Goodbye Secrets (The Lost & Found Series book #2) (12 page)

“What time will you be here by?” I ask Hazel as I go around our room, picking up the clothes from last night.

“By lunchtime, hopefully. We just got on the road a little while ago. Becca, how’s Stacey doing?”

“She’s doing great! They moved her out of the ICU and she’ll be discharged in a few days. I’m in the process of setting up therapists and nursing staff.” I look over the list of people I have to call on Monday.

“What time is Morgan due in?” she asks. I catch a glimpse of Grayson out of the corner of my eye. He’s been extremely attentive, sweet, patient, unselfish, gentle, and unaggressive—no hint of his usual self at all. I think with Christmas being only several days away, he’s minding his p’s and q’s.

“Um, she should be here by three. She’ll be so excited to see you two! I can’t wait either! Wait until you see all of the changes Gray and Claudia have made!” I try to put some enthusiasm behind my statement.

“Oh yes, I heard how thrilled you have been.” She giggles.

“Oh yes, I can’t wait for one of our chats!” I laugh. Grayson frowns. He can sense that I’m going to unload on Hazel, which means she will unload on him.

“Okay, dear. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

“Okay. Bye, Hazel.” I hang up and give Grayson my full attention.

“Rocco’s back, love. Shall we go see him?” He holds out his hand.

“Yes!” There’s a skip in my step as I grab his hand. “Why don’t we go for a ride?”

“A ride where, sweetheart?” He looks at his watch as we get to the bottom of the stairs.

“Well, we’ll take the trail that has no jumps,” I say thoughtfully.
Yes ... that would be the safest route.
Grayson yanks me back.

“Are you mad?” He’s angry, but I can see he’s trying to control himself. “You are seven weeks pregnant,” he reminds me quietly.

“I know, Grayson. I did research. As long as I take it easy and don’t do any jumps, I’m fine to ride up ‘til twelve weeks.”

“No, Becca! Not even up for discussion!” He grabs my coat and helps me into it.

“You are not the boss of me!” I lash out.

“That is my child, too.” He keeps his voice low. “I don’t care what the Internet says—I say no. That’s final, Becca! Not another word about it!” His teeth are clenched.

“Fine.” I shrug away from him and head out the door. He follows at my heels.

It smells like snow. I’m so excited! Of course, I’d like it to wait until after Hazel, Charlie, and Morgan arrive. Grayson’s hand grasps mine as he walks silently beside me. We get up to the stables and I practically run to greet Rocco. He licks my arm and nudges me.

“Yes, Rocco, of course I have an apple for you!” I laugh and hug him. I grab an apple from the bin where I keep the goods. “So, is there anyone you’d like here for Christmas, baby?” I ask Grayson. I can’t believe this thought just occurred to me. I know Hazel has spent the last few Christmases with us. What did he do? Are we messing up his yearly tradition?

“No.” He’s flat. That’s it?

“Well, what do you normally do for Christmas?” I am very curious now.

“Just go away.”

“Where? With who?” He leaves me no choice but to dig.

“Home to London ... by myself.” He’s quiet.

“What? Why? You were welcome to come here.” I’m miffed. Why would anyone want to be alone for Christmas?

“I know that. Aunt Hazel invited me every year. If only I had known then what I know now.” He gives me a huge, boyish, un-Grayson-like grin.

“You chose to be by yourself?” The thought makes me feel sad.

“Yes. But no more, sweetheart, so let’s please move on from that subject.” He sighs and looks away, almost as if he’s uncomfortable. Hmm ... what’s that about?

“Well, I need to get some shopping done. I haven’t been able to do much at all.” My brain is suddenly inundated with the list of people and no ideas. Great! No problem! I still have eight whole shopping days left and nothing else to do! Suddenly my theme song becomes “The Twelve Pains of Christmas,” and my sadness returns. I never feel this way about Christmas.

“What’s the matter, love? You’re frowning.” Grayson’s fingertips graze my cheek.

“I don’t like my new theme song.” I tell him the title and frown some more.

“Why is that your theme song?”

“Because I have nothing done. It’s so unlike me.” I pat Rocco one more time. “Bye, Rocs. See you later.” I start walking away.

“Well, let’s get your book and go do some shopping,” Grayson offers.

“Um, okay.” I sigh. I’ve got to get started at some point! I grab Grayson’s hand and we head off down the slight hill to the inn.

A blanket of panic comes over me. Not only do I have to arrange my thoughts around Christmas presents for him, but then his birthday is a week and a half later! What the fuck? I already have one gift all set. Something I know he really wants. But oh, why does he have to have everything?
Think, Becca, think!
Okay, what does he like? Oh, crap! What
does
he like? He skis, he likes cars ... yeah, I think he’s good with the nine he has! This is terrible! It’s because I’m panicking.
All Sybeccas are now on deck, reviewing clips of all our memories.
Music ... he’s laughing at some of my theme songs. Yes, I can make him a playlist of all our songs and put them on his iPod. Hmm ... what else? I begin to laugh as a few funny gift ideas finally push their way into my head. One will have him in stitches for sure!

“What? What’s so funny?” he asks as we head in.

“Oh, nothing.” I try to compose myself. “Be right back.” I squeeze his hand before releasing it to run upstairs. Once in our room, I grab the notebook Morgan gave me a few months ago. She saw it when she was out with Hazel and thought of me because the horse on the cover looks just like Rocco. Ha! A horse! He doesn’t have one! Yay! I’ll give Jerry a call later and see what he has or where I should go. I prefer a rescue, and I think Grayson would, too. Then, for his birthday, I will get all the gear for the horse. Actually, I think I’ll just take him away somewhere. The skip in my step is renewed as I head back downstairs to a patiently waiting Grayson. He offers a warm smile and extends his hand out to me.

