“I understand, I really do,” the elderly woman said. “I can’t promise what will happen. I wish I could guarantee you that everything will be okay. But like we both agreed, this might be her best and last chance to face your daddy. Find some healing. You can see from what just happened that she needs it.”

River folded her arms and leaned against the wall. What should she do? Finally, she said, “Look, let’s do this. We’ll let my dad and Dan come for dinner. But if Mom starts acting up, we’ll get her out of the room as quickly as possible. Will you help me?”

“Of course I will. Whatever you need.” Mrs. Weyland opened her arms and River fell into them. Thinking that she could have lost Tony tonight and then watching her mother fall apart had overwhelmed her. Mrs. Weyland’s hug was exactly what she needed. When she was ready, she gently disengaged herself from the elderly caregiver’s embrace.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quivering.

“You’re welcome, honey. This has been a tough night. Tony was in danger, and you saw your mama at her worst.” She sighed deeply. “You know, I believe you’re beginning to understand your mama, and now that you do, you’re grieving for the mother you think you’re losing.”

“You’re right,” River said slowly. “I accepted that Rose Ryland has Alzheimer’s, but now, I’m realizing that my mother is ill. My mother. I hate seeing what this disease is doing to her. And . . . and I don’t want her to be humiliated in front of my father. She deserves better. I want him to . . .” She gulped. “I want him to look at her . . . and at me . . . and realize what he threw away. Does that make any sense?”

Mrs. Weyland smiled. “Yeah, it does. Now that you’re bein’ completely honest with yourself, I think you’re really ready to face your daddy.”

River returned the smile. “Maybe you’re right.”

Mrs. Weyland headed to her room while River went back into the living room. Tony was out and snoring softly, Watson snuggled up next to him. She really wanted to talk to him about Arnie’s call. Was this real? Was April really alive? If she was, she was in trouble, and they needed to find her fast.

After checking on Tony one more time, she went back to her room, where she spent some time in prayer. She prayed for April and for Tony. Then she prayed that tomorrow would go well for everyone. But most of all, she thanked God for taking care of Tony and Watson. What if Tony had died tonight? What would she have done? How could she go on without him? She knew that sometime soon she’d have to talk to him. Tell him how she felt. She could only pray that he felt the same. She really couldn’t imagine her life without Tony St. Clair.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

River woke up early and walked quietly into the living room to check on Tony. He was sound asleep. She went into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker then went back to bed. Today her father and brother would be here. She lay in her bed and stared up at the ceiling for a few minutes, worrying. She finally reminded herself that worrying wasn’t going to help anything, so she closed her eyes and asked God to take over. To let His will be done. When she opened her eyes, she felt better.

Her mind went back to the note from the motel room. Could they be certain it really was April? Could someone be playing an awful joke? With all of April’s followers, it was possible. How devastating would that be for Nathan and April’s father to be given false hope?

Although she tried to go back to sleep, her mind was unquiet and so was she. Finally, she sat up and grabbed her phone. Besides discovering a possible serial killer, she was thinking about a couple of the other cases that bothered her. The body found near the railroad tracks so many years ago—and the woman who was hitchhiking. At least she’d been identified so her family could grieve. But the dead man never had been, and it looked as if he never would be. He had to be someone’s son, grandson, or brother. Surely, he’d had friends. Someone out there had to be missing him. It made her sad to think of him buried without anyone to mourn him. In all these years had anyone ever visited his grave?

She began to search for online articles about Cheryl Armitage’s death. There were photos and an article from the local newspaper about the case. Cheryl Armitage looked like a nice woman, but there was sadness in her eyes. Some people didn’t believe eyes showed emotion, but she knew they most certainly did. River had seen it many times. This woman had been hurt. That was probably why she was in the bar that night. Many people with pain in their lives use alcohol to self-medicate, but it only brings more sorrow. Poor Cheryl had paid the ultimate price for her choice.

After looking through the photos, she noticed another link under Cheryl’s name and clicked on it. It pulled up an interview with a local news channel. The reporter shared the story of the hit-and-run, and then she went to an interview with Detective Porter. She thought he was a little brusque with the reporter, who was a rather young woman. Maybe he was just busy, but River felt as if he should have been more gracious. He assured her that the police were doing an extensive search for someone in the area who could have killed Cheryl. River wondered if the hit-and-run driver was from out of town. It might explain why the police were never able to close the case.

