Page 20

CHAPTER 20

Rhea looked at her phone on the table beside her and couldn't help wondering what was going on in Fallport.

A message came in, lighting up the lock screen, and she saw the picture she'd saved for it. Brody and Chip washing dishes together in the kitchen.

It was an utterly normal moment that happened in millions of homes a day. But in her home that moment was such a warm and wholesome moment for her.

Brody might not be Chip's father, but she knew that Chip loved Brody.

It was written on Chip's face every time he saw him.

How was she going to explain that Brody wasn't going to come around much anymore?

Keely cleared her throat. "Is that your husband?"

Rhea felt tears prickling at the backs of her eyes. "No. He's my partner at work."

Keely raised a brow at that. "Oh, okay."

Rhea hoped that her face didn't show the pain she was going through, but if she knew one thing about herself it was that she was a bad actress.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"Okay, then." Keely nodded. "Dessert?"

* * *

Chip wanted to cry.

That man!

That man stank! He was mean, too!

Aunt Bea had tried to help him, and she'd been hurt because of it.

As the man was carrying him out of the backyard, one arm around his body, his other hand over Chip's mouth, Chip was kicking and clawing at the man, but it wasn't doing him any good. The man may stink, but he was strong.

Chip wanted to cry, but he was more angry than scared.

"Damn it, kid. You're fucking dead weight, aren't you, kid. If you weren't worth a thousand in cold hard cash, I'd leave your ass here."

Chip remembered what he'd done the last time he was kicking and screaming, when he'd found out his dad had died.

His mom was trying to hold him and angry at the world, he hadn't wanted to be held.

She had hugged him trying to comfort him but he didn't want comfort, not at that moment, he wanted to kick and scream, but she wasn't going to let him do it.

So he'd gone limp to escape her hold.

With one last kick, Chip went limp and he slid out of the man's arms and down to the grass.

"What the fuck?"

Once Chip hit the ground, he scrambled up on his feet to run away.

"Come back here you little shit."

The man grabbed his shirt and Chip turned his head, sinking his teeth into his hand.

"Ow!" The man hissed and shook.

Chip took off running for the woods behind the house.

And he kept running until he was good and truly lost.

* * *

Brody was riding in the Rig with his cousin when he heard the call come in.

"Rachel? What's going on? I'm working."

"I know, Brody. I've already called Gabriel."

"Gabriel?" He turned to look at Joshua who was riding shotgun. "What?"

The radio flared to life. "Brody? This is Gabriel. Get over to the Hardy house, Missus Hardy has been hurt. I'll be there in a minute."

On the phone, Rachel called out. "I'm here with her now. She's unconscious, Brody."

His heart twisted in his chest and his stomach was in his throat.

"Chip's missing, Brody. I can't find him in the house."

"Shit."

Joshua reached over and flicked the switch for lights and sirens. "Floor it."

Brody's foot was already pushed down. "I wasn't asking permission."

Joshua nodded. "Let's get there."

"Oh, we will."

Joshua reached up to grab the handle above the window. "We need to call Rhea."

Brody felt that in his whole heart. "She hasn't answered any of my texts today."

The hit the corner like it was on a rail and Joshua ground out a few a words. "She was called into court today. Last minute."

Brody nodded. "Okay. They can't use phones in the courtroom." A quick look at the phone told him the time. "She's likely done by now, can you call her?"

Joshua took out his phone and called.

Brody turned onto the street and saw Rachel's car at the curb.

He looked at Joshua. "Stay on the phone. Tell her... Tell her that we're going to find Chip. I'll help Rachel with Missus Hardy."

* * *

Rhea stared at the phone in her hand as she sat in the restaurant. She could feel Keely shifting beside her on a chair, dialing her phone.

"What did you say, Joshua?"

"I'm outside your house now. Brody and Rachel are inside tending to Missus Hardy. Gabriel is on his way. We're going to find Chip, Rhea."

"He's missing."

"Yeah. We'll find him. I'm calling everyone in to help. We will find him."

"Okay." Her hands were shaking and her heart was pounding in her chest. "I'm coming back."

"Okay," Joshua's voice was softer, more intense, "drive safe."

