Page 75 of Embers of Torment

"I was hoping Della would go to the movies with me Friday night since she's been ignoring me so much lately." Adam peered at me over his shoulder. "What do you think?"

"Sure, I'm game. We can go to dinner after work and catch a flick afterward. But I want to pick what we see."

"I'll agree if you promise not to suggest that new movie with Hannah Bedford. Several of my coworkers complained it was awful."

"Yeah, I heard the same thing. I'll choose something else."

Adam polished off his burrito, folded the paper wrapper, and placed it on his tray. "Do either of you want to go with me to thefood festival along the greenway on Sunday? Theo will have a booth at the event, and I told him I'd go and support him."

"I'll go. I went two years ago, and the food was super delicious." I glanced across the table. "Sofie, what about you? Do you want to join us?"

"I'd like to, but I can't. Reid and I have a birthday party to attend. Shoot, that reminds me. I need to confirm with Donna. She's the babysitter we hired when we couldn't reach Allison. So far, Donna's been great with the kids, although they seem to get along with Allison better. We've tried to contact Allison several times over the last three months to see if she'd come back but haven't had any luck. It's like she vanished."

"Wow. Still no Allison. What do you think happened?" I popped the last piece of rolled taco in my mouth while eagerly awaiting Sofie's response. Allison was known to be a highly responsible person, so whatever transpired fell into the realm of thoroughly weird.

"I have no idea, other than nothing makes any sense. Reid's convinced something sinister may have occurred since Allison's daughter doesn't know where she is and found two past-due letters from utility companies in her mother's mailbox. Braxton has been methodically searching and following up on every lead but hasn't uncovered anything substantial."

"Okay, that goes beyond bizarre." My mind was already spinning with a multitude of dastardly scenarios, remembering Sofie had witnessed a murder when she was a teenager, with the body unearthed at a construction site years later. "Hey, umm… You don't think Allison's disappearance has something to do with the prostitute that you saw murdered, do you?"

"Good Lord, I'd hope not. That was years ago. Besides, I don't see how. Denny's dead, and Nick is in prison. The only person possibly still around is my mother, who wasn't directly involved."

"Yeah, I guess that would be too far-fetched." Willing my brain to sever its macabre thoughts, I turned to Sofie with a much more pleasant suggestion. "Hey, about Sunday. Would it be easier for your sitter if I took Evie to the food festival with me? That way, Donna would only have Wyatt."

"I don't know about being easier since Evie isn't difficult to care for. I'm sure she'd like to go, though. Evie says she has fun whenever she's with you."

"Cool. The last time I went, the event had face painting and games for the kids. Plus, I can let Evie ride the carousel and play in the Rings Fountain."

"Uhh, Della?" Adam interrupted, sounding worried. "Before you turn around, I want to say I had nothing to do with it."

"Do with what? What the bejesus are you talking about?"

"Jace is… Well… He's…uhh…walking toward us right now."

"Holy shit! You frigging liar. You planned this. I can't believe you." I jerked my head to the side. Sure enough, there Jace was, smiling as he strolled in our direction.

"No, I didn't. I swear. Jace said he couldn't get away this afternoon." Adam looked wild-eyed, as if he had no clue what to do.

"I'm leaving." I jumped from my chair and snatched my lunch tray.

Sofie reached out and grabbed my arm. "Della, you don't have to leave. We're not going to force you to talk to him."

"I don't even want to sit with him. I need to go." I swiveled toward the front of the restaurant to ditch my trash and, in doing so, caught the growing despair on Jace's face. Desperately trying to ignore it, I hurried across the courtyard, practically launching my tray onto the cabinet by the door. This was the second time I'd seen Jace since Lily's soccer game, the first being on the rooftop of our apartment building. And, like before, I was beginning to spin out of control. I didn't know what to think orhow to feel. All rationality had evaporated, my world crashing in on itself.

"Della!" Jace urgently called my name, the sound echoing in my mind. His hand went to my arm, stopping me from moving forward.

I spun around, finding myself facing Jace.

"Della, please. I'm begging you. Don't leave. Talk to me."

I stood, my body frozen, while my thoughts zigged and zagged, becoming a fragmented mess. As the fog cleared and awareness dawned, I slowly realized that Jace's eyes were moist. Shocked, I swallowed the gasp threatening to burst forth.

"I know I hurt you, and I'll do anything to make it right. Just allow me to explain," Jace pleaded.

I stared at him, my words stuck in my throat and refusing to come. It was as if my head wanted to explode, the pressure unrelenting.

"I'm not the horrible kid I used to be. I changed, and that person is long gone. Let me prove it, please."

"No," I whispered.

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