Page 98 of Risky Move

Pulling it from her pocket, she unlocked the phone and scrolled through the missed calls—mostly from Tom, two from her mother…and a text from Amelie.

Amelie: U OK? How’s Danny?

Cassie: He may come home today.

She didn’t bother telling Amelie she wasn’t okay. Did it matter? She shoved her phone back into her pocket and turned to look at Tom.

“I’m sorry I didn’t check my phone sooner. Thank you for trying to contact me.”

He stopped and slipped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner…things got hectic and by the time I could…” He shrugged. “Once Amelie called, I didn’t think to check my phone.”

“I didn’t expect you to…your priority was Daniel.”

Tom halted, causing Cassie to stumble against him. “Sorry, babe.” He paused a beat. “Was Amelie visiting yesterday?”

“She wanted to help since everyone had planned the spa day. I appreciated her stopping by.”

“Did she help you with Jenna when you discovered Danny?” Tom asked.

“Yes, and I asked her to contact Caryn. I think the spa has a no cell phone policy, so when she couldn’t reach her, I asked her to go to the spa and take her to the hospital.”

“Did she come back then or call you?”

“No, but I just read a text she sent. Why?” Cassie’s heart raced.What if Tom asks me to construct a timeline? Where everyone was and what we were doing before anyone noticed Danny missing. What would I tell him? That I left Amelie alone with the twins while I “freshened up?”

“No reason, Cass. I just now remembered that she’d called me about the ambulance on route…after that, everything’s a blur.”

“I can understand that…I keep thinking about all the what-ifs. What if I’d double-checked the door…what if…”

Tom silenced her by pressing his finger against her lips. “No what-ifs, Cassie. We can’t change what happened. Just make peace with yourself and move forward.”

They walked in silence as Cassie digested Tom’s words.How do I find peace about yesterday? Where do I find it?She knew Lauren and Dave would walk beside her, no questions asked. Tom? She couldn’t put him in that position.

“Tom, will you answer a question honestly?”

His brown eyes met hers. “I will never lie to you, Cassie. That’s not an option. What do you want to ask?”

“Do you think Caryn and Andrew will ever forgive me?”

“Of course, they will. How could they not? No matter what happened, you saved Daniel’s life. That’s the only thing that matters…to them and to me.”

“Canyou?”

“Forgive you? There’s nothing to forgive, babe.”

“I don’t want to make things awkward for you.”

“You can’t.”

“What if I can never see the twins again? Or if I’m not welcome in their home?” Cassie averted her eyes.

Tom turned her toward him, grasping each shoulder. “Why would you think you’ll never see the twins?”

“Because of what happened…I wouldn’t expect Caryn and Andrew to want me anywhere near them.” She searched his eyes and read concern and something she could not decipher. He held her gaze for a long moment before he spoke.

“Cassie, Caryn told Andrew yesterday that she knows this was an accident. She knows you’d never knowingly put Daniel or Jenna in danger…Andrew? He may take time—remember when I sent him to the hospital for further evaluation? Hewillneed space. He’s reacting to a danger to his family he could not control. I don’t know what he said to you, but I’m guessing he allowed his anger to speak…”

“He had every right,” Cassie interrupted. Tom held up his hand.

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