He hung up and Rhea was on her feet, reaching for her wallet to pay her half of the meal.

Keely grabbed her hand and shook her head. "Don't worry about this. Go home. I'm sure that by the time you get there, Chip will be back home.

Rhea staggered away from the table. "I hope so."

* * *

Brody prepared to load the gurney into the back of the rig. Missus Hardy's eyes opened and she found his gaze immediately. "Brody! Brody!" Her voice was painfully soft and her features were twist in agony. "A man... he took Chip."

One of the officers stepped up. "Ma'am did you see who took the boy?"

"He was..." she licked at her lips, wetting them. "He was thin, tall. His shirt was dirty. His jeans, too." She started to cry and Brody moved to her side and took her hand. "He came through the back gate and took him out the same way."

Brody nodded, following along. "Thank you," he lifted her hand, cradling it in his. We'll find him."

He turned to look at the officer. "Can you check for cars on camera? Unfamiliar cars?"

Missus Hardy gripped Brody's hand tighter. "I think... I believe Chip got away."

"You did? You do?" He leaned over her. "Why do you say that?"

She swallowed and her eyelids were growing heavy, but she was fighting it. "I heard him yell. He was angry. It sounded like they started running." Her eyes filled with tears. "Toward the woods."

Brody lifted his head and looked at her house.

The backyard bordered on the woods that surrounded the town.

"Brody?"

"Yeah, Bea?"

She sagged into the gurney beneath her. "Bring him home."

"I will."

She was out again, and she probably hadn't heard his words, but he meant them.

Joshua waved him away and Rachel ran over to help put the gurney in the back of the rig.

"I'll go with Joshua," Rachel told him. "I'll be needed in the clinic anyway. Bring him home."

Brody nodded and waded into the crush around the house, but stopped when he heard a half dozen vehicles pull up.

Ethan Watson was the first one out of the car. The rest of his search and rescue team made their way over.

Ethan held out his hand and Brody latched onto it like a lifeline. "Thanks for coming, Ethan."

The other man nodded. "We came to see how I can help."

As Brody took a breath, he saw Gabriel get out of his vehicle. Roland jumped out a moment later.

Brody chanced a smile. "According to Bea, she thinks that Chip and his... and the man that took him might have gone into the woods behind the house."

Ethan nodded. "Is he familiar with the woods?"

Brody shook his head, his expression darkening. "No. He's just moved here. His father's family are suing for custody."

The men on the team nodded amongst themselves.

Raiden Walker moved in, his search dog, Duke at his side. "Can we have an article of Chip's clothing?"

Brody felt like he might collapse at any moment. If there was any doubt that he loved Chip as his own, it was gone in that moment. "Yeah, come on in, Raiden. I'll grab something out of his hamper."

As he led Raiden inside as Gabriel led Roland through the house and out into the backyard.

Raiden's Dog Duke hadn't spent time with Chip, but Roland?

Brody believed that Roland probably loved Chip as much as he did.

"Here." He handed Raiden a shirt that Chip had worn to school. "This will have his scent."

* * *

Chip heard people moving around in the woods, people calling his name.

He wanted to call out to them, but they sounded so far away.

And he knew that the man who'd tried to take him away was in the woods, too.

He had to be careful.

He had to wait.

But how long?

If he didn't wait long enough, that guy might catch him again and take him away.

But if he waited too long?

He shivered and huddled down in the pile of leaves he'd found, pulling the leaves over him.

"Mom? I need you."

* * *

Rhea might have broken the speed limit on the way back, but so many people were already driving ten to twenty miles over the speed limit, she doubted anyone would notice her.

All she wanted to do.

All she needed to do was get back to Fallport and help them find Chip.

She had to believe that he was out there.

She had to believe that she'd get him back.

When she saw the sign pointing to the turnoff she almost broke down into tears, but she held herself together because she had to.

* * *

Brody kept track of Gabriel with the Find Family app in his phone, but that didn't keep him from searching the woods himself and kicking himself for not taking Chip out in the woods and talk about safety.

It was something they'd done as kids. When you lived that close to the woods, it was a skill to have. And a skill he'd teach Chip when he was found.

