The Spirit Tree (27 page)

I shook my head. The excuse sounded goofy even if it was true. I dialed Aaron before I chickened out. “Hey, Aaron. Did they find them?”

“Not yet. We put out an APB on the van, but they could be anywhere by now.”

I shook my head at Bryson.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls? What were you doing?”

“I forgot I turned the phone on ‘Silent’ earlier. Family drama.”

“Not cool, Tessa. I was worried when you didn’t answer. I can’t solve this case while worrying about you. You need to be more responsible—”

I interrupted his rant. “Hey, Aaron, I need to get to Ocala today and make my statement about Woods. Since there’s nothing else I can do right now—”

“Is Bryson taking you?”

“Yes, and I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“I’m jealous, sue me.”

“Aaron, we can’t do this right now. You have to find those kids, and I need to make a statement so I can put Paul Woods behind me.”

“I know. Look, I’m sorry. You’re right. Can I see you when you get back?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I turned to the window.

“Okay, well. Be safe. Bye, Tessa.”

“I will. Bye.”

“That sounded rough.” Bryson kept his eyes on the road.

“He was worried.”

“He was jealous,” Bryson countered.

“I know.”

“It sounded like you ended it.”

I nodded. “This is a disaster.”

“Nah, it isn’t that bad. He’ll get over it.” Bryson reached for my hand, and I pulled it away.

“What if I chose him, or neither of you? Would you get over it?”

Bryson seemed to consider my words. “It will hurt like hell, but yeah, I’ll respect your wishes.”

I snapped my mouth shut. After a moment of silence, Bryson glanced at me and shrugged. The awkward silence hung between us until I couldn’t stand it another second.

“I need a pit stop.” Not the most eloquent way to break the silence, but effective.

“Rest area or gas station?” Bryson grinned.

“Rest area. The sign said there’s one coming up. Unless we need gas, then you can get off the highway. Either is fine with me.” The words all gushed out at once, as if they’d piled up inside me and needed to get out—much like the contents of my bladder.

“Do you want to stay in Ocala tonight? We could get a room, or camp out in the National Forest . . .”

My first reaction was a resounding hell, yeah, but the newfound responsible side of me didn’t think it was a good idea—not with the way the idea made me heat up. “Do you think it’s a good idea? I mean—”

“If I didn’t think it was a good idea, I wouldn’t have asked.”

“Right, but there is this weird attraction going on between us today. I’m trying to do the right thing and not rush into anything.”

“It wasn’t a proposition, Tessa. But if you don’t think you can behave yourself, maybe we shouldn’t.” The car came to a stop. Relieved, I opened the door, not bothering to wait for him, and rushed to the restroom—and away from Bryson.

I wasted as much time as I could in the bathroom, trying to decide if I should tempt fate and spend the night with Bryson.

Returning, I found him standing a few yards from the car. He stared out past the busy highway toward an open prairie. He was beautiful, with his serious expression and long hair blowing in the breeze. The image belonged on the cover of a historical-romance novel, with him wearing nothing but a loincloth and a few feathers.

I slid my arms around his waist. “I’d like to camp. Do you have a tent or camping stuff?”

Bryson drew me into his arms and pressed his forehead to mine. “I keep supplies in the Rover.”

I closed my eyes and rose on tiptoes to kiss him, and my phone rang. I stepped back and checked the screen. “It’s Aaron.”

“Where are you? Marion County PD put out an Amber Alert on the van. We got a tip the van was on the turnpike heading north toward 75.”

“We’re at the last rest stop just before 75. Hang on.” I turned to Bryson. “Someone saw the van traveling north toward 75.”

Bryson took my hand and led me toward the SUV.

“Aaron, I need to go. We’ll do what we can.”

I climbed in the SUV, and Bryson pulled to the far side of the rest area.

“Be safe,” Aaron said.

“I’ll call you if we find them.”

I turned to Bryson. “Give me a second to shift.”

Bryson cracked his door open. “Catch up.”

He shifted before his feet hit the ground. I leaned forward and watched him through the windshield. I ran around the Land Rover and closed the door. Bryson hadn’t cast the spell over the vehicle before he left. I crawled under the SUV to stash the keys before I shed my clothes and shifted.

