Daniel couldn’t hide his surprise. He’d expected the same sort of blame from Ryan that Patrick had always assigned to Daniel in his loyalty to their folks. “Really?”
“You sound as if you didn’t expect me to feel that way,” Ryan said.
“It’s just that the past few years Patrick has seen me as the roadblock, the chief defender of our folks. He’s been so furious with me that we’ve barely spoken,” Daniel explained. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I regret that. I never wanted to be in that position. I just couldn’t turn my back on them. Whatever they did to you, whatever the reason for it, they were good parents to me and Patrick.”
Ryan sighed heavily. “I don’t want to take that away from you. I really don’t. No two people are ever going to see this mess exactly the same. Sean and I don’t. Neither do Michael and I. We all had different experiences, some due to our ages, some due to what happened after the folks abandoned us.”
“Patrick and I had the same one,” Daniel said. “But he has no problem blaming our parents for everything without knowing the whole story. All he sees is the fact that they lied to us for so many years and let us think we were their only children. In my heart I know they wouldn’t have done that if they’d seen any other way to handle it. I think they were scared of us losing all respect for them, which is exactly what happened with Patrick.”
“You know something, Daniel, I have a good friend here who’s a priest. He says it’s a funny thing about faith. He says some people are born with it. They trust in God, trust in their fellow man, and nothing bad ever happens to shake that faith. Then there are the skeptics. They want proof. I think the ones who are born with unshakable faith are the lucky ones. Seems to me like you’re one of those. The rest of us need our proof, our explanations. Doesn’t make any of us wrong.”
Daniel felt an amazing sense of peace steal over him as he listened to his brother. “How did you get to be so wise?”
Ryan laughed. “I’d like to say it came naturally, but a lot of it has to do with letting go of my anger and listening to people who are a lot wiser than I am.”
“That priest,” Daniel said.
“And my wife. Maggie sees the world and the people in it in a way that gives me hope every day of my life. You’ll like her. You’re two of a kind.”
“I’ll look forward to meeting her,” Daniel said.
“See you tomorrow,” Ryan said. “Hope you get that other situation resolved.”
Daniel thought of the struggle he was going to face convincing Molly or Kendra to go along with what had to be done. “I hope so, too. Otherwise, you’re likely to find me bloody and bruised when you get here.”
He figured even if he managed to pull off a miracle with Molly and Kendra, that still left the battle with his folks to get them to meet with his brothers. He cast a gaze heavenward. “Hope You’re not fresh out of miracles.”
“What was that?” Ryan asked.
“Nothing,” Daniel said, feeling foolish at having been caught saying the words out loud. “Just a little prayer.”
“I’ve been doing a lot of that lately myself,” his brother admitted.
“Has it helped?”
“I’ll let you know after tomorrow,” Ryan said.
Daniel sighed. Amen to that.
Chapter Thirteen
Daniel was in an astonishingly chipper mood, Molly decided when he walked into the bar early Saturday morning, swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly right there in plain sight of God and everyone. Apparently he was no longer the least bit concerned about Retta and her meat cleaver.
When he released her at long last, Molly stood back and studied his expression. Despite the outward appearance of exuberance, she thought she detected a few shadows in his eyes. She knew him well enough to recognize that that could only spell trouble.
“Come with me,” she said at once.
“Where?”
“Upstairs.”
He grinned at that. “Anxious to get me alone again? I guess that kiss was even better than I thought.”
“The kiss was just peachy,” she said, shaking her head at the size of his ego. “It’s whatever else is going on in that head of yours that has me worried. Come on, buster. Upstairs.”
He dragged his heels like a kid trying to avoid a lecture. “I haven’t even had my coffee.”
“Coffee can wait.”
“Where’s Kendra?”
“In the kitchen with Retta. She’s learning to make omelettes. Now stop stalling and let’s get moving.”
Daniel cast a suspicious look toward the kitchen. “Swear to me that Kendra is in there.”
Molly lost patience. “Oh, for heaven’s sakes, see for yourself.”
To her disgust, he actually went to the kitchen door and peeked in. When he turned back, there was no mistaking the relief in his expression.
“Okay, that does it,” she said. “If you don’t head for the stairs right this second, you and I are going to have the mother of all fights right here in the middle of Jess’s. Word will get back to your brother, and this time I won’t stop him if he wants to beat you up.”
He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, though there was a suspicious twitch at the corners of his mouth. “Okay, okay,” he said, heading for the door that led to her apartment above the bar.
When they got upstairs, Molly faced him, hands on her hips. “Mind telling me what was going on just now?”
Daniel regarded her with apparent confusion. “I looked in on Kendra. Is that what you’re upset about?”
“Part of it,” she conceded. “You’re acting weird. Very un-Daniel-like.”
“You’re going to have to explain that one.”
“When you first walked through the door and planted that kiss on me, I thought everything in your universe had to be just fine. But it was just an act, wasn’t it? You’re hiding something.”
He frowned, and for a moment she actually believed he might tell her that she was crazy, that she’d gotten it all wrong, but then he sighed heavily, blowing that theory to bits.