GRAYSON

“Sweetheart, it’s two-thirty. Morgan will be home soon.” Christ, I’m bored out of my mind! I’m never doing this again! Who are all these fucking people she’s buying for?!

“I think I’m done, baby.”
Oh, halle-fucking-lujah!
We make our way out of the card store and back into the mall.

“Becca!” a little blonde-haired girl screams and runs up to her.

“Annie!” Becca sounds very excited and stretches her arms wide for a hug. Oh shit ... this must be Ray’s kid. Oh yes ... there he is! Like somebody went and poured sprinkles on my ice cream sundae!
I hate sprinkles ...

“Raymond! What a pleasant surprise!” My exaggerated and enthusiastic greeting with matching smile is my special way of telling Ray to go fuck himself.

“And I was just thinking to myself, I don’t think this day could get any better!” Ray smiles back. And so our pissing contest continues.

“Daddy, Morgan’s coming home today!” Annie breaks our testosterone-heated glares.

“That’s right! I forgot to tell you!” Ray slaps himself upside the head. Boy, would I love to do that. Except I’d be a tad bit harsher.

“Becca says I can stay overnight! Can I, Daddy, can I?” She jumps up and down.

“Uh ... um, what day were you thinking?” He finally looks at Becca, and I can see the love for her pour over him like a blanket.

“How about Friday?” Becca’s gaze shifts up from Annie.

“Sounds good to me, Becs.”

I know he wanted to say
baby
after that. I’d grab Becca’s hand or put my arm around her to stake my claim, but I have fifty million bags in my hands.

“Okay. Why don’t I pick her up from school?”

“I can drop her off. Besides, she’ll need her clothes,” he adds. Becca looks at me. For what? For approval? I shrug.

“Okay.” She smiles. Annie dances all around.

“How’s Stacey?” Ray asks just as we’re about to leave.

“She’s doing well, Ray,” I answer for Becca. “She’ll be home with us in a few days. Too bad you haven’t had the chance to visit her since she’s come out of the coma.” And, of course, add in a hint of my suspicion.

“Well, some of us can’t take months off at a time.” He sneers at me.

“Oh, Mr. McNeil, I’m always working.”

He ignores me and looks at Becca again.

“Any word on George?”

“Ray ... he’s dead.” She says the last word quietly.

“What? When?”

I’m taken aback. He actually seems genuinely shocked. Humph.

“A week ago.” She slides her hands down Annie’s hair and covers her ears. “Somebody murdered him,” she whispers.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me? Why all the security then?”

Becca looks to me, unsure of how to answer.

“Well, Mr. McNeil, this act raises a lot of questions, and therefore we are not lowering our guard until we have all of the answers.” I think that should suffice, and from the look on Ray’s face, it does.

“Well, Ray, it’s time for us to go get Morgan. Annie, sweetie, I can’t wait until Friday.” Becca hugs her again.

“Keep me posted, Becs.” He mouths
baby
to her. He did that to piss me off. Obviously, I don’t give him the satisfaction.

“Bye, guys!” Becca half smiles and turns.

“At some point, you two really need to quit this pissing contest.” Becca helps me pile our bags into the trunk.

“But it’s so much fun, sweetheart!” I chuckle. She rolls her eyes and gets into the car.

Fifteen minutes into our commute to the airport, Becca’s reticent behavior begins to unnerve me.

“What’s going on in that lovely head of yours, sweetheart?” I glance over. “Becca?”

She jumps slightly and shakes her head to pull away from her thoughts.

“Sorry, baby, what did you say?”

“What are you thinking about?”

“I find it odd that Ray didn’t know about George. He has friends on the force, and he knows everyone else there as well. It was a crime that had to do with my ex-husband, who kidnapped me only two months ago. I just find it very odd. Why wouldn’t anybody tell him? It’s public record, not a secret. What are your thoughts about that?” She looks to me, unsure.

“I was taken aback by his surprised reaction. I didn’t even know he had friends on the force.” I give her enough truth without divulging the complete investigation my team has going on him.

“Gray, is he number one?” Sometimes, I really wish she wasn’t this bright.

“Yes, love.” It’s not safe to lie to her anymore.

“Do me a favor.” She plays with her fingers, seemingly nervous about her impending request.

“Yes, love?” I take her hand.

“Have your team look into his ex-wife. Liz Beth ... Connors, I believe was her maiden name.” She glances out the window and takes in a shaky breath.

“I’ll get right on it, sweetheart, but why?” I’m intrigued. What significance would his ex-wife have to do with all of this? We have the basic info on their union, but nothing was investigated too deeply.

“I don’t know if it’s paranoia setting in, but I have a really, really bad feeling.”

She looks at me again, and the internal battle she’s fighting is all over her face. She wipes her tears, closes her eyes, and exhales her grief away as we drive through the gate of the Newfound Valley Airport.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” I palm her face and look into her very green eyes.

“Yes. Let’s go get our daughter.” She nods and kisses me. I get out and head around to open her door. We walk hand in hand to where my plane is taxied.

“What the hell is the matter with Smitty?” I ask aloud as he runs out of the plane, yelling and waving to us.

“What’s he saying?” Becca looks up at me.

And then we’re blasted by a wave of heat.

“
Morgan!
” Becca screams as my plane sits—still taxied—on fire. She starts running toward it, shouting Morgan’s name. I and my team grab her in time for the second blast, which sends more debris flying everywhere and knocks us all on our arses. “
Morgan! Morgan!
”

I can’t even breathe.
Oh God ... oh God ... not Morgan ... no ... no ... no!