Page 35 of Christmas Homecoming Secrets

“Sounds like she’s got everything covered.” Jade paused. “Unless someone came by and picked him up.”

“Maybe, but there’s no way to tell. His security system wasn’t armed, and he doesn’t have cameras.”

“What about a neighbor’s system? Maybe one of them caught something.”

“Already thought about that,” Heather said. “The officers who went house to house asked and no one has a camera facing Frank’s home.”

Well, that was just fabulous. Jade sighed. “Okay, thank you for the update. Hang in there, my friend. We’ll figure it out.”

“Yeah.”

“And Heather?”

“What?”

“Please don’t say anything to Bryce about Mia. I’m going to tell him, I’m just biding my time right now.”

“You know I wouldn’t say anything.” Jade grimaced at the hurt in Heather’s voice.

“I didn’t mean to imply that you would, I just—ugh. You know people only say that to make themselves feel better. It’s no reflection on—” She rubbed her eyes. “Never mind. I can’t say anything right.”

“It’s okay, Jade. I know you didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just super sensitive right now. We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Sure.”

Jade hung up, texted the information to Bryce, then went to get ready to face the day.

An hour later, she stepped into her parents’ house to find the tree standing in the den ready to be decorated. The scent of fresh popcorn greeted her, and she drew in a deep breath. “Hello, anyone here?”

Mia’s head popped out of the playroom at the end of the hall, and she bounded out to greet her. “Hi, Mommy.”

Jade caught her up in a hug. “Hi, sweetie. Wow, you’re getting heavy. Have you been eating popcorn?”

“No way. That’s for the tree. I’ve been eating cookies.”

“Oh, my bad. Of course.”

“Wearegoing to decorate the tree, right?”

“Yes, ma’am. As soon as one of Mommy’s friends gets here.” Just saying the words sent her anxiety skyrocketing. Bryce was coming here. He would meet Mia and she was going to have to explain everything.

“What friend?”

“His name is Bryce.”

“Does he like kids?”

Jade blinked then let out a low laugh. “Yes.”As long as they don’t belong to him.

Her mom stepped out of the playroom with Gage right behind her. “Hello, darling.”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Gage and I are going to fix us some lunch. Mia, you want to help?”

“Sure.”

“And you,” her mother said to Jade, “need to go have a heart-to-heart with Jessica.”