“Tell me,” she demanded.
“You’d better sit down.”
“I don’t want to sit down,” she said, pacing around the small living room as she awaited whatever bad news he was trying so hard not to tell her. “Tell me.”
“Okay, here it is, and I know you’re not going to be happy about it.”
“Will you just get to the point?”
“I have until this evening to prove that Kendra shouldn’t go home or I need to reunite her with her parents,” he said, looking miserable. “I’m sorry, Molly, but there’s no more wiggle room on this. Her parents figured out that Joe knows where she is and are threatening lawsuits against everyone involved. That could include you, by the way, since you’ve known from the beginning that she was a runaway with family looking for her. I’m no lawyer, but I figure there’s a case against all of us for obstructing justice—at the very least.”
She stared at him, not entirely comprehending what he was saying. “So, what? You’re going to take her home and that’s that?”
“Yes. I have no alternative.”
“You would turn that girl over to her parents, even though we both know something is dreadfully wrong, just to protect your own hide?”
“No, dammit, to protect yours.”
She faltered at that. “No, I won’t let you do it, Daniel. Certainly not for the wrong reason, not to protect me.”
“You won’t have a choice. Neither of us do.”
“Oh, really?” she scoffed. “We’ll see about that.”
“Come on, Molly, be reasonable. Sooner or later, you had to know this moment would come.”
“Don’t use that patronizing tone with me,” she snapped. “I will not let you force Kendra to do something when she’s so obviously scared.”
“And if I take her, anyway?” he asked quietly. “What then, Molly? Is it going to come between us?”
“Yes,”
she said at once.
He leveled an unflinching look straight into her eyes. “Because you’ll see it as another betrayal?”
“Yes,” she said, though her voice was barely above a whisper. She knew it was unreasonable, knew that it wasn’t the same as before, but it felt the same. It hurt that he wasn’t on her side, wasn’t willing to protect yet another child who mattered to her.
“Sweetheart, this is my job. I take it very seriously. I will do everything in my power to protect Kendra if she needs it, but there is no evidence that she does. To the contrary, all the evidence suggests that she’s from a good home. Her parents love her. They’re frantic. Put yourself in their shoes for a minute.”
She didn’t want to think about the Morrows. Kendra was all that mattered. “Then why doesn’t Kendra want to go back there?” Molly demanded, unable to keep the urgency out of her voice. “Come on, Daniel. Think about it. They’re going to send her away. How much can they really love her if they’re going to do that, knowing that she doesn’t want to go?”
“Then help me find out where they’re sending her,” he pleaded. “Go downstairs with me now and lay it on the line for her. She opens up with us, here and now, or she goes home. Even at the risk of alienating you forever, those are the choices, Molly.”
She heard the unmistakable finality in his voice and shuddered. He wasn’t going to relent on this. Professionally, he’d been backed into a corner. And, much as she hated to admit it, she could see the position he was in. Kendra had given him nothing to work with, no truly solid reason he could take to the police or the courts that would justify not returning her to her parents.
“What do you need from her?” she asked at last.
“The truth,” he said simply.
“What if you don’t see the truth the same way she does?”
“We’ll work it out,” he promised. “The three of us.”
Molly knew it was the best deal she could hope for. “Give me a few minutes alone with her, okay?”
There was no mistaking the hint of doubt in his eyes. She could even understand it. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt. “You expect me to trust you, Daniel, to believe that you have Kendra’s best interests at heart. You have to trust me when I tell you that I’m not going to grab her and make a run for it.”
He nodded. “I do trust you. You’ve got fifteen minutes, Molly. No longer.”
It was less than she’d hoped for, but probably more than she deserved under the circumstances. If Joe was about to turn up at any second, she doubted he would approve of any concession Daniel was making.
She nodded curtly. “I’ll do what I can.”
She left Daniel standing in her living room and went back downstairs, trying to think of some way to get through to Kendra and get the answers they needed.
Molly found the girl in the kitchen, close to Retta’s side, watching the cook’s every move as she made omelettes for the handful of customers already in the dining room.
Kendra glanced up. “This is fun. I think I’m gonna be a famous chef and run a restaurant when I grow up.”
Molly grinned. It was a far leap from Jess’s to fancy gourmet dining. “Good for you.”
“Where’ve you been? I thought I saw Daniel here a minute ago,” Retta said.
“He’s here,” Molly said. “Kendra, come with me for a few minutes.”
Alarm immediately darkened her eyes. “Why?”
Retta put her arm protectively around the girl’s shoulders. “What’s going on?” she asked Molly.
“I need to talk to Kendra,” Molly said.
“Now?” Retta asked, her expression filled with worry.
“Right now,” Molly said.
Retta studied her face, then nodded. “Baby, it’s okay. You go on and talk to Molly, okay? Remember she’s on your side and do whatever she asks, you hear me?”
Kendra nodded meekly, then followed Molly into the bar, her gaze darting around nervously. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“Daniel.”
“Still upstairs, more than likely.” Or outside trying to waylay Joe Sutton, but Kendra didn’t need to know that.
