Page 22 of Into The Rabbit Hole

Shenodded.

It was nice that he came. It was always nice to be with him, in the presence of his company. But…as soon as he left and the silence of waiting settled throughout the house, her worriesreturned.

Her worries came back full force and all she could see was Wade. His eyes filled with sadness and grief, his face bruised, the look of love on his face. The way he lovedher.

She’d never give up on him. Notever.

She just had to have hope. Get it fromsomewhere.

* * *

Taylor

* * *

Taylor strokedPisces as she purred on her lap. She sat on the front porch swing, gazing out to the waves, breathing in and out as it graced the shoreline of the beach. There weren’t many people out. She preferred it this way. It was a nice time to observe her surroundings and get lost in her mind. The picturesque view of the clear sea with the sun sparkling off the surface, the golden sand, and the soft azure sky helped to calm her troubledmind.

Poor Wade. What were they going to do? What was he going to do? When she saw him he looked terrible. He said he’d been in a fight with one of the other inmates. They went for him because he’s the state’s attorney’s son. Although Wade won, his face was left battered and bruised.Helooked battered andbruised.

When her mother said that things weren’t looking good for Wade, Taylor refused to believe it. She refused to accept that all hope waslost.

And now in the stillness of the quiet afternoon she still refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done to help herbrother.

“Taylor.”

The sound of her name made her turn her head around quickly. How hadn’t she seenhim?

Wes stood before her with his hands in his pockets, a lock of his curls drifting against his forehead as the salty breeze liftedit.

He’d driven up to the house, parked, and walked up to her, but she’d been so well and truly lost in her mind that she didn’t evennotice.

“Wes. I’m sorry I…” She actually didn’t know what to say to him. It’s funny that, all the time she spent at the police station and the prison, all that time, she thought of him. She was thinking that he’d keep her hopesup.

Everyone was being so truthful, bringing down the hard reality of the situation, highlighting that there was no hope. So she wouldn’t hope. Sometimes, even if the only option was desolation, it was nice to hear someone say, “don’t worry, it’ll be okay”. Wes was thatguy.

But she hadn’t seen him since the Sunday before last, and today was Wednesday. A little over a week since Wade was arrested andcharged.

It wasn’t as if she saw him on a regular basis, but she thought they’d made a connection. Then she thought of the obvious. Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with her because he thought Wade was guilty. If it was one thing she knew, it was that Wade had given Wes a terrible time in high school. He’d bullied him. Of course he would think that Wade was guilty ofmurder.

So maybe Wes was looking for Chloe. “I think Chloe’s at home. She didn’t come bytoday.”

Chloe left yesterday looking like hell. Taylor planned to check up on herlater.

Wes offered a coy smile and something sparked in his brown eyes. “I’m here to seeyou.”

Her heart sped up when he said that. “Really?”

Pisces jumped off her lap and scampered away as she rose from the swing. She brought her hands together and watched him. He came closer and stood just a breath away from her. That cologne he’d always joked about filled her with its woodland musk and made her feel slightly giddy against the hopelessness that weakenedher.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come before. I just wanted to give you and your family some space to deal with what’s happening,” heexplained.

“Do you think Wade’s guilty?” He was entitled to his opinion, and whatever it was, she couldn’t have any resentment towards him forit.

“Forgive me, your brother isn’t my favorite person. I’d be the first in line to give evidence towards him being the devil, but even then, I wouldn’t think that he’s guilty ofmurder.”

Relief washed over her when he saidthat.

“Also, I know what’s been going on with this psycho and your family. Chloe told meeverything.”