Ask Mariah (33 page)

Lily squeezed Rose's hand as they approached the busy street by the harbor. "We did it. We found the boats. Let's go."

"We have to wait until the little man starts to walk," Rose said. "Remember, Daddy says you always wait for the little man."

They waited another minute or two. Finally the light turned green, and the little man came up on the screen. They ran across the street as fast as they could. Rose was relieved to make it to the other side. She had worried about what they were doing, but now that she could see the boats, she felt better. "Where's the park?"

Lily stood on tiptoes and looked around. "I don't see it. Maybe we'll find it if we keep going."

They walked along the sidewalk, heading toward the grassy area that her dad called the Marina Greens, They'd flown kites there one day in the spring. She loved flying kites with her dad. He made them go really high. In fact, she loved her dad a lot. Sometimes, when she closed her eyes, she couldn't even remember her mother. Especially since they'd met Joanna. She wished Joanna wasn't sad. Maybe they could make her feel better if they could find her. Maybe Joanna and Mama were together, like she and Lily were together. That's the way sisters were supposed to be.

"There sure are a lot of boats," Lily said. "Do you remember what that man's boat looked like?"

"I think it was red. Or maybe blue. Definitely not white," Rose said.

"It had some flags, I think."

"And the side of the boat had a lady's name on it."

Lily crinkled up her nose. "Ashley."

"Or Amber." Rose started to worry again. How were they going to find their mother? Or Joanna? There were so many boats. "I'm getting hungry," she said.

Lily stopped and opened her backpack. "Do you want some peanut butter crackers?"

"Okay."

"We'll have a picnic on the grass."

"Where?"

"Over there by that family. We'll pretend we're with them so no strangers will come and talk to us."

Strangers -- she had forgotten about that.  They weren't supposed to talk to strangers or cross the street by themselves or leave the house. Daddy was going to be really mad.

* * *

Joanna walked into De Luca's with trepidation. Everyone was there -- all the people she had faced the night before. And now her adoptive mother was with her, too.  Caroline Wingate, an ash blonde in a sea of brunettes, returned each stare with one of her own. Joanna had never seen her mother appear so tough, so resolute. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at her bravado.

"This is ..." Joanna stopped, not sure how to introduce Caroline any more. She certainly couldn't call her "Mother" in front of Sophia. "This is Caroline Wingate."

Caroline looked disappointed at her introduction, but she didn't say anything. She simply nodded as various De Luca family members said hello.

Joanna could feel the tension in the room, anger and resentment boiling beneath the surface. She was surprised to see Sophia and Vincent together, or the other members of the family for that matter. She was not the only one to suffer from lies; her half brothers had also suffered, and as she looked from Frank to Tony, she realized that she wanted to get to know them. No matter what happened with Sophia and Vincent and Caroline, she wanted to know the two men who shared at least half her blood. That is, if they were willing to get to know her. But that would have to wait until later. Right now, they needed to find the children.

Vincent rapped out orders like a drill sergeant. "The police are conducting their own search, but we know this city as well as they do. Tony will look down by the docks. Frank will check out this block and the next, all the shops and restaurants where the girls like to go. Linda and Sophia will take the playground."

Michael looked at Joanna. "Where do you think we should go?"

"The Seacliff house and the school to start."

"Will you come with me?" His gaze met hers, and she knew there was more behind his statement than a simple invitation to join the search. She couldn't say no, not even if it meant spending more time with him, not even if it meant falling more deeply in love with him. He needed her. That was all that mattered.

"Yes. I'll come with you."

"Louis and I will check out the neighborhood around our house," Vincent continued. "Rico will stay here and answer the phone. Everybody else spread out and start looking."

"I'd like to help, too." Caroline stepped forward. Vincent and Sophia stared back at her without speaking. She turned to Michael. "What can I do?"

He hesitated a moment and then said, "You could stay at my house in case the girls come home.  We'll drop you off there on the way to the school."

"Whatever you want," she said. 

The three of them didn't speak on the way to Michael's house. Joanna had no words and apparently for the moment her mother didn't either. When they reached Michael's house he let Caroline inside, then returned to the car.

As he slipped the key into the ignition, Joanna put her hand over his. He looked at her with his heart in his eyes. "We'll find them," she said reassuringly.

He nodded. "I know we will. Thanks for coming."

"You couldn't have stopped me. I love those little girls."

"They love you, too." He started the car and drove quickly to the school.

The yard was empty. Joanna unlocked the door to the school and they searched the classrooms even thought it was unlikely the girls could have gotten inside.

"They're not here," Michael said in frustration as they took one last look around Joanna's classroom. "I thought they might be here since this is where they found you."

She felt sick at his words. This was her fault. If she hadn't gone to the party last night, if she hadn't run out on the children, they wouldn't be missing.

They were only six years old. How could they survive in the big city? She thought of all the things they didn't know how to do. She thought about how little they were. She thought about how scared Rose got when she heard a ghost story.

