Truth Be Told (27 page)

C
onner looked at the clock. “What time is Jayde supposed to be home?”

Grace's eyes rose from the manual on her lap. “At ten.” Her eyes moved to the clock. “Time for bed, sweetie,” she said to Amber, who sat cross-legged on the floor.

“Mommy, why does Jayde get to go to bed later than me?”

“Amber, we're not going to have this discussion.” She swung her legs from Conner's lap. “I'll be right back.”

Amber hugged Conner. But as she got to the door, she turned back. “Daddy, am I going to meet Solomon?”

Grace kept her eyes away from Conner. All evening, Amber had been asking questions—an inquiry every hour or so. Just enough to make sure that neither she nor Conner could ignore the cloud above them.

“Yes, Amber,” Conner responded.

Satisfied, Amber trotted up the stairs.

But before Grace could follow, Conner said, “I have a call to make, and then I'll check on her.”

Grace returned to the couch and watched him, his shoulders slumped with the burden he carried. He was the hub of this family and was doing what he could to keep the wheels turning so they wouldn't crash.

Grace lay back on the couch as she had done much of the afternoon. She flicked the remote, settling on the Home and Garden Channel. Not that she was interested in the intricacies of decorating a small space, but she didn't have to commit to this program. She could watch with her eyes closed, pretend that she was sleeping. As the announcer outlined the details of the evening's show, Grace settled into the couch's leather. By the time the music took the show to the first commercial, Grace had fallen asleep.

“Grace, Grace.”

Her eyes slowly fanned open, and first she noticed the clock. It was after eleven.

“I didn't realize I'd fallen asleep.” She stretched.

“Jayde isn't home.”

His words made her bolt up.

“I just called Philip's, and his mother said Jayde left two hours ago.”

“I thought they were bringing her home.”

“Philip's mother said her nephew gave Jayde a ride. Apparently he's brought her home before.”

Grace jumped from the couch and picked up the phone.

“Who are you calling?”

“The police.”

“Grace, wait. Philip's mom is sure that Jayde is with their nephew. Let's check him first.”

“What's his number?”

“He doesn't have a cell phone.” Conner thrust his arms through his sweatshirt sleeves. “Philip's mother said that Jayde asked Donald to drive her home early because she wasn't feeling well.”

“Then she should have driven Jayde home or called us.” She paused. “Do you think he's taken her somewhere? Kidnapped her?” she sobbed.

“No.” Conner grabbed her shoulders. “Calm down, honey. Amber's upstairs.” She nodded. “I'm going to Donald's apartment. Philip's father is meeting me. In the meantime, call your mother and Devry and Chandler. Maybe Jayde's with them.”

She nodded again and followed him to the garage. “Conner, please find her.”

He hugged her before he got into his car and sped into the night.

Grace closed the door and rushed to the phone. Before she dialed, she prayed. Jayde had to be at her mother's or Devry's, because if she wasn't, Grace didn't know what she would do.

Grace paced in front of the window and willed herself not to call Conner again. In between the waiting minutes, she'd spoken to her mother and Devry. Chandler had joined in the search, but there was no sign of Donald or Jayde. Now they were all searching the streets. Grace looked at her watch. She'd told Conner she would call the police at midnight. He had five minutes.

The shrill of the telephone made Grace jump. She looked at the Caller ID and rolled her eyes.

“Starlight,” she began the moment she picked up the phone, “I can't talk right now.”

“Jayde is with me, Grace.”

It took a moment for the words to settle and smother her with relief. “Thank, God.” She fell onto the couch. “Is she all right?”

“She's fine.”

Grace stood. “Thank you, Starlight. Are you bringing her home, or do you want me to come there?”

“She can spend the night here with me.”

Starlight's words were barely out before Grace said, “Absolutely not. I'll be right there.” She had on her jacket before she finished, then remembered Amber. “I'll have to wait for Conner. I'll call him, and we'll be right over.”

“That's not a good idea. Jayde's upset.”

Grace wasn't sure what made her fume more—that her daughter had run to her sister or that her sister spoke as if she knew what was best. “Starlight, thank you, but I'll take care of my daughter.”

She clicked off the phone before Starlight could respond, then dialed Conner's cell.

“Honey, Jayde's okay,” she breathed. “She's with Starlight.”

“Thank God.”

“I want to go get her.”

“I'll be right there.”

Grace hung up and leaned back on the couch. She knew she should call Devry and her mother, but although Jayde was safe, she couldn't get the visions of what she had imagined from her mind.

She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Thank you, Lord,” she whispered and wiped tears that seeped from the corner of her eyes. She prayed that this was the end. That this would be the last thing her family would have to endure.

Conner clicked on his cell phone.

“Conner?”

He frowned when he heard her voice. “Yes, Starlight. Grace already called me. Thank you.”

“No problem. I would do anything for my niece. That's why I'm calling. Please let her spend the night with me.”

