He smiled a little as he took the hankie and dried Coco's tears himself.
I don't guess she was ready to hear it.
You just keep saying it.
Her voice became firm.
Keep right on saying it until she
is.
And if Megan needed an extra push, Coco thought, she'd be happy to supply it herself.
Now, then.
She smoothed down her hair, her slacks.
I have a million
things to do. I want you to rest, so you'll be up to the picnic and the fireworks.
I feel okay.
You feel as if you've been run over by a truck.
She marched to the bed, busying
herself with smoothing sheets and fluffing pillows.
You can lie down for another
hour or two, or you can sit out on the terrace in the sun. It's a lovely day, and we can fix you up a nice chaise. When Megan wakes up, I'll have her come give you a rubdown.
Now that sounds promising. I'll take the sun.
He started toward the terrace doors,
but then he heard footsteps hurrying down the hall. Megan rushed in.
I can't find
Kevin,
she blurted
out.
No one's seen him all morning.
Chapter 11
She was pale as i.e. and struggling to be calm. The i.e. of her little boy running away was so absurd that she continued to tell herself it was a mistake, a prank.
Maybe a dream.
No one's seen him,
she repeated, bracing a hand on the doorknob to stay upright.
Some some of his clothes are gone, and his knapsack.
Call Suzanna,
Nathaniel said quickly.
He's probably with Alex and Jenny.
No.
She shook her head slowly, side to side. Her body felt like glass, as though it would shatter if she moved too quickly.
They're here. They're all here. They haven't seen him. I was sleeping.
She said each word deliberately, as if she were having trouble understanding her own voice.
I slept late, then I checked his room, like I always do. He wasn't there, but I thought he'd be downstairs, or outside. But when I went down, Alex was looking for him.
The fear began to claw at her, little cat feet up and down her spine.
We hunted around, then I came back up. That's when I saw that some of his things... some of his things...
All right, dear, now don't you worry.
Coco hurried over to sh'p a supporting arm around Megan's waist.
I'm sure he's just playing a game. There are so many places to hide in the house, on the grounds.
He was so excited about today. It's all he could talk about. He's supposed to be playing Revolutionary War with Alex and Jenny. He he was going to be Daniel Boone.
We'll find him,
Nathaniel told her.
Of course we will.
Gently Coco began to ease Megan along.