Joanna impulsively put her arms around Michael's waist and hugged him. Whatever comfort, whatever strength she could give him was his to take as he needed. "I'm sorry, Michael," she whispered. "I shouldn't have gone to the party last night. I should have taken care of everything in private."

"It's not your fault. You had every right to confront Sophia the way you did. You were right about the De Lucas -- all the lies, the deceit -- it's no wonder the girls ran away. They don't know who to trust, least of all their father."

"Now, that I don't believe," she said firmly. "I've spent a week with Lily and Rose, and they love you and trust you, even if they can't say it."

"I want to believe you, but people keep leaving me, dammit. First my mother, then Angela, the girls ..."

"Shhh." She put a finger over his lips. "The girls haven't left you."

"You're leaving, too, as soon as we find the girls." His eyes dared her to refute his statement.

The pain in his eyes bothered her. None of this was his fault. "You didn't do anything wrong, Michael, but you're a De Luca."

"My name is Ashton."

"But your heart is De Luca. You love Sophia. And you loved Angela."

"That doesn't mean I can't love you, too." He drew in a breath. "But we'll talk about this later -- after we find Lily and Rose. Because I'm not going to just let you go, Joanna."

They returned to the car and drove across town to the Seacliff house. It was also empty. She was somewhat relieved the kids weren't there. She couldn't imagine how they would have gotten so far on foot. They checked in with Caroline several times during the day, then proceeded to double-check the playgrounds and the neighboring houses, occasionally running into various members of the De Luca family as they did so. Michael checked in with the police several times, but Lily and Rose were still nowhere to be found. 

It was past six o'clock when they returned to De Luca's. The restaurant was open for business, so Michael and Joanna bypassed the main dining room and headed toward the back room where the family was gathered.

Sophia came over immediately, her dark eyes worried. "Did you find them?"

"No," Michael replied through tight, tense lips. "Excuse me, I have to speak to Vincent for a moment."

Sophia glanced at Joanna. "Do you want something to eat or drink?"

Joanna shook her head. She still found it hard to look Sophia in the eye. It was difficult to believe this woman had given birth to her, this woman with dark eyes, dark hair, and olive skin. She seemed like a stranger, yet she didn't.

"Are you all right?" Sophia asked.

"I have no idea." Joanna folded her arms across her chest, feeling defensive. "So much has happened so fast."

"Did you speak to your -- your mother?" Sophia seemed to have a hard time getting the word out.

"Yes." Joanna paused, knowing she had to ask Sophia one last question. "You had an affair with my father, didn't you?"

Sophia sucked in a quick breath of air at her abrupt question. "Who told you that?"

"It wasn't difficult to figure out."

"I cared about your father, Joanna. We were friends. We would see each other when he came to the city on business. One night we made a huge mistake."

"Great, I was a mistake," she said bitterly.

"Not you. Our act was a mistake. We were married to other people. We didn't have the right to be together. We both knew it. It was one impulsive moment borne out of loneliness."

"That was it? One night?"

"Yes. I didn't see him again for almost a month and then I had to tell him that I was pregnant."

"That must have been quite a shock."

"It was. You see I knew how long he and his wife had been trying to have a baby. It was the only part of the decision that made sense to me. I knew he would take care of you, love you. He did love you, didn't he?"

Tears gathered in Joanna's eyes, but she blinked them away. "Yes, very much, and my mother did, too. But that doesn't excuse you for giving me up, or them for the lies they told."

"No, of course it doesn't." Sophia's eyes filled with a sad longing. "But I'm glad you were raised by good people and that they treated you well. You're a beautiful young woman, Joanna. You would make any mother proud to have you as a daughter."

Joanna turned away. She couldn't take any more, not now. It was too soon. She walked over to the bar and poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher. As she took a sip she saw Sophia go over to Michael. They exchanged a few words, then Sophia hugged him as a mother would hug a son. It was easy to see the love between the De Lucas and Michael. How could she take Michael away from this family? He needed them. 

Michael walked over to her. "I'm going back out."

"We've been everywhere."

"I know, but I can't stay here. I'll just drive up and down the streets until I find them."

Before he could move, Tony walked through the door, his face grim, his eyes bleak. In his hand was a bear.

"Oh, no," Joanna whispered. "Peter Panda Bear."

Michael grabbed it out of Tony's hand. "Where did you get this?"

"I found it on the grass in the middle of the Marina Greens."

"Rose wouldn't have left her bear behind." Michael twisted the fur between his fingers. "Something's happened to them." His eyes filled with fear as he looked at Joanna. "I can't lose my kids. God help me, I can't lose them."

"At least we know they were down by the marina," Joanna said. "Why would they go there? Did Angela take them to see the boats?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"She was on a boat when she died. Would she have taken them to that boat?"

"She could have. I don't know," he shouted. "I never knew what the hell she did."