He'd do it before he ever let Chip out of his sight ever again.

"Chip!" He called out and then he stopped and listened, training his ears on the woods around him.

No. Nothing.

He moved on, stopped a minute later.

"Chip!"

* * *

Chief Hill was at the curb in front of the house when Rhea pulled up.

He jogged over to open the door and helped her out. "Rhea, let me fill you in-"

"You haven't found him."

The chief dragged in a breath and shook his head. "No. Not yet."

He took her arm and walked her toward the house.

"Beatrice was hurt, we believe she was trying to stop him from being taken."

Rhea pressed a hand on her chest. "She's alive?"

The chief hesitated for a moment, and she looked up at him, her eyes demanding an answer.

With a hard exhale, he told her. "They put her on a life-flight to a Trauma 1 hospital."

Her knees went weak.

It was only the chief that kept her on her feet.

"We have reason to believe that they're both out in the woods."

She swallowed hard and looked up at the crowd on the front lawn.

People were lining up to sign in and search.

A tent had been pitched up and people were organizing under it.

Rhea felt useless in that moment, utterly useless.

There she was just staring at all of these people who were lining up to search for her baby.

She wanted to cry.

She wanted to shout.

And then she wanted to throttle someone.

That someone.

"Chief?"

She reached for his arm and managed to find it without looking.

Rhea was afraid if she turned away she'd lose sight.

"Chief?"

"Yes?"

"There." She lifted her chin. "That man in the t-shirt and dark jeans. Walking around behind the tent."

She felt him grip her hand.

"That's one of my husband's family. I... I don't remember his name, but he's part of the family."

She didn't hear an answer from him, but one moment the Chief was standing beside her and the next moment, he was gone.

Rhea stood there, her gaze fixed on the man she hadn't seen in... years?

He'd been younger. A teen.

He was still skinny, but she could see that he was hurting, scratches on his arms.

And as she watched the Chief of Police grab him up, she wanted to make him hurt more.

She stalked forward, straight for him.

"Where is he? Where is my son!?"

He ducked his head, hiding his gaze from her.

"You better hope that he's okay! You better pray-"

Someone caught her arm and held her back as Simon walked him quickly toward a squad car. Simon met her gaze over the top of the car as he pushed the man inside the cage in the backseat.

"I'm taking him in to question him."

She nodded and found herself sinking to the grass under her feet.

It was all she could do to breathe while she waited for word, so she bowed her head and started to pray.

* * *

Chip was ready to cry. Ready to sob.

All he wanted was his mother.

But he was in the woods, hiding from a man who wanted to take him away and hoping for a rescue.

It had been a while since he'd heard any noise or voices.

He wanted to get up and start walking again, but who knew where that man was?

When he did leave his hiding place, he didn't want to be taken away again.

"I want to go home."

He whispered the words and remembered watching the movie with his mother and Aunt Bee.

"He thought Dorothy had been silly for what she said, but now, he understood.

Chip clasped his hands in his lap and repeated his words again. "I want to go home."

"I want to go home."

He squeezed his eyes shut and pictured his mom and Brody.

He wanted to see them again.

He had to believe he could.

But he was beginning to worry he wasn't going to make it.

"Chip?"

"Please. Please. Please."

"Chip?"

How close were they?

Were they friends? Or that guy trying to take him away?

"Chip?"

That's when he heard it.

A sharp bark and a howl.

"Roland?"

Chip scrambled to his feet, crying out at the pain in his legs.

The excited barking of a dog made him cry out and walk into the open, waving his hands over his head. "Here."

He kept moving toward the sound of the dog barking.

"I'm here!"

"Chip?"

"Uncle Angel! Uncle Angel!"

It felt like a second and forever at the same time, but then there was Roland.

Roland pushing him back into the leaves, licking him all over his face and hands.

Chip was left breathless and giggling as Gabriel stepped up to his side and reached down for him.

It was just a few moments later that Brody came running through the trees. "Chip! Chip!"

"Brody!"

Brody hadn't even stopped when Chip launched himself at Brody, wrapping his arms around Brody's neck.

"Oh, thank God, buddy. Thank God, we found you."

"Brody?"

