Page 97 of Unforgotten

“Bethanne? She’s doing okay,” her mom said. Swiping her wet cheeks, she gathered herself together. “Like the rest of us, she’s been worried about you.”

“The last I saw her, she was running away.” Still feeling in a fog, Candace cleared her throat. “So, she found someone? She’s really okay?”

“Yes, honey. Bethy’s okay,” her mother soothed. “Bethanne found Jay and Lott, believe it or not.” She paused as Ryan helped Candace take a sip of water through a straw. “Jay and Lott got tired of waiting and decided to search for you. They remembered that old shack on the Lerners’ property.”

“Actually, I think it was Jay who came up with that idea,” her father said as he approached the other side of her hospital bed. “He’s the reason we realized you and Bethy were gone. He’d been trying to find her to say good night and knew she’d been with you. When he couldn’t find you, he knew something was wrong.”

She looked at Ryan.

He nodded. “There are a lot of heroes involved—including you and Bethanne. You girls were so brave and tough.”

“I was scared.”

Sympathy shone in his eyes. “I know, but you didn’t give up. I’m so proud of you.” Rubbing his thumb over her knuckles, he added, “I promise, Bethanne is okay. Like your mother said, she’s been worried about you.”

“Is she here in the hospital too?”

“No, honey,” her mother said. “She ... she wasn’t as badly hurt as you. She’s resting at home. Do you want her to come see you? Dad or I can go get her.”

“Or I can send someone from the station,” Ryan added. “It’s no problem.”

“No. It’s okay.”

“You sure?” Her mother brushed back her hair. “We’ll do whatever you need, Candace.”

“I’m sure. And you’re right, it’s best for Bethanne to be at home. It...” She ran out of words. How could she convey just how scared they’d been?

How desolate she’d become?

To her surprise, her mother’s expression crumbled just as her father pulled her into his arms. “Honey, we’re going to get your mother a soda,” he whispered. “You know how a Diet Coke can pretty much solve all her problems.”

For some reason, that was what Candace needed to hear. Not the Diet Coke cure-all, but the reminder that life went on. Even as hurt and sore as she was, she was grateful to be alive and to have her parents. “I love you both.”

“And we love you back,” her father said. “Now, um, you, ah, take a moment with your man here. He’s been a wreck. We’ll be back in about a half hour.” He paused. “That good with you, Ryan?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll watch over her.” He looked down at his hand on her arm as her parents closed the door behind them.

Now they were alone. Candace hurt all over, but nothing was unbearable. She supposed one of the tubes attached to her arms was responsible for that.

When Ryan said nothing for a few seconds, she began to get worried. Peeking, she noticed that he was barely looking at her in the eye. Was he uncomfortable? Was he only staying because she needed him so much? “If you’d like to leave too, you can.”

Leaning down, he carefully brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. “I don’t want to leave, honey. I don’t want to leave you ever again.”

What did he mean by that? She swallowed and stared at him.

“Candace, I need to tell you something, but I don’t know how.”

What was wrong? She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see his expression. “You can say whatever you want.”

“All right.” He took a deep breath. “Sweetheart, I ... I’m sorry. I’m having such a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I let you down so badly.”

Stunned, her eyes popped open. “You didn’t.”

“Yeah, I did. We knew someone was stalking you. I should’ve tried harder to figure out who it was.”

“Scott wasn’t at every appearance, and I didn’t even know his name.”

“Still.”

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