had been flummoxed by Chloe’s angry outbursts. Inexperienced with children, inexperienced with life, she would try to placate Chloe, which only served to make the child more furious. Shelby felt none of that uncertainty with her grandson. She knew that he was suffering. She held the flailing child close as he pummeled her. ‘It’s not necessary. I’ve got him.’
Molly emerged from the trunk carrying Jeremy’s bags of clothes and toys. ‘Hey, Jeremy, you want to keep some toys for the next time you come over?’ Molly asked her brother gently.
‘No,’ Jeremy retorted. ‘Leave me alone.’
‘You come see us again soon,’ Harris said kindly to Jeremy.
‘NO,’ Jeremy shouted.
‘We love you, Jeremy,’ Molly said in a small voice.
‘Thank you, Molly,’ said Shelby. ‘Thank you both. For everything.’
The teenage driver leaned on his horn again, and Harris shook his head.
‘Go on. You go ahead,’ said Shelby.
‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ asked Harris.
‘We’ll be all right,’ said Shelby in a determined voice.
Jeremy bellowed in protest and twisted furiously, trying to escape from her arms.
‘Jeremy, I’m not going to let you go,’ Shelby whispered, but it was a promise, not a threat. ‘Shep’s here now. And Daddy. Daddy has missed you so much. And listen. Your Dad and I are gonna stay right here with you. We’re gonna take care of everything. You’ll see. It’s gonna be all right.’ She was not sure if that was true. But she knew that she had to try and make him believe it.
Lianna and Molly got back into the car. Harris gave the teenage driver behind him a disgusted glance, as if daring him to honk again. Then he slid into the driver’s seat and turned off the flashers. Lianna and Molly waved as he pulled away from the curb. ‘Bye Jeremy,’ Lianna called out sadly. ‘Bye honey.’
Jeremy suddenly stopped struggling and stiffened. He watched the car’s disappearing taillights longingly. Then he gasped, and began to sob anew. ‘I want M . . . mommy,’ he wailed. Shelby pulled him close, and felt his wet tears against her ear, in her hair. She could feel his small heart beating frantically, close to hers, and his grieving cry pierced Shelby’s heart like an arrow. She felt the warmth of his feverish little body radiating against hers.
Rob appeared at her side, and reached for his son. Jeremy reared back and turned his wrathful gaze on his father. ‘Why is Mommy gone? How come Mommy fell in the water?’ he demanded, pointing a pudgy finger at him.
‘I don’t know, son,’ Rob said, opening his arms to the boy.
Jeremy turned his back on his father and huddled against Shelby. ‘You didn’t bring her home. You shoulda brought her home.’
Shelby’s heart was beating fast, and she couldn’t bring herself to look at Rob.
‘I should have,’ Rob said. ‘I know.’
NINE
The next few days they were inundated with calls and visits from friends and neighbors. Most people’s intentions were only the best. Members of Rob’s church arrived and brought covered dishes. Chloe’s co-workers at Dr Cliburn’s stopped by with a flowering plant. Darcie, Jeremy’s preschool teacher, came by with brownies and a favorite book, which she read to Jeremy, several times over.
‘Thinking of you’ bouquets arrived and filled up every surface of the house. There was one from the Markson stores, with a card signed by her colleagues. When she called to say that she was going to stay a while with her son-in-law and grandson, Elliott Markson was said to be too busy to take the call. Shelby suspected that, unlike his Uncle Albert, who was a consummate family man, Elliott did not believe that family came before business. Shelby’s determination did not waver. In fact, she was amazed at how little she cared. If Elliott Markson didn’t understand what she was doing, that was his problem. She would try to explain it to him when she returned to work.
Shelby knew that going back to work was inevitable. In a little over a week the search had exhausted half her savings, and still no trace of Chloe. Chief Giroux sent her an email urging her most strenuously to call it off. Shelby hesitated, frightened by the mounting expenses he had listed, and then insisted they continue a little longer.
Talia called, complaining that their mother was almost incoherent now, slipping in and out of consciousness. It took Shelby a few moments to realize that her sister was completely ignorant of Chloe’s disappearance. When Shelby explained what had happened, Talia hung up abruptly, as if