When they were settled in a reasonably private booth in the back, Molly reached for Kendra’s hand. “You know that I only want what’s best for you, Kendra, don’t you?”
Kendra nodded.
Molly debated her next words, then opted for the truth. Kendra was smart enough to see through any sugarcoating, anyway. She had to know this stalemate couldn’t go on forever.
“Daniel and Joe can’t put off taking you home,” she said at last. “Your parents have guessed that Joe knows where you are and they’re threatening to take legal action against him, Daniel and possibly against me, if we don’t bring you home.”
The color drained from Kendra’s cheeks. “Can they do that?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“But that’s not fair. You’re only trying to help me.”
“The way they see it, we’re keeping you from them. I don’t care for myself, but I am worried about Daniel and Joe. Their jobs could be affected by this, and that’s not fair, either.”
Kendra stared down at the table. “I suppose.”
“Sweetie, you know it’s not.”
“I could call them, from someplace where they couldn’t trace the call,” Kendra said, her expression brightening. “I could explain that I’m okay and that they shouldn’t get mad at you guys.”
“I think it’s too late for that,” Molly said. “Now, if there’s a reason why you don’t want to go wherever they’re sending you, you have to tell us. Daniel will fight for you, but you have to speak up now. There’s no more time.” She tucked a finger under Kendra’s chin and forced the girl to meet her gaze. “Is there a reason? Something besides the plan to send you away?”
Tears swam in her eyes, but Kendra remained silent.
“Did they ever hurt you?” Molly asked one more time.
“No,” she said softly. “Never.”
“Was there an argument of some kind?”
“No.”
“Did they punish you for something?”
Kendra shook her head.
Molly regarded her helplessly. “Kendra, you’re a good girl. You didn’t just run away for no reason, did you?”
She shook her head but remained silent.
Molly sighed. “Then we have no choice. Daniel has to take you home.”
Kendra’s shoulders heaved with sobs. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I don’t want to go back,” she whispered brokenly.
Molly felt her heart twist in her chest. She would have given anything to grab the girl and run with her, but she couldn’t do it. She’d made a promise to Daniel and she had to honor it.
“It’s time, Kendra. Your parents love you. Joe says there’s not a doubt in his mind about that. Do you think he’s wrong?”
“No, not really,” she said without hesitation.
Molly felt relieved that Kendra at least believed that her parents cared about her. “Then going home won’t be so bad, will it? Whatever happened, you can work it out.”
Kendra regarded her hopefully. “Will you come with me?”
“If Daniel agrees, of course I will,” Molly said at once. She was no more ready to say goodbye than Kendra was. She wanted to get a good look at the people who were going to send Kendra away again. Maybe they’d provide the answers that Kendra had been unwilling to offer.
Kendra sighed heavily. “Okay, then. I’ll go.”
Molly glanced up and saw that Daniel was approaching, alone, thank heavens. “Kendra says she’ll go home,” she told him. “She’d like me to come along.”
There was no mistaking the relief in Daniel’s eyes. “Fine with me,” he said at once. He gave Kendra’s shoulder a squeeze. “I know you feel bad right now, but it’s going to be okay.”
The look Kendra gave him was filled with despair. “I don’t think so.”
“Sure it will be,” Mol
ly said. “Daniel won’t let you down.” She was counting on that.
“Will you be able to come see me?” Kendra asked.
“We’ll try to work it out with your parents,” Molly promised. “Right, Daniel?”
“Absolutely.”
Kendra finally managed a teary smile. “I guess we should go, then. Can I say goodbye to Retta?”
Daniel nodded. “Of course. I need to speak to her, too. I’m expecting some people here in a bit. I want them to know where I am.”
Molly heard a mix of anticipation and dread in his voice and knew at once exactly who he was expecting. “Are you sure you can do this now? Joe could take us.”
He glanced at Kendra, then shook his head. “Absolutely not. They knew I had some things to work out today. They’ll be here when I get back.”
His words spoke volumes about his commitment to Kendra…and to Molly. In that instant, knowing how long he’d waited for the reunion and that he was willing to wait a little longer to keep his promise to Kendra, Molly’s last remaining doubts fled. This was a different man from the one who’d run out on her years ago. And their love was stronger than ever.
“I’m scared,” Kendra admitted as Daniel pulled to a stop in front of a large Victorian house with a sprawling porch and a profusion of flowers spilling from window boxes on the railing. “They’re gonna be so mad at me.”
“I’ve called,” Daniel reassured her. “They’re grateful that you decided to come home, that you’re okay. They can’t wait to see you.”
“I missed weeks and weeks of school,” she whispered. “I’ll probably have to take all my classes over again.”
Daniel thought it a little odd that she didn’t sound especially distraught over that. “It’ll be hard, but you can do it,” he reassured her. “Maybe you can even take exams in some subjects and get credit. We’ll talk to the principal.”
“No!” Kendra said so heatedly that both Daniel and Molly were caught off-guard.
“Sweetie, why don’t you want to take the make-up exams?” Molly asked. “You studied while you were with me. I saw you with your books. I know you could pass the exams.”
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