"Marco Picchetti," Tony interrupted. "Angela mentioned Marco had a new boat. That she'd taken the girls to see it."

"Does this Marco have a black mustache?" Joanna asked, remembering the girls' story.

"Yeah, he does." "He was at her funeral," Michael said. "Do you know where his boat is, Tony?"

"If it's anywhere in this city, I can find it."

* * *

"I'm scared. I want Peter Panda Bear. I want Daddy. I want Joanna." Rose sobbed as Lily dragged her along the dock.

"We're trying to find them," Lily said.

"We're never going to find them. We're never going to see them again." She stopped walking and stomped her foot. "I want to go home now."

"We can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know how to get home," Lily admitted.

"I knew it. We're lost, and it's getting dark. I don't like it when it's dark."

"I'll hold your hand. It will be okay."

"Mama's dead," she said.

Lily's eyes widened. "Don't say that."

"It's true. She's dead, and she's in heaven, and she's never coming back."

"But she promised."

"I want Daddy. I want to talk to him."

"You can't."

"Yes, I can!" Rose cried. "She's not coming back, Lily. Even if we tell Daddy about the man with the mustache, it won't matter."

"She promised," Lily repeated, starting to cry. "She promised."

Rose put her arms around her sister and hugged her. This time she had to be the big sister, the strong one. "It will be okay, Lily, Joanna will find us. Mariah said so."

* * *

"We've been to every boat on every dock. Where the hell are they?" Michael asked, completely at his wits' end.

"Come on, man. Don't lose faith now," Tony said.

"Faith?" Michael laughed harshly. "Faith in what? Happy endings? I haven't had one yet."

Joanna slid her arms around Michael's waist and pulled him close to her. He buried his face in her hair, and she could hear his ragged gasps for air. She didn't say a word. She just let her quiet calm soothe away his fears.

When she stepped back, she saw Tony watching them. His face was a mixture of emotions -- sadness, bewilderment, and acceptance.

"You're not her at all," he muttered. "You're not even close."

Joanna didn't know if that was good or bad, but it didn't matter anymore. She couldn't change who she was. They would just have to get used to her.

"Let's go back to the house," Joanna suggested.

"Your mother would have called if they'd come back."

"Maybe there's some clue we missed," she said desperately. 

"Fine, it's worth a try," he grumbled.

When they returned to the house, Caroline met them in the entryway, her eyes anxious, as if she really cared, Joanna thought. Maybe she did care. Caroline loved children, even those that weren't hers. Joanna's stomach clenched at the reminder.

"They're not here?" Joanna asked.

"No," she said. "I was hoping you'd found them."

Joanna glanced at Michael and Tony, who were staring at the picture over the fireplace, a portrait of the twins taken when they were three years old. They were dressed in matching pink frilly dresses with pink bows in their hair. Lily had her arms around Rose, her expression a picture of pure delight. Rose looked into the camera warily, as if she were afraid it might reach out and grab her.

"They're so little," Michael said softly.

"They're tough," Tony replied.

Joanna went to stand next to them. She laced her fingers through Michael's. "They're also together. That has to be worth something. Let's go through their room."

A few minutes later, Michael said, "There's nothing here," as he slammed the last drawer shut.

Joanna stared at the crystal ball on the nightstand. It glittered in the light, calling her closer. She couldn't help but respond. The wizard inside was beautiful, dazzling. She looked almost real. Joanna felt her heart skip a beat. Mariah, Magic. Was it possible?

"How does this work?" Joanna asked Michael.

"What?"

"The wizard."

"I don't know. I don't have time to figure it out."

"Michael, we have to try."

He stared at her incredulously. "You think that wizard will tell you where the girls are? It's a toy."

"The girls believe in her. They told me she sent them to me."

"I sent them to you. I picked up the phone and called the school."

"But how did you come to call that school on that day?"

"There was a list on the table. The nanny left me a list." He thought back to the fire, to the paper, to the beer that had spilled across it. Was it possible? No. He didn't believe in magic, but he couldn't help looking at Mariah.

"Oh, what the hell," he said, striding forward. He picked up the ball. "Do you know where Lily and Rose are, Mariah? Can you help us find them?"

Nothing happened.

He ran his hand across the top of the globe. A light flashed in his eye.

"Where the saints meet the sea, the girls will find thee," Mariah said, "Don't be rash and leave too fast; it's best to check everywhere, even the trash."

"What the hell does that mean?"

Tony spoke from the doorway. "The St. Francis Yacht Club."

Michael looked at Joanna. "I can't believe I'm listening to a toy wizard. I don't believe in this stuff."

"You used to," Tony said. "Remember that fortune-teller at the fair?"

"Her fortunes never came true,"

Joanna smiled at Michael, at the emotions warring on his face. "Sometimes you have to believe in the impossible," she said. "No matter what the odds."

His eyes met hers, and slowly he nodded.