Page 57 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

“That’s not going to help. I need to talk to you.” Mrs. Dixon pinned Kennedy with a stare. “Your husband can stay. You’ll need his support.”

Kennedy’s eyes widened while Austin’s fingers squeezed her shoulders. “You need to talk tome?What about?”

“Do you remember the day the nanny took you and Zoey to the beach? When she disappeared?”

Pain sliced through Kennedy’s heart. “It’ll be forever etched in my memory.”

Mrs. Dixon’s expression was grim. “In mine, too.”

Kennedy leaned forward, not liking where it was all going. “What... what do you mean?”

Tears filled Mrs. Dixon’s eyes. “I carried this secret for so long. Due to the early hour, the beach was deserted that day, like we hoped it would be. I was stupid and in love with a guy who was up to no good. But I didn’t want to realize it. You see, he had a gambling problem and had racked up lots of debts he couldn’t pay.” She gestured for water.

Hand shaking slightly, everything inside her tense, Kennedy brought the glass to the woman’s lips. Would she finally know what had happened to Zoey? Was it possible?

Mrs. Dixon snatched the straw, sucked up a few sips, then waved it away. “Being an office assistant, I couldn’t help him much, though I was eager to. Then he said he came up with a brilliant plan to solve all our problems.” She chuckled out a bitter sound. “Yep, he saidourproblems. We could move away and get married. All I needed to do was snatch a little girl while he distracted her nanny. You see, he was very handsome in those days and thought he could charm her easily. It was risky because the nanny would give his description. But he said he’d wear a disguise and we’d leave soon, anyway.”

“But the nanny didn’t mention a man talking to her,” Kennedy whispered. Then it dawned on her. “Because no distraction was needed. She was busy helping me when the jellyfish stung me.” Guilt slammed her again. “But why was there no ransom demand? What happened to Zoey?”

“My boyfriend had all the details. I’m so sorry. It was all a mistake. It was a horrible mistake I made, and I’ll regret it for as long as I breathe.” Mrs. Dixon stared into space and paused. “He took Zoey somewhere and came back alone. He said the girl was going to be fine, but we had to flee. He got what he needed without the risk of demanding ransom. I guess I was too relieved to ask questions. So we did flee, far away.”

“Why didn’t you tell this to the police? Zoey could’ve been found! She could’ve been saved!” Kennedy jumped to her feet, rage surging through her like hot lava. “We need to speak to him!”

“I was afraid. I was so afraid. And... we can’t talk to him. After gambling away everything again, he died in a bar fight.”

Kennedy paced the room like a caged animal. Her mind registered the words, but her aching heart prevented her from processing them.

“I’m so very sorry,” Mrs. Dixon whimpered.

She’d been right before. Kennedy felt nauseous. But utterly gutted, she also felt too empty even to throw up. After briefly giving her hope of finding Zoey, Mrs. Dixon had ripped it out of her again. They had to report all this, even if Kennedy hated to make a sick woman suffer more.

“This needs to be reported to the police.” Austin voiced her thoughts.

Kennedy froze, then resumed pacing. The trace was long cold, and the person who held the keys to unlock the secrets was gone. If only Kennedy hadn’t begged to go to the beach that day. If only she hadn’t run into the water, gotten stung, and provided the necessary distraction to snatch Zoey.

Something edged at the corners of her mind, but she couldn’t catch it. The aquamarine-blue dress Zoey was wearing to match the ribbons. It was important. Why was it important? Then a guess she didn’t want to admit sliced through her, but she couldn’t let it in.

“I understand.” Mrs. Dixon sounded dejected.

“Thank you for telling us now.” Reaching the wall, Kennedy whirled around, furious she didn’t have the answers, didn’t know what happened to Zoey, didn’t even know whether she was still alive.

“There hasn't been a day I didn’t regret what I did. A moment when I didn’t hate myself for my choice. I didn’t want to leave this world without telling you. And you appearing here today looked like a sign from God. Like God put you in my path,” Mrs. Dixon said quietly.

Trapped in her despair, Kennedy bumped into another wall. She looked up. No, not the wall.

Austin.

His hands steadied her, and for a long moment, she looked into his blue eyes. So much compassion and understanding peered back at her that she nearly came undone. Her knees buckled. He held her up, then drew her close.

“We’ll find her. You’ll see.” He stroked her shaking shoulders.

She tucked her face against his tortilla-hued polo shirt, breathing in the fresh scent of his aftershave she’d come to associate with joy and hope and happiness. All the things he represented to her. All the things she searched for all her life and couldn’t find.

Was that enough? Was all his sunshine enough to melt the iceberg her heart had become after losing so many important people in her life? And didn’t he deserve better than spending his precious life melting that iceberg?

Soon, his shirt wasn’t dry any longer but soaked with her tears. When did she begin crying?

People like her didn’t cry. Yes, she’d bawled her eyes out when Zoey had disappeared. But she’d learned fast that tears didn’t solve anything.

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