When Sydney walked into the kitchen, Leilani pointed to a small patio just beyond the breakfast nook, one she’d never used before. “I feed you there tonight.” “Thank you.” She tried not to mind. She wasn’t an invited guest and she knew she’d intruded into the quiet, predictable world Danny had built for himself. And she’d gotten what she came for, in any case, during those emotional moments on the beach earlier. He might say he didn’t believe her but now at least he was willing to concede it was a possibility. She felt tears well again in her eyes at the mere thought of the devastation she’d witnessed on Danny’s face. Dear God, how did anyone live through the death of a child? And in his case, it was even worse because his son had simply vanished. Torn from the fabric of their lives without any warning. She thought of what Danny had told her about his troubled life. She’d never felt the least bit suicidal but she wasn’t sure how she’d feel if something happened to Nick.