His frown deepened. Grace would never agree, and he wanted Jayde home too. “Starlight, we're having some … family challenges that we need to work out.”

“I know.” Her pause made him wonder what Jayde had told her. “Conner, Jayde needs some time. If you and Grace rush in here and force Jayde home, I guarantee she'll be back out tomorrow or the next day.”

“That's why Grace and I need to handle this with Jayde … ourselves … tonight.”

“But what difference does it make if it's tonight or in the morning?”

Conner hesitated. “I don't know …”

“Conner,” Starlight sighed as if she was struggling with the fact that he didn't agree. “I can help Jayde. I've calmed her down.” She paused. “And she did come to me.”

Conner shook his head as he pulled into the driveway. The front door opened the moment he turned off the ignition, and Grace stood in the doorway. The light from the foyer glowed behind her as if she was standing in the middle of a sunrise.

Starlight continued, “Jayde said she's not going home. If you drag her out of here, the next time she runs away, you won't find her.”

Conner closed his eyes. His daughter was a runaway. Because of him.

Maybe Starlight was right. He couldn't chance Jayde's leaving home again. And Grace had said that Jayde needed space.

“Conner, let's do what's best for Jayde.”

He opened his eyes as Grace moved toward him and the light behind her faded. He could read the question on her face as she got closer. Who was he talking to?

“Let me talk to Grace. I'll call you back.”

“Just remember Jayde is most important here.”

He wanted to scream. Who was she to say that to him? He would give his life for his children. Only Grace's tap on the window stopped him from telling her so.

“Starlight, I'll call you back.” He clicked off his phone and stepped from the car. In the quiet of Saturday's midnight, Conner drew Grace into his arms. He could feel her pounding heart.

“I was so scared,” Grace said.

Conner held her tighter.

“We should both go to her.” Grace pulled from their embrace. “I can call Mom, or we can drop Amber over there. But Jayde needs to see us together.”

“Grace, no.”

She continued, as if he'd said nothing. “When Jayde sees us, she'll know that even though we're upset, we're both here for her.”

Conner stopped walking and hugged Grace again.

“Don't worry, honey,” Grace responded, mistaking his affection for uncertainty. “We'll all be fine.”

He squeezed her hand. “Let's go inside.”

As soon as they stepped into the house, she said, “I'll get Amber.”

“Grace,” he called before she could touch the first stair.

She turned and his expression told her what his words had not. “No, Conner.”

With his arms around her shoulders, he led her into the living room. “Grace, I don't want Jayde to run away again.”

“Run away?” she said as if he'd stuttered. “Jayde didn't run away.”

He remained silent for a moment, giving her time to question her own words. “Grace, it doesn't matter what we call it, but we know where she is tonight. If we force her home, next time …”

Grace pressed her fingers against her lips.

“You said yourself that Jayde needs time,” Conner reasoned. “Maybe this is it.”

“Okay, but she can stay with Mom or Devry and Chandler. Just not there.” She lifted her purse from the table and looked at Conner. “Are you coming with me?”

He shook his head. “Don't do this.”

The quivering of her lips pumped tears into her eyes. “Are you coming with me?”

“We can't go anywhere. Amber's upstairs.”

“I'll get her,” she said, although she didn't move.

Conner shook his head. “Starlight won't hurt Jayde.”

“Please come with me.”

His arms encircled her before the first sob escaped. He held her until her tears had ended. When she stepped away from him, she wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I'm going to get her first thing in the morning,” she said as if it was a threat.

“We'll both go.”

Grace's eyes burned with words that blazed in her mind. She had told him that their children weren't ready. She had wanted to wait another week, even another day. Any amount of time would have made a difference. But instead of screaming what she thought, she turned and went upstairs to their bedroom, leaving Conner alone to sink in the situation that he had created.

Starlight stood under the archway in the Grande Room and watched Jayde on the balcony. She stood straight, stiff, her black jeans and jacket blending with the night.

Starlight's lips spread, though her smile wasn't one of triumph. She was pleased that Jayde felt safe with her, but she hated to see her niece hurting. From the moment Jayde entered her apartment, her pain permeated the air.

Starlight slid the balcony door open. “It's chilly. Come inside.”

Jayde shook her head.

“Carletta made some hot chocolate.”

“Do you have marshmallows?”

Starlight smiled again. The fifteen-year-old faded, and in her place the six-year-old whom Starlight remembered appeared. “Lots of the little ones that you like.” She put her arms around Jayde and led her inside.

Steam floated from matching lavender mugs that Carletta had put on the dinette table. She hovered at the edge of the kitchen.

“You can go back to bed,” Starlight told her housekeeper as she pulled out a chair for Jayde.

Carletta tightened her robe's belt. “Good night,” she said before she scurried away.

Jayde wrapped her hands around the warmth of the cup. Quiet minutes passed as they sipped. And as Starlight planned, Jayde finally spoke.

“Did you tell them that I am not going back?” Jayde forced her words through clenched teeth.