you need me, okay?”
He nodded. “Bella, I swear, I really didn’t know about any of this. I told Dad everything I knew.”
“That’s good, Evan. I’m just glad she’s okay.”
They went back to Seaside and joined Leanna, Kurt, and Tony on Leanna’s deck. Pepper pawed at Bella to be petted, and Bella crouched to love him up as she filled them in. They sat in silence afterward, digesting the terrible turn of events.
“Man, Bella. Was Evan into some deep trouble, or was he just hanging out with the wrong kids?” Tony asked. “I never would have expected this.”
“No one did. I think—I hope—he was just hanging out with the wrong kids. Last night he told Caden that he wasn’t going to hang out with them anymore, and from what he said on the boat, they got pissed because of it.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Who does this sort of thing? They could have given Vera a heart attack.”
“What did Caden say?” Jenna tucked her hair behind her ear. “Can you imagine? He’s not just a parent, but a cop.”
“I don’t know. He said he wanted to handle it alone. I guess he’ll call when things settle down.” The way he’d looked when he’d told her he had to handle it alone made her stomach sink. Then again, this wasn’t like everyday bad behavior. This was a hundred times worse.
They turned at the sound of Jamie’s car pulling into his driveway. Amy’s eyes filled with tears. Tony put his arm around her as they descended the stairs to the deck. Jenna grabbed Bella’s hand.
“Thank goodness she’s back,” Jenna whispered as they went to greet him.
Jamie opened Vera’s car door and reached for her hand.
“Goodness gracious. What a welcoming committee.” Vera smiled and patted her hair. “I must be a mess.”
“You’re perfect, Gram.” Jamie walked with one hand on her lower back, the other firmly holding her arm.
“How do you feel, Vera?” Bella asked.
“Oh, Bella dear. I’m okay. I was just a little rattled, that’s all. I don’t think those boys expected me to be home, and I think I startled them as much as they startled me.” She shook her head as they entered her cottage. “The police thought they were after my violin, because when I came out of the bedroom, one of them had it in his hands, but he dropped it before he ran back out the door.”
“I’m so sorry—”
Vera interrupted her with a gentle touch on her arm. “Bella, I know you’re worried about Evan, and believe me, if I thought this was Evan’s doing, I would say so. As I told Caden—bless his heart, he is as devastated by this as poor Jamie is—I don’t think Evan orchestrated this. He was too remorseful. Call it a gut feeling.” She lowered herself onto the couch, and Jamie fluffed a pillow and slid it beside her. “Thank you, dear.”
Bella wanted to know how the whole awful situation had come about in the first place and how Evan was holding up, but Caden could fill her in later.
“I’m sorry, Vera. This is my fault, too. I brought Evan here and introduced him to Jamie.” She lifted her eyes to Jamie’s and ached at the disappointment in his dark eyes. “Jamie, I’m so sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known, Bella,” Jamie said flatly. “I think we’d better let Gram rest.”
Outside the cottage, Kurt breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness she’s okay. What a nightmare.”
Bella had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She needed to find out the complete story, not only for her own peace of mind, but for everyone else’s, as well. She wanted to call Caden and see how he was holding up. She knew he was devastated, but she also knew that he needed time to deal with Evan.
“We’re going to stay at the house tonight,” Kurt said as he pulled Leanna close. “Will you call if anything comes up?”
“Of course,” Bella said.
Leanna hugged her. “Hang in there, Bella. I know you’re worried about Caden and Evan, but you heard Vera. She doesn’t think he was involved. And he did speak up when he thought something was going on. Call me if you need me.”
“I will, thanks.”
Tony draped an arm over Bella’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s all go to my deck and commiserate.”
“I’m going to get some munchies. I’m starved.” Jenna hurried back to her cottage.
“I’ll get iced tea.” Amy ran onto her deck and disappeared into her cottage.
Bella leaned against Tony as they walked back to his deck. “Tony, how will we get past this? No one will ever look at Evan the same again.”
Tony tightened his grip around her shoulder. “Bell, I think I remember hearing a story about three girls who snuck out one night, broke into a certain family’s cottage, and drank all the beer in their fridge.”
Bella had buried that memory long ago.
“And the way I heard it, those girls lied about being involved and admitted it only after a certain skinny little blonde puked her guts up.” He stopped walking and shifted his eyes to Amy, heading down the gravel road toward them.
“Do you have a point, or are you just into reminding me that I was once a delinquent, too?”
“First of all, my chunky-dunking, firework-exploding, toilet-carrying friend, you are still a little bit of a delinquent. My point is, did everyone treat those teenagers any differently afterward, or were there a few days of disappointed looks and meaningful discussions to help the girls understand why they shouldn’t have done it?” He arched a brow and kissed the top of her head. “It’s gonna be okay, Bell. We all love you, and I don’t think anyone here will assume the worst about Evan unless you tell us that this was all his doing.”
“What are we talking about?” Amy carried a pitcher of iced tea. She’d thrown a sundress on over her bathing suit and she was juggling plastic wineglasses.
Tony took the pitcher and glasses from her arms. “I was just telling Bella to breathe.”
“That sounds like good advice.”
Jenna joined them on Tony’s deck a few minutes later with a bowl of pretzels and a container of hummus. “Terrible situations make me hungry.” She lowered herself into a chair, then patted Bella’s leg. “Any word from Caden?”
“My phone’s in the car.” Bella rose.
Tony patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll get it.”
Amy stared after him with a dreamy look in her eyes.
“Hey, puppy eyes.” Jenna tossed her a pretzel.
“Sorry. Habit.” Amy shoved the pretzel into her mouth.
“You guys, tell me what you’re thinking right this very second.” Bella prepared for worries about Vera followed by, It sucks to be you. I can’t believe Evan lied to everyone. How can we ever trust him again?
“I’m so relieved that Vera is okay, and I wish Jamie hadn’t looked at you the way he did,” Amy said. “Oh, and Tony’s got a nice butt.”
“You noticed that look, huh?” Bella asked.
“I noticed that look, too. I’m glad Vera’s okay, and I wish you didn’t look so worried.” Jenna popped a pretzel into her mouth. “Oh, and I agree about Tony’s butt.”
“Ugh.” Bella buried her face in her hands. “That look sucked, but I don’t blame him.” She reached for a pretzel. “So, you’re telling me that neither of you is sitting here thinking about how Evan screwed up? Or wondering if he was behind the whole thing, if he sent them to Vera’s?”
Jenna and Amy exchanged a concerned look.
Amy touched Bella’s hand. “Bell, he said he wasn’t involved, and he turned them in. Have a little faith.”
Faith. There’s that word again. “I’ve been thinking about fate, and I do have faith in Evan. I believe him, but I’m worried that everyone else might not be as forgiving. And what if he was behind it? How will I ever face Jamie and Vera again? And Caden? I know he blames himself. I saw it in his eyes.”
“In a case such as this, Bella dear…” Tony dropped her cell phone in her lap. “Do as my mama always said. Wait until the coffee brews to determine if it stinks.” He settled into a seat beside Amy with a loud sigh.
“Come again?” Bella said as she scrolled through her phone.
“Wait until you talk to Caden to worry about what’s next. Don’t stress over things that aren’t clear.” He grabbed a handful of pretzels and handed a few to Amy.
“He hasn’t called.” Bella sighed.
“It might be hours. He’s got a lot to deal with right now, and he’s probably grilling Evan so he can have those kids arrested. The police said they were gone when they got here.” Amy topped off her glass with iced tea. “I’m glad I’m not in that house tonight.”
“Funny, I’d give anything to be right there by his side. No matter how hard it gets.”