Brody rubbed his hand over Chip's back, trying to soothe him.

"Are you okay?"

Chip leaned back, his hands fisted in Brody's shirt. "I was scared!"

Brody's eyes were filled with tears. "We've been looking for you."

"Brody?"

"Yeah, buddy?"

Chip broke down into sobs. "I want my mom!"

Brody hugged him close and nodded. "Yeah, buddy. Let's go get you to your mom."

* * *

By the time Brody walked out of the tree line, Rhea had already burst into tears three times.

The moment they got the call that Chip had been found she was already worn out and more than ready to hold her son.

In fact, she only remembered Chip's homecoming as if she'd seen it through a camera.

She'd lost whole chunks of time, but all she knew was that she was still holding Chip in her arms.

Now, she was sitting on the couch, Chip sound asleep on her chest, and her arm was asleep.

Brody sat down beside her, holding out a cup of water for her to take a drink.

When she handed it back to him after a long, thirst-quenching drink, she saw him looking at them both with tears in his eyes.

"I'm so glad we found him."

She nodded and used her fingers to untangle a few strands of Chip's hair. "I still can't believe that they tried to take him away."

Brody shifted on the ottoman. "The Chief called while you were napping and told me what he found out."

Rhea looked up at Brody and prepared herself.

"Margo found out that Charles had a life insurance policy."

Rhea frowned at him. "You mean other than the one we received through Charles' work?"

Brody nodded.

"The policy is payable to Chip."

As the words sank in, her heart dropped.

"Margo wanted Chip so she could get the money."

Brody nodded. "She'd promised Blane a thousand dollars to take Chip, but after spending a few hours hiding in the woods with bugs and nature, he was out. It was just his bad luck that you remembered what he looked like. Otherwise he would have disappeared in the crowd and left town.

"He said he never liked Margo much anyway."

Rhea looked down at Chip who was passed out on her chest, drooling on her shirt. "I can't believe it was all about money. Part of me was hoping that they would realize that they were losing out on his life. Now I know it was just over, what? A few thousand dollars?"

Brody let out a breath. "It's a little more than that." He laughed softly. "You don't have to worry about working long shifts ever again."

She frowned at him.

"Whatever."

Rhea looked down at her son and lifted her hand to wipe away a tear.

"All I want to do is hold onto Chip and never let go."

There was a knock at the door and Rhea started to sit up. "There might be news about Bea. Can you..." She looked at Brody, grateful for his presence. "Can you answer the door?"

"Yeah, sure." He stood up and leaned in to place a kiss on her forehead. She tried not to feel like she should send him away.

Was she just so weak and selfish that she wanted him there.

"Mom, Aunt Helene? Maybe this isn't the right time."

Rhea tensed when she heard Louise's voice.

She didn't want to talk to Louise, especially with Brody in the house, but she didn't want to be rude.

Helene came first, urging her to stay where she was, telling her, "Never wake them when they're sleeping if you can help it." She gestured at her sister-in-law. "We wanted to come and make sure that you and Chip were okay."

Rhea nodded and smiled. "I'm okay now that he's back with me. I'm waiting for news about Bea."

Helene agreed. "Let us know when you can."

"All I know," Rhea told them, "is that she was flown to a level one trauma center in Richmond. Internal bleeding. They think she was kicked when she was trying to keep Chip safe."

Helene touched her arm. "We'll add her to our prayers."

Rhea nodded. "Thank you."

Louise was standing back, hovering but not approaching.

"Mom?"

Brody turned to look at her.

"Is something wrong?"

Rhea could tell by Helene's expression that she knew about the conversation she'd had with Louise.

Louise hesitated, looking between her and her son. "I want to apologize."

Rhea didn't really react, but Brody did.

"Apologize for what?"

Louise sat down beside her son and reached for his hand.

As they sat there in their little cluster, Louise told Brody about the conversation that she'd had with Rhea.

Brody stared at his mother as if he didn't recognize her. "Why?"

He shook his head and leaned in, looking her straight in her eyes. "Why would you do that?"

"I was wrong, Brody. Please. Please accept my apology."

