Page 12 of Into The Rabbit Hole

“Yes. We should go. It sounds nice, and I’d love to see where we would have lived.” She was trying, and that was perhaps the best she coulddo.

“I’d love that. It would beamazing.”

“When I was in a coma, I dreamt we were in Bora Bora,” she shared. “On the beach. But it was a memory of when I was younger. You and Mom took Wade and I to the beach nearhome.”

“That was a good day. I took every chance I could get to see you. Every single chance I could grab.” The sadness was still in hiseyes.

“Thank you. Thank you for doing that for me.” It meant alot.

“Of course, I’m your…” His voice trailed off and she held his green gaze. “I mean, sure. It wasnothing.”

“You’re my father.” She felt bad for him, at the awkwardness he must havefelt.

“Does it feel weird? I understand if it does, because Ben’s yourfather.”

Although she’d never seen them contend with each other, she got the feeling that there was some definite tension between Ben and Brian. She’d felt it over theyears.

“I’ll get used to it.” She knew she would. “I’ve always had this connection to you, so this should beeasy.”

His eyes glistened with tears and again she felt that tug on herheart.

“Thank you for making this easy. Because I know it must be strange. All I ever wanted was some place in your life. I wanted you to knowme.”

She reached across the table and took his hands. “You did have a place. You were the angel who could make my mom happy, and that was what I knew you to be.” That was the truth. Nothing was truer thanthat.

He clasped his hands over hers and smiled. “My dear littlegirl.”

“Yes.” She smiled back athim.

Just then she heard her mother’s footsteps rushing down the stairs. She hurried into the sitting room with a sick look on her face and her eyes wide withfright.

“Mom, are youokay?”

“Regina, what’s wrong?” Brian asked gettingup.

“Wade,” she barely managed. “He’s…he’s been arrested for murder,” she continued and startedshaking.

Taylor shot out of her chair so fast it nearly fellbackwards.

“What? What happened?” Taylor winced, bringing her hands to up to hercheeks.

“Merissa.”

“Who’s Merissa? Who the hell was thatnow?”

“Oh God, honey, I’m so sorry. There’s a lot to tell you. Let’s do it on the way to thestation.

* * *

Taylor felt dazedwhen her mother filled her in. She told her about Merissa and Wade and theirbaby.

She couldn’t begin to imagine how Wade must be feeling. And now her brother was stuck in jail for murder. He had to be innocent. What was she thinking? He was innocent. Wade would never killanyone.

She tried to call Chloe several times during their journey to the station but each time her phone went straight to voicemail. She called Ben, too, but it was thesame.

It took them about half an hour to get to the station, and another ten minutes to get through the sea of reporters that had gathered outside and had attempted to ask questions as they pushedthrough.

Once inside the station, they hit another stumbling block because the officer in charge wouldn’t allow them to seeWade.