Page 40 of Caveman (Wild Men 1)

Jesus, Octavia, who the heck cares right now?

“You lived with your grandma before?” At her nod, I sit down, thinking. “And why did you leave?”

“My dad is sad.”

Sad? Not angry and insensitive and near violent? But I don’t say that because I feel as if we’re finally getting somewhere. I’m finally stumbling over the bits and pieces of Matt Hansen’s truth.

“You left because your dad was sad,” I say.

Cole nods, too, stirring his macaroni. “Sad,” he says.

Unbidden, Adam’s words about the past catching up with us come to my mind. “And he’s not sad anymore?”

Mary bites her lip and lets her hands drop to her lap. “He remembers Mommy. I don’t. Not really.”

A lump fills my throat. Oh yeah, we’re definitely getting somewhere, and I have a feeling I know where this is going.

Please, dear God, prove me wrong.

“I was too little when she left us,” Mary says, her voice steady but resolute. “It’s my fault.”

“What is your fault?”

“That she’s gone.” Tears slip down her rosy cheeks, and my heart nearly breaks in two.

“Baby.” I open my arms and she hesitates—then slides off her chair and comes to burrow into me. Cole joins us a split second later, sniffling, too. I bury my nose in their silky hair and try to compose myself. “It wasn’t your fault. Didn’t anyone tell you? These things just happen.”

“I don’t want Daddy to go, too,” Mary whispers, and I hug her more tightly.

“Of course he won’t. He won’t.” I kiss her forehead and take a deep breath. “Where did your mommy go?”

“Mommy went to heaven,” Mary says.

I’d suspected it, but still a cold shiver travels up my spine. I hug her harder. “Come here.”

“And then,” she says, “Daddy went to hell.”

Oh God.

I believe it.

Chapter Thirteen

Matt

Another paper stuck to my door.

Another knife.

“Remember why you were in Milwaukee,” is printed on it in the same bold letters as last time.

Milwaukee.

“What happened in Milwaukee?” asks the cop. “Mr. Hansen.”

I blink. “I…” Focus, Matt. “I went there to work.”

There I met Emma. We got married, rented a house in a small town nearby. We had our kids.

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