“When did you get so wise?”
“I’ve been in therapy for a while now. But the past doesn’t matter now: finding our daughter is all that matters, okay? Focus on her. I’ll do what I can from so far away.” Gavin could hear the anguish in Teagan’s voice. “Please keep me updated?”
After assuring Teagan that he or one of his family members would call her with any new information, Gavin looked through the crowd, trying to find Kat. When his gaze landed on her, he felt his heart constrict inside his chest.
Kat wasn’t even Emma’s mother, but here she was, searching for her. Helping and directing. Even after what had happened between them, after what he’d said to her. He’d hurt her badly, but she didn’t hold that against him.
He didn’t deserve Kat Williamson. But that didn’t mean he could stop himself from wanting her.
I love her, he thought. It wasn’t even surprising: it just made sense. He’d fallen in love with her kindness, her intelligence, her courage. She’d faced everything that had happened to her with a bravery that Gavin wished he could emulate. He truly admired her. And he wanted her all to himself.
God, he’d been an idiot. He’d pushed her away because he’d thought it was better off for her. He realized with a sinking feeling in his gut that in his attempt to be noble and self-sacrificing, he’d actually been arrogant and afraid. He’d hurt her because he’d been afraid of getting hurt again.
Gavin pressed through the crowd, but people kept stopping him to ask him questions. It meant a lot to him that this town he’d moved away from years ago still cared deeply about him and his daughter. But at the moment, he didn’t want to answer questions from neighbors desperate for information he didn’t have.
“Oh Gavin, we’ll find her,” said Leslie, her eyes filled with tears. “You know this entire town will turn itself upside down to find Emma.”
Gavin forced himself to stop, to ignore Kat gazing at him from just yards away. His heart thumped hard in his chest. “I appreciate that,” he ground out.
“She’s so small. She couldn’t have gotten that far,” said Mike. He slapped Gavin on the shoulder. “Don’t worry: she’ll be found, safe and sound, and you’ll look back at this with a chuckle.”
Gavin doubted that, but he didn’t feel inclined to argue. But the next person who told him he didn’t need to worry was getting punched in the face. He forced himself to swallow his harsh words, saying thank you and nodding at whomever he walked past.
He focused on Kat. He focused on the woman who would be his pillar of strength in this insanity.
Yet even as he was about to enfold Kat in his arms, Adam and Joy came up to him and stopped him. Gavin almost growled at them in frustration. Kat sent him an amused glance.
“I can see by your face you haven’t found her yet,” said Adam gravely. “Do you have any idea where she could’ve gone?”
“People keep asking me the same damn question when I don’t have any answers.” Gavin wanted to yell, to fall to his knees and cry out in despair. The constant questions only made his agony worse.
Joy gently touched his arm. “We’re all here for you. You’re not in this alone.”
Adam nodded. “Joy speaks the truth.”
Gavin thought of his fight with Adam only an hour earlier. It seemed like it had happened a thousand years ago. He swallowed his pride and said, “Thank you. And I’m sorry I was a jackass to you. You didn’t deserve it.”
To Gavin’s surprise, Adam wrapped his arms around him and gave him a quick, tight hug, pounding on his back. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is finding Emma. And anyway, we’re brothers. We’ll always be here for each other.”
Kat had moved closer to the trio, and when Gavin finally was able to take in her beautiful face, her gentle eyes, he could barely restrain himself from collapsing into her arms.
“Hi,” she said quietly. She took his hand and didn’t let it go. “We’ll find her, Gavin.”
Despite having heard those words over and over, for whatever reason, he believed Kat this time. He squeezed her hand back, the lump in his throat too large now to say anything.
Chapter Seventeen
Everything seemed to move at lightning speed after that. The police had already arrived by the time Kat had gotten off the phone with Gavin, and they were collecting any information before forming search parties.
With the school day ending, parents had begun to pick up their kids. When they saw the police presence, Principal Layton had done her best to explain the situation while the police had helped form search parties for everyone who wanted to help.
Next to the school was a large wooded area, about two acres wide. Kat had this feeling deep in her gut that Emma had disappeared into it. Why she’d run away, she didn’t know. She just prayed they found the girl before it got dark—and before this storm broke.
“Have you seen Silas?” said Mrs. Gentry to Kat as they all waited for instructions.
Kat had completely forgotten about him. “No, not since earlier this afternoon. Why?”
Mrs. Gentry frowned. “He told me he’d find me near the south restrooms, but he never showed up.”
“Weird. Maybe he was asked to help with searching the grounds?”
“Maybe.”
Mrs. Gentry moved through the crowd, leaving Kat by herself. She did a halfhearted look around for Silas, but she didn’t see him.
The second Kat laid eyes on Gavin when he arrived at the school, she forgot all about the missing Silas. Seeing Gavin, she wanted to throw her arms around him and hold him close. He looked wild-eyed, his face pale with terror. She’d never him