He sat back, folding his arms across his chest. "You shouldn't be asking me, mom. You should apologize to Rhea. I love her. And I hope that she'll love me when it's the right time. And Chip? I love him with everything I am. Today? In the woods? If he'd been hurt or taken away from us? I don't think I could have recovered from that."

Brody looked at Rhea and she smiled.

"Is that why you were hiding from me?"

She avoided Louise's gaze and nodded. "I understood what she was saying. I understood what she wanted for you. And you know I was concerned about how quickly things were moving."

"It's fine when you're the one concerned, honey. You. Me. Chip. We're the three that this affects the most. I love my family, Rhea, but you're a part of that now. When I think about family, you're already there." He flattened his palm against his chest. "You both are in here. In my heart."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small flat box. "Bea has already seen this." He looked up at Rhea and then his mother. "Sunday, I had to do an errand picking this up from the post office. I had to sign for it before they'd give it to me."

He opened the box and Rhea's eyes widened at the sight of the ring almost glowing against the black lining.

As he explained why he'd picked the ring and the stones, she lay there, with Chip asleep on her chest. "I was thinking that I could be that light for you, but Rhea, you're that light. You're the light for me and for Chip. I'm hoping that you'll accept this someday and let me be everything for you."

He looked up at his mother. "Mom. You know I love you, but this... conversation you had with Rhea isn't going to be okay. It'll never be okay. I love her and that's all there is to it."

Rhea saw Louise hesitate, her expression bereft.

Rhea reached out and took Louise's hand in her own.

"I think it's important," she explained, "that Brody has people in his life who love him."

Louise nodded.

"I think that there's plenty of room for both of us." Rhea let go of Louise's hand and held it out to Brody. "Do you have room for me and Chip in your life?"

Brody leaned in for a kiss. "I already have you in my heart, Rhea. Both of you. And there's room for more if you want more kids."

"I'll need to let my heart recover from this fright, first, but it's a no-brainer that I love you, Brody."

He grinned and said the words back. Then he started to laugh softly.

His aunt chided him, but it was Rhea who asked him what his laughter was about.

"It's going to be a great story for the kids that the first time you told me you loved me was in front of the Moms ."

"Well?" Louise looked at her son. "Are you just going to show her the ring? Or are you going to ask her?

Louise helped Brody move the ottomans and then she stood by looking tickled pink when Brody got down on one knee with Chip sound asleep on Rhea's chest.

"Will you marry me and deal with my crazy family forever and a day?"

She smiled. "We've already seen the worst that the Russell family can do. Yours will be a piece of cake." She looked at Brody with love in her eyes. "That's a yes, in case you didn't know it."

Brody took the ring out of the box and helped Rhea settle the ring on her finger.

"It's beautiful," Rhea's voice was soft, almost reverent. "Are you sure," she looked up at him, "you don't want to wait a while?"

Brody picked up her hand and turned it in the light so that the inclusions in the opal caught the light and shone like rainbows in the jewel. "When I was in the woods today, calling out Chip's name. All I could think about was how I didn't want to waste a moment with you, Rhea." He brushed his palm over Chip's hair. "Or him."

"Well," Helene got up first, leaning in to place a kiss on Rhea's forehead, "we should get home and give you three the chance to relax and-"

Brody's phone rang in his pocket, soft enough that they heard it, but not loud enough to wake Chip.

He pulled out his phone and immediately accepted the call and put it to his ear. "Joshua?"

Brody nodded and then he smiled. "Thanks, man. That's the best news, thanks for sharing."

He hung up the phone and Rhea could see the smile on his face.

"What happened?"

He lifted her hand in his and kissed her hand just above the ring. "Joshua got word from the hospital in Richmond. Bea is out of surgery and expected to make a full recovery."

Tears of release fell down her cheeks, but before she could look for tissues to wipe them away, she felt the soft touch of a cloth against her cheeks. When she opened her eyes she saw Louise dabbing at her cheeks with a tissue.

"Welcome to the family, Rhea." She smiled even more. "And Chip. I'm so glad you're here."

Rhea nodded. "Thank you, Louise. It means the world to me."

"And you," she reached out a hand to touch her son's shoulder, "mean the world to Brody. That's all that's really important."