Silent Fall

happened to her."
    He frowned at her pragmatic attitude. "Hey, I thought you’d be a little more compassionate."
    "I am compassionate, but you can’t make a mystery out of everything."
    "I’m not doing that. It’s possible my father came up here and drowned her. You think that’s crazy?"
    "I guess not. I just feel as if you’re focusing on how she died rather than on the fact that she really is gone, and she’s not coming back. That has to bother you."
    "I told you, I accepted that a long time ago."
    It was obvious she didn’t believe him, but she let it go. He wasn’t lying, but he wasn’t telling the whole truth either. If he gave himself a moment to think about her being dead he’d lose his focus, so he wasn’t going to think about it, not right now, anyway.
    The graveyard came up quickly. It ran for one long block. Small stones were set in neat rows on the slight rise. It was a peaceful place surrounded by trees, quiet save for the sounds of birds.
    He moved through the rows, studying the names, not really recognizing any of them, although some sounded vaguely familiar. Finally, at the top of the hill he found her grave, his mother’s name on the simple gray stone, Olivia Sanders, and the dates of her life. There was nothing else. No loving mother or loving wife. Had his father buried her? Had he even come to the funeral? Or had strangers done the deed?
    Finally it sank in.
    His mother was dead.
    He was never going to see her again. He would never have the chance to talk to her, to hear her side of the story.
    His legs weakened. He felt shaky, hot.
    Catherine’s hand slipped into his. He held on tight, feeling like he might just keel over. He’d thought he was handling it, but apparently he wasn’t. Finally the dizziness passed. He drew in several deep breaths and then let go of her hand, embarrassed by his emotional reaction. "I need a minute," he said roughly. "By myself. Do you mind?"
    "It’s okay to care, Dylan."
    "Just wait for me at the end of the road."
    "All right. Take whatever time you need."
    He didn’t know why he’d sent Catherine away. He missed her as soon as she was gone. Now it was just his mother and him, no buffer between them. He felt he should say something, but what? He was normally good at finding the right words, but in this moment he had none. He didn’t know what to think. For so many years he’d lived his life believing she’d deserted him. It was hard to let go of that. He didn’t even know if he should let go of it. She had left. It was just a question of whether or not she would have come back. Now, as he’d told Catherine, they would never know.
    Several more minutes passed before he could speak. "I’m sorry," he muttered. "You didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve him, and neither did I." He took a deep breath. "I blamed you for the bad stuff, but I guess you were a victim, too. You didn’t come back, but I’m going to believe that you wanted to, and that you would have if you’d had more time." He paused again, staring down at her name on the stone. He knelt down next to the grave, his last words coming out in barely a whisper. "I forgive you, Mom."
    He felt a burden slip off his shoulders as he finally let go of all the hate, the bitterness, the rage he’d felt toward her. He still had the same feelings toward his father, but her he could forgive. It was past time to do anything else. And who was he to judge her for the actions she’d taken so many years ago? She’d been a lonely, unhappy woman. He hoped she’d found some joy in her affair; she’d certainly paid a big price for it.
    A car door shut; an engine roared. The noise brought his head around. At the end of the lane he saw a car pull away, a man behind the wheel.
    Fear suddenly ripped through his heart. Where was Catherine? He’d told her to wait at the end of the road, but she wasn’t there.
    "Catherine. Where are you?" He ran through the graveyard and down the street, calling her name, but she was gone. Someone had taken her.

Chapter Nineteen

    Dylan ran back to the house, jumped into the car, and headed off in the direction of the vehicle he’d seen by the cemetery. As he drove his heart hammered against his chest, desperation washing over him. He never should have told Catherine to leave him alone. He’d put her in a vulnerable position, and someone had taken