I followed the highway north for several miles, fighting the feeling I was heading in the wrong direction. Bryson and that minivan had to be going this way. A few more miles stretched out, and I couldn’t ignore the pull to the west. Instead of following my head, I followed my instincts and let my spirit animal search for Bryson. At some point along the way, I realized I was searching for my mate. The pull was too strong to be anything less.

As I flew, I crossed several two-lane roads. I could feel Bryson nearby, but where? I doubled back and dove until I flew above the canopy of trees, searching the ground for movement. On the side of the road, well hidden under the thick boughs, sat a white minivan. Children were crying below. I landed on a low branch to get a better view.

“Are you going to sit there all day?” Bryson called from below. I chirped. Bryson wore a child’s blanket around his waist. If it hadn’t been for the pink-and-blue polka dots, it could easily be mistaken for a loincloth.

I landed near his feet and shifted, still giggling.

“What’s so damned funny?” His upturned lips ruined his attempt to sound gruff.

“Where’s Miriam?” I glanced around for the children’s grandmother.

“She’s sleeping, until I decide to wake her. Stay here.” He walked to the van and opened the side door. He rummaged through a suitcase and pulled out something orange and flowery.

“Oh geez.” I shook my head at the muumuu. Gram Mae wore similar dresses, only not in such horrid colors.

“I’ll drive. See if you can calm the kids down.” Bryson snickered when I pulled the dress over my head. It fit like a tent, but beggars couldn’t be choosers, plus, it was better than a blanket.

“I’ll drive back to the Rover; we can change and leave the van there.”

“Sounds good to me.” I squeezed between two car seats and looked between the screaming children. “Why didn’t you make them sleep?”

“Magic on kids is tricky. It doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to.” Bryson watched me in the rearview mirror.

I nodded and took the little girl’s hand, smiling. “My name is Tessa. Are you Lilian Rivera?”

Lilian nodded. “Mommy calls me Lilly. Are we going home?”

I blinked back tears. “Yes, sweetheart, we will get you home soon.”

I carried the sleeping toddler, Jonas, into the Orange County Police Department. Lilian Rivera clung to my legs as we followed an officer into a child-friendly room. I didn’t want to think about why they had a room painted with bright colors, filled with tiny chairs, and a shelf of toys and coloring books. The idea that so many children were victimized that they needed a special room for them was too much for me to bear.

A female officer stayed with us while Bryson explained how we’d come to be in the possession of two missing children and a conspirator to a kidnapping. I didn’t know where they’d taken Miriam Warner, but I felt sorry for her. She believed she was protecting her grandchildren.

Jonas slept so soundly on my shoulder that he left a puddle of drool. My arms ached, but I didn’t dare try to put him down.

Samuels came through the door. “Tessa Lamar. I swear, girl, you never cease to be in the middle of a big pile of . . .”

Thankfully, his internal censor went off before he finished his sentence. Lilian peeked at him from behind my legs, tugging on my shirt to get my attention. “Miss Tessa?”

“Yes, Lilly?”

“Is my daddy coming?”

“Your daddy will be here in a few minutes.” Samuels smiled at the girl, then leaned close to me. “Warner is gone. Once he found out we had the kids, he gave up the standoff. Suicide by cop.”

Another life lost. I adjusted Jonas on my hip as he woke. He looked around the room once, stuck his thumb into his mouth, and laid his head back on my shoulder.

“Is Aaron here yet?”

“He’s finishing Mr. Rivera’s paperwork.” Samuels tilted his head. “You’re good with them.”

The comment surprised me. I never considered myself the motherly type. The door opened, and Aaron ushered a tearful Mr. Rivera into the room. The children lit up when their father knelt and held his arms open wide. I put Jonas down, and he toddled over to his father. Mr. Rivera stood with Lilian in one arm and Jonas in the other, hugging them like he’d crush them. My eyes blurred, and I looked away.

Aaron wrapped his arms around me, holding my head to his chest as he rocked back and forth. “You did it.”

He released me and turned to watch the family reunite. “Bryson said you spotted them on the highway and followed them?”

I nodded, my eyes never leaving the kids.

Mr. Rivera stood and extended his hand. “Thank you. I thought I would never see them again.”

I reached for his hand, only to be pulled into yet another hug. “I’m glad they’re safe and back with their father.”

