"I'm going to do my best."
As Josie left the room, Nathan moved from his post by the entry to block her way.
"What are you thinking?" he challenged.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Just taking it all in."
"Really? You're not wondering if Kyle had something to do with this, because Grace thought the person was wearing a ring like her father's?"
"As Josie said, a lot of people have that ring."
"Exactly."
"What is Josie's husband like?"
"He's…fine."
The slight hesitation told her a lot. Nathan didn't like his brother-in-law. But then Nathan had always been protective of Josie. Maybe no man would be good enough for his sister.
"Kyle takes care of Josie and Grace. He provides well for them," Nathan continued. "He works for a large real-estate development company. He makes a good living. Josie gets to live in this nice house, and Grace gets to go to a good school. That's what's important."
"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself."
"Kyle had nothing to do with this, Bree."
"I didn't say he did. And I don't jump to conclusions."
He raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You don't jump to conclusions?"
She hesitated for a split second. "Not anymore."
"I still can't believe you're a fed. Do they know all the shit you were involved in? Do they know about Johnny?"
She stared back at him. "Why are you so angry, Nathan? Weren't we friends once?"
Her direct question seemed to take him aback. "Now you remember that we were friends? Because it seemed like you forgot that a long time ago. You got on a bus and never looked back. But even before that, you changed."
"So did you," she reminded him.
"I don't like you being back here," he muttered. "My life is different now. I don't need a reminder of how things used to be. I don't need to get back in that mud pit."
"Believe it or not, I feel exactly the same way. My life is different now, too. And I'm not thrilled to be back in Chicago, but it's only until we find Hayley. Then I'll return to New York, where I live."
"New York, huh?"
"Yes."
His tension seemed to ease with the reminder that she was only in town temporarily.
"When did you get to New York?" he asked.
"Last year."
"And before that?"
"Lots of places," she said vaguely. "What about you, Nathan? I thought you wanted to leave this city."
"I did, but Josie met Kyle and got pregnant…" He shrugged. "My family is here. I had to stay."
"What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a contractor."
His words made her smile. "You always wanted to tear down the bad buildings and build new ones. And now you're doing it. That's cool. You and your brother-in-law must have a lot in common, if he's a real-estate developer."
"Actually, we're usually on opposite sides when it comes to development. He's in it purely for the money. The bigger the project, the better—never mind how many neighborhoods get displaced or ripped apart in the process."
"I knew you didn't like him, Nathan."
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to. I can hear it in your voice."
"Look, he's a blowhard, and he's greedy, but he's harmless." Nathan cleared his throat. "Do you think Hayley was kidnapped for money? I know Mark has a very good job."
"You know Mark Jansen?"
"We run together. We did a triathlon last year. I can't imagine what he's going through. He adores Hayley and his other kids. He's a real family man."
"You still run," she mused, thinking of the times Nathan had tried to convince her to go on a run with him, but she had almost always refused.
"My go-to sport," he acknowledged.
"If you run fast enough, the pain, the sadness, and the fear can't catch you," she said softly, remembering the words he'd spoken to her on more than one occasion.
His gaze darkened. "Still holds true—most of the time."
"I—I need to get back to work," she said, realizing she was getting lost in the past.
Nathan stepped aside but dogged her heels on the way to the front door. Then he barred her way once again. "I don't want Josie's life messed up again, Bree. She's good now, and Grace needs her mom to be good, if you know what I mean."
She knew exactly what he meant. Josie had had issues with drugs when she was a young girl. "I only wish Josie the best."
"If that's true, don't go after her husband."
"I'm going to follow every lead, Nathan, no matter where it goes. Hayley deserves that."
"I get that. I want you to find Hayley. I just don't want you to hurt Josie in the process. Kyle can't be a suspect. He's not that kind of guy."
"Right now, everyone is a suspect. Are you going to let me out?"
He opened the door for her, then said, "Bree…"
She stepped onto the porch and looked back at him. "What?"
He seemed to have some debate going on in his head and then he said, "I'm glad you made it."
She was surprised by his words and felt a wave of unexpected emotion. "I'm glad you made it, too."
"Let's try not to mess up each other's lives."
"That's the last thing I want to do." She walked away, feeling Nathan's gaze on her back until she turned the corner.
Nathan Bishop was an unexpected complication, but she'd handled it.
Hopefully, that would be her one and only encounter with the past.
Three
"Is Bree gone?" Josie asked, as he entered the kitchen.
"Yes."
His sister let out a sigh. "Good. Because you've got that look in your eyes again, Nathan. And you should not go there."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"You always had a thing for Bree—even when she was with Johnny."
He would have liked to deny his sister's words, but it would be pointless. "We don't need to talk about her."
"Of course we need to talk about her. She's back. She's in our lives."
"Not for long. As soon as Hayley is found, she'll return to New York."
"I hope so, because I like seeing you happy, and you were rarely happy when we were younger."
"That wasn't because of Bree."
"Sometimes it was. I may have been out of my mind a few of those years, but I didn't miss everything. You did things you wouldn't have normally done, and I've always thought they had something to do with Bree. It's like she's your kryptonite."
He shook his head at the worry in her eyes. "Bree is not my anything. She never has been, and she never will be."
"If you say so," Josie said, as she wiped down the counter.
"I do." He took a breath, knowing his next question was going to get her worked up even more, but he had to ask. "How could Kyle miss the concert? Grace was so excited about performing. He really couldn't get away?"
"No, he couldn't," she snapped. "He was supposed to be there, but something came up. It happens. I wasn't thrilled, and I know Grace was disappointed, not that she's had much time to think about that. But what can I say? Kyle works hard to support us. Complaining is being ungrateful."
"Is that what he tells you?"
"He doesn't have to tell me. After the way we grew up, Nathan, I appreciate everything Kyle does for us. He is a great provider, and I get to stay home with my daughter. I have everything I ever wanted. Don't try to poke holes in my happiness."
"I'm not doing that. I'm just concerned."
"About what?"
"About where Kyle was last night when Hayley disappeared. When did he show up? Did he come to the school? To the police station?"
"I called him when the police arrived at the school. They wouldn't let anyone leave until they had searched the area. It took him a little time to get my message. He ended up meeting us at the police station."
"Was he working with a group last night? Was he on his own?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking me all these questions?"
"Because Grace said she saw a ring similar to the one her dad wears on the kidnapper's hand, and Bree asked me about Kyle after you left."
"What did you say?"
"That he had nothing to do with this."