River glanced over at the clock. Should she let Tony sleep or wake him up? She’d promised him breakfast, and she was certain her mother would be up soon. After arguing with herself for a few minutes, she finally decided to head to the kitchen and get breakfast started. She hoped Mrs. Weyland would allow her to make a meal for her. She’d been cooking for River and her mother for months now. She got up and dressed quickly. Then walked quietly into the living room. Her concerns about disturbing Tony turned out to be useless. He was already awake and sitting on the edge of his bed.

“Boy, when someone promises you pancakes, you take that seriously, don’t you?”

Tony laughed. “You know pancakes are one of my weaknesses.”

“Your kryptonite?”

“Not sure I’m in the same league as Superman,” he said with a grin, “but I think you’ve got the idea.”

“Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed while I get busy in the kitchen?”

“You don’t find the scent of smoke and burned belongings agreeable?” he asked.

“Yes, I hear it’s the hottest new men’s cologne in the country. However, I’m more partial to soap and water.”

Tony stood to his feet, his curly hair hanging down in his eyes. He swept it off his forehead and smiled at her. She couldn’t help but think about how handsome he looked when he was unkempt and at his most casual. Surprised by her thought, she forced herself to focus on something else.

“There are towels and washcloths on the shelf in the bathroom,” she said a little too quickly. She turned to leave, afraid for him to see her face since she was fairly certain she was blushing.

Before she reached the kitchen, she heard noises and smelled food cooking. When she entered the room, sure enough Mrs. Weyland was already there, and she was standing over the stove.

“I was going to make breakfast,” River said. “I thought you might enjoy someone cooking a meal for you for once.”

Mrs. Weyland turned around and smiled at her. “Oh, honey. That’s so sweet. I was thinkin’ about you and Tony and everything you’ve been through. I decided you needed a special breakfast.” She put one hand on her hip and frowned. “I don’t wanna take over if you really want to do this. For Tony, I mean.”

Once again, she felt her face grow hot. “I said I wanted to cook for you, not for Tony.”

Mrs. Weyland didn’t say a word. She just smiled at her.

“Okay, okay. But it was for you too, I promise.”

“I appreciate that, River. But why don’t you make a meal for me another time? You just rest this mornin’, And I don’t plan to say anything to Tony about your feelin’s for him.”

River wanted to argue with Mrs. Weyland, but the older woman was too sharp. There was no way she would ever be able to convince her of something she’d clearly seen.

“I can’t hide anything from you or my mother, can I?”

Mrs. Weyland laughed. “It doesn’t take the sharpest person to see that you two are crazy about each other.” She gazed at River for a moment and then said, “My husband and I had something really special, and I see the same thing when I see you and Tony together.”

River sat down at the kitchen table and Mrs. Weyland poured her a cup of coffee. “You know, there aren’t many couples who so easily put each other first.” Her eyes got misty. “It isn’t something they have to try to do. It’s . . . it’s like breathin’ in and out. One breath. One heartbeat. And that’s what you two have.”

“It was like that for you and your husband?”

The older woman nodded. “From the first moment we met until I watched him take his last breath.” She smiled sadly. “That’s why I wanted to come here. I needed to take care of someone. Needed to pass on the love we lived for over forty years. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for allowing me to take care of your mama.”

River didn’t know what to say. Mrs. Weyland was thanking her for everything she’d done for her and her mother? “I think we’re the ones who are blessed,” she said softly.

Mrs. Weyland turned back to the stove, and a peaceful quiet fell over the kitchen. River turned over Mrs. Weyland’s words in her heart.

You know, there aren’t many couples who so easily put each other first. It isn’t something they have to try to do. It’s . . . it’s like breathin’ in and out. One breath. One heartbeat.

She realized it was true. From the moment they’d met, she’d cared more about Tony than she did herself. Even before she’d let God into her heart, she’d loved Tony St. Clair with everything within her.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

He glared at Jeffrey over the tabletop. “I won’t put up with it,” he said in a low voice that almost sounded like a growl.

A feeling of panic rose inside Jeffrey. He knew how dangerous this man really was. “It wasn’t my fault,” he said. “It was that nurse. She was the one who—”

“No, it wasn’t her fault. It’s yours. I should never have let you talk me into this. I told you from the beginning that I wanted her gone.” He struck his fist on the table and several people turned to look at them. “First you send that stupid picture. Then you threaten the kid.”

“He told me he’d gone to see those PIs,” Jeffrey insisted. “I wanted to stop him.”