He nodded and kissed both my cheeks as the little ones hugged my legs. I laughed and knelt, returning their hugs. Bryson stepped into the room, taking in the scene with a smile. He graciously accepted Mr. Rivera’s hugs and gratitude.

I turned to Aaron and froze. He knelt, and both kids plowed into his chest. His arms wrapped around them as his eyes met mine. It was the vision I’d seen in the coffee shop.

I sank into a tiny chair before my legs went out from under me. A look of concern crossed Bryson’s face, and he knelt by my side. “Are you okay?”

I wiped my eyes on the back of my hand. “I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”

He didn’t buy it. He stood and set his hands on my shoulders. “Detectives, if there’s no more paperwork, we’ve had a long day. I’d like to take Tessa home.”

“I still need to take her statement.” Samuels looked between us. “It can wait until tomorrow. I’ll see what I can do about bringing the Marion County guys to come to the Winter Park station. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.”

I tensed at the mention of birds. Bryson looked at me with a knowing expression. The cat, it seemed, was out of the bag. I tried to communicate with my eyes, to apologize without saying the words in a roomful of people. Bryson gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Ready?”

As I stood, Lilian ran to me. “Miss Tessa, is it time to go home?”

Mr. Rivera answered, “Lilly, we have to go see a doctor first. After we make sure you and Jonas are okay, we can go home.”

Tears filled the girl’s eyes and fell to her cheeks. I knew better than to make promises I couldn’t or wouldn’t be allowed to keep. As much as I wanted to tell Lilly what she wanted to hear, I couldn’t. The kid had been through enough in the previous weeks to endure any more disappointment. I knelt eye to eye with the girl. “Just a little while longer and you’ll be home. I have to go to
my
home now. Okay?”

Lilly nodded and hugged me one last time.

I stood, thankful for Bryson’s hand at the small of my back, guiding me forward. Had it not been for the extra support, I may have caved and never left those big brown eyes. It would be so easy to step in and play superhero for Lilly.

I understood the fear and uncertainty that accompanied loss. Although I’d fought hard to push the pain down—ignore it, deny it, distract myself from it—I couldn’t deny the hole in my heart.

Once outside the station, I crumbled. Everything I’d pushed down erupted in an explosion of emotions. I wanted to save Lilly Rivera because she was powerless to save herself. Aaron on one side, Bryson on the other, they cradled me in their embrace while I cried—not for the little girl inside the station, but for the little girl inside myself who was just as lost and scared.

“Tessa, your phone rang.” Bryson lifted the corner of my comforter.

“Who was it?” I opened my swollen eyes and reached for a tissue.

Bryson smoothed my hair back from my face. “Aaron.”

I needed to do something, to say something to Aaron about our relationship, or lack thereof. I’d tried before, at the Rivera’s’, but he hadn’t stopped flirting. My emotions had overtaken me at the station, and I leaned on both men. I wanted them in my life, but things couldn’t go on like this—it wasn’t fair to any of us.

“I need to speak to Aaron alone.”

Bryson took my hand. “You’ve had enough to deal with. Take a day or two to think about it. I don’t have a problem with him hanging around.”

“Thanks, but the longer this continues, the harder it will be.”

“Tessa, there are still some things we need to deal with. Do you think it’s a good idea to push Aaron away before we settle things with the elders?”

I turned to face him. “What do you mean? Paul Woods is dead. The Rivera case is closed. What do the elders have to do with us?”

“You need to make a decision about Charlie’s position.”

“I know.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“I don’t know.”

He squeezed my hand. “There is also the issue of our engagement. Buck wants us married.”

“We aren’t engaged.” I couldn’t understand why Buck felt he had any say in my personal life.

“We could remedy that, Tessa.”

My mouth fell open. Was that some sort of offhanded marriage proposal? “I thought you said I’d been through enough for one day?”

“You have, and I was kidding. There will be no doubt about my intent when I actually propose to you.”

He’d said something similar about our first kiss, and I wasn’t disappointed when it finally happened. I trusted him to make it special. “Promises, promises.”

Bryson chuckled.

“What did you mean about Aaron?”

“It’s only a matter of time before he hits their radar. The elders won’t be happy if the news runs with the psychic angle.”