Scared To Death (Live to Tell #2)(99)

“Voice studio?”

“It’s not like…I mean, it’s really small. Her father built it for her, because she—”

“Small?” The female officer echoes. “Where is it, exactly?”

“I can show you.”

The authorities all look at one another.

“Go ahead, let him take you down,” Detective Gibbs instructs. “I’ll be waiting outside with the Cavalons.”

Jeremy’s heart stops. “They’re here?”

“Yeah, they’re here.” The detective’s tone is all business, but his eyes aren’t unkind. “And they want their daughter back alive.”



Elsa can’t take it.

Something is going on inside that house.

The way Detective Gibbs comes striding out here so purposefully…

“Did you find her?” She rushes toward him.

“Not yet.” He rests a firm hand on her arm, guiding her back over to the car.

But he expects to find her, or he expects…something. The air is unmistakably charged.

Brett’s arm is tight around Elsa’s shoulders; she can feel the expectant tension in his body as well. He’s waiting; they’re all just sitting here waiting…waiting…

The door of the house is thrown open; they all look up.

Nothing could have prepared Elsa for the sight that greets her.

A male figure stands in the doorway, holding something in his arms.

Jeremy…with Renny.

With a scream, Elsa races toward them, toward her children, Brett right alongside her.

“Mommy!” Renny calls out. “Daddy!”

Jeremy bends over to gently set her on her feet.

Brett gets to her first, scooping her into his arms and holding her close.

Reaching them, Elsa gives her daughter a fierce hug.

“I was so scared, Mommy.”

“I know you were, sweetheart, but you’re going to be okay.”

“That boy found me.” She points at Jeremy. “He let me out.”

Boy…he’s not a boy.

He’s a man.

Elsa swallows hard and turns toward him. He’s just standing there, waiting…waiting…

He looks nothing like the little boy she lost, and yet…

Their eyes connect, and she knows.

My son.

Glancing quickly over at Brett, she sees that his eyes, above Renny’s dark head, are shiny. “Thank you,” he says raggedly. Balancing Renny on his hip, he holds out a hand.

Jeremy looks down at his feet, then shyly up at Brett. “You’re welcome.” He stretches out a hand to shake Brett’s, but is swept into a bear hug instead.

“You’re crushing me!” Renny squeals, and they all laugh through their tears.

At last, Brett releases him and he looks at Elsa.

“Jeremy,” she whispers, and opens her arms. “Welcome home.”





Epilogue




The airport is packed on this Friday morning, with the line for security snaking across the terminal.

“I hope we don’t miss the flight,” Elsa tells Brett as they wrestle their bags another couple of feet forward.

“The line’s moving fast. Here, Renny, let me take your bag.”

“No, I’ve got it.” She wheels her small Vuitton suitcase—a gift from Maman, of course, in honor of this long-awaited trip—and anxiously asks, “What if the plane leaves without us?”

“It won’t, I promise.”

“But you just said it might,” she reminds Elsa, who smiles and shakes her head.

“You don’t miss a trick, do you?”

“Nope. And I been waiting for this day for so long.”

Brett rests a hand on Renny’s shoulder. “We all have.”

Fifteen minutes later, they reach the head of the line. The security guard is jovial as Brett hands him their three IDs.

“Let’s see…we have Brett Cavalon, Elsa Cavalon, and…” He looks down. “Renata Cavalon. Is that your name?”

“No.” She shakes her head fervently, and he raises an eyebrow.

Elsa and Brett look at each other.

“Sweetie,” Elsa says, “it is now, remember? The adoption? You’re a Cavalon now.”

“But I’m not Renata. It’s Renny,” she informs the security guard, who grins and hands back the documents.

“All right, Renny Cavalon. You have a good trip. Where are you going?”

“To Disney World!”

As they make their way toward the gate, she gallops along pulling her little bag, singing her favorite Ariel song.

The one about becoming part of your world, Elsa thinks.

Renny still isn’t sick of the song, or of The Little Mermaid.

And I’m not, either, thinks Elsa, who often goes around singing the poignant lyrics herself. So does Brett.

“It’s like our family theme song,” he comments now, as he and Elsa pull the luggage along toward the gate, just up ahead.

“They’re here!” Renny breaks off to announce excitedly. “Can I run ahead?”

Elsa hesitates. This is a public place, and there are so many strangers…