Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(90)

If that wasn’t enough to unnerve Maryellen, she endured constant worries about the baby. She tried to be positive; nevertheless, she worried. Because of the problems associated with the pregnancy, she was deathly afraid that something might be wrong with her baby.

Early on, there’d been numerous blood tests and ultrasounds, and then, as the fetus developed, fewer and fewer. The physicians assured both Maryellen and Jon that everything appeared to be normal, but their words were always followed by a statement indicating that the ultrasounds offered no guarantee.

Maryellen had already accepted that because of her age and the problems she’d encountered, this pregnancy would be her last.

As was their habit, Kelly and Maryellen talked for about ten minutes. When she turned off the phone and set it aside, she was surprised to see Ellen in the kitchen, preparing a salad for dinner.

“Where’s Katie?” Maryellen asked as she folded a thick yellow towel.

Ellen glanced up, lettuce in her hands. “She’s still outside with Joe.”

Thinking she might have missed seeing her daughter, Maryellen looked again. The yard was empty, and she saw no evidence of either her father-in-law or her daughter.

“I don’t see them,” she said, struggling awkwardly to her feet.

“I’m sure they’re there.” Ellen washed her hands, and taking the dish towel with her, walked outside.

Maryellen stood at the open glass door, watching Ellen as she strolled casually about the yard. When Ellen didn’t see her husband or granddaughter, either, she moved out of Maryellen’s sight.

After a few minutes, she heard Ellen shout, calling their names. Her voice became increasingly shrill when she couldn’t locate them.

Maryellen’s heart started to pound. Something was wrong. She could feel it. Every maternal instinct she possessed went on full alert. Feeling light-headed, she made her way to the stairs that led to Jon’s office.

“Jon,” she called, trying to sound calm and collected. “Could you come here right away?”

Her fears must have been evident in her voice, because he was up the stairs in a flash.

His eyes immediately locked with hers. “What is it?”

She swallowed hard, fearing his reaction. “Joseph and Katie are missing.”

“Missing,” he repeated, gripping her shoulders. “What do you mean missing?”

“Katie was outside with Joe and Ellen. I was on the phone with Kelly. When we finished, Ellen was in the kitchen and I couldn’t see Katie or your father. You know how much Katie loves the water and—”

She didn’t get a chance to finish.

Jon was out the door, and she saw him dash across the yard toward the creek at the back of their property. The rushing water flowed down the embankment that led to Colvis Passage. If Katie had fallen in the swollen creek, it could carry her all the way to Puget Sound.

Standing on the deck, Maryellen pressed her hand against her forehead. Breathless, Ellen emerged from the bushes that lined the far end of the property. She looked at Maryellen and shook her head.

“Where’s Jon?” Maryellen shouted.

“He went down to the creek. I couldn’t make it.”

“Joe?” she asked.

“I—I don’t know. He couldn’t have made it to the creek, either. The banks are much too steep.”

Nausea built in the back of her throat, and for a moment Maryellen was afraid she’d throw up. This couldn’t be happening. None of this could possibly be real, and yet the terror that overwhelmed her was real. She had a blinding headache, and feeling nausea and dizziness, she clutched the back of a patio chair.

“I don’t know how this could’ve happened,” Ellen cried, and tears filled her eyes. “Joe was with her….”

But it only took an instant to lose sight of Katie. The little girl loved to play hide-and-seek; all Joe had to do was turn his back for a few seconds, and Katie would see it as an opportunity to slip away.

Maryellen couldn’t tell how much time passed. It felt like an eternity. Just as she was about to give way to panic, she saw movement in the bushes. Then she heard Katie’s frightened wail. The relief that shot through her made her knees buckle.

Jon broke out of the thick underbrush and onto the grass, carrying Katie. The three-year-old was covered in mud from head to foot. He held her tightly in his arms.

“Where’s Joseph?” Ellen cried as she rushed toward him.

Maryellen couldn’t hear what was being said. Ellen ran forward, and Jon handed Katie to his stepmother. As soon as he had, he quickly went back to the same path he’d just left. Within seconds, he was completely invisible in the dense trees and shrubs that edged three sides of their property.

Katie continued to wail, but her deep, gulping sobs didn’t signal pain so much as fear. Ellen brought Katie to Maryellen. As soon as Katie was in her arms and Maryellen had a fresh towel around her, the little girl stopped sobbing. She thrust her thumb into her mouth, then released a shuddering sigh as Maryellen sat and gently rocked her daughter and allowed her own heart to return to normal.

“Joe, dear God in heaven,” Ellen wept, pressing her hand over her mouth.

Maryellen raised her head to see Jon leading his father through the brush and toward the house. Joe was drenched and shivering with cold.

“What happened?” Ellen asked, coming toward them.