“B-But how? How did she get out?”
“Over the garage roof, I think,” Andy told her. “It’s right out her window. Then she can shimmy down the drainpipe.”
“They called me,” Claire added, “because they didn’t want to disturb the two of you until it was necessary.”
“Necessary?” Hysteria bubbled in Julia’s throat. “My child disappeared and you don’t think it’s necessary to call me?”
“Julia.” Luke reached for her but she pulled away.
Brad uncorked himself from the wall and held out his hand to Luke. “Brad Westbrook. Sorry to meet like this.” He turned to Julia. “I went out looking in my car. Figured a kid her age couldn’t get too far. And we’re not exactly on a bus line here. Claire and the twins started calling her friends.”
“Mom, she hardly sees any of them anymore.” Beth’s face was filled with distress. “They said she hangs out with a weird group.”
“I know. We’ve had huge fights about it.”
Luke seemed to rouse himself from whatever shock he was in. “Julia, you need to put on something warm and dry. Why don’t you go change and we’ll go into the family room and see where we’re at. I promise you she’s not far away. She’s just trying to scare you. Us.”
“I can’t—”
He touched a finger to her lips. “Yes. You won’t be any good if you get sick.” He looked at Beth. “Why don’t you help your mother? Andy, is there any brandy around here?”
“She likes hot tea,” Miranda put in.
“Dump some brandy in it,” Luke told her. He took Julia’s hand again. “Go on. Put on something comfortable while we work on this.”
“Luke, she’s been gone a long time.”
“I know, honey. But it will work out. I’m sure of it. Okay?”
She finally let Beth lead her upstairs and obediently changed into the sweats her daughter dug out of the closet for her. She was startled when Beth drew her into a fierce hug and began to cry.
“It’s my fault,” she sobbed. “I should have kept a closer eye on her. I knew she was upset. I should have made her open the door to me.”
“Hush.” Julia stroked her daughter’s hair. “If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I tried to protect everyone and just ended up making a mess of things.”
“I’m so sorry, Mom. I’m just so sorry.”
Julia tipped Beth’s face up so she could look at it. “Stop it. You have nothing to be sorry about. I should have done something about this situation a long time ago. I was a coward and now every one of us is paying for it.”
“D-Does he want to see her?” Beth asked in a small voice.
“Oh, honey, of course he does. He’s furious with me because I kept her from him for so long.” She released Beth and stepped back, running her fingers through her hair. “Another problem I’ll have to deal with.”
“Do you… Do you think you guys can work it out?”
From somewhere, Julia found a smile. “I hope so. Right now, we’re taking things one at a time. And the first thing is to find Courtney.”
Luke was standing in the foyer when they came back downstairs, everyone else hovering in the background.
“The security guard in my building just called me on my cell,” he said. “Apparently Courtney’s there asking for me.”
“Oh, my God.” Julia dug her fingernails into her palms to steady herself. “How did she get there? Is she okay? Wait. I’ll get my coat and we can go down there right away.”
“Hold it.” Luke held up a hand. “I’m doing this one solo.”
“But—”
“She came to see me. Made it her business to find a way to get there. I think I should talk to her alone first. Julia, if she sees you, she’ll think I sold her out and she’ll clam up.”
“But I’m her mother,” she protested.
“Of course you are.” He gave her a steady look. “And I’m her father. It’s time I stepped up to the plate in that role.”
“He’s right.” Claire hugged Julia. “Maybe things were just supposed to happen this way. Maybe it’s the stick of dynamite needed to blow it apart so you guys can put it back together.”
“Come on, Mom.” Andy tugged her toward the kitchen. “I’ve got tea and brandy for you, and Luke’s cell phone number. Let him do this. Okay?”
Julia stood rooted to the floor for a long moment, filled with indecision and panic, and the sense she was losing everything. But then Luke stepped over to her and pressed a brief kiss to her lips. The five people watching didn’t seem to phase him, giving her the first real flame of hope.
“I promise I’ll call you. I’ll let you know when I get there, and then I’ll call again after she and I talk. Now go let your friends and family take care of you.”
He nodded to the others then headed out into the night and the rain. She could only imagine what disaster awaited when he was alone with Courtney, the daughter he’d just found out about.
* * * *
Luke sat across the kitchen table from his daughter, marveling at how such a wondrous creature had come into his life and at the same time dreading the pain he knew was yet to come. In some ways, teenage girls weren’t much different than teenage boys. They were both rebellious, angry, and uncertain. He just hoped he had the sense and strength to get a handle on things before she became a teenager in earnest.
She looked much different than the sodden mess waiting for him in the lobby with the guard when he’d arrived.
“I hope it was okay to call you, Mr. Buchanan.” He looked at Courtney. “She claims she’s your daughter and wanted me to let her into your place. Is she telling the truth?”
“Yes, she’s my daughter.”
“Well, I hadn’t seen her before and I thought I ought to check with you first.”
“You did the right
