Chapter 334: Adam’s Suspicion
Before Marianne could decide what to say to make Melody see sense, or Melody try to threaten her again, a sharp knock sounded at the door followed by Adam walking in with an easy smile, a paper bag of breakfast in his hand. The smile vanished as soon as he saw Melanie standing by the window with puffy and red eyes.
He set the bag on the nearest chair, and walked around Marianne, who was frozen in the middle of the room, and reached Melanie in three long strides. "What happened? Why are you crying?" he asked in a tight voice as he searched her face.
Melanie slipped half a step back, bringing herself closer to the window. She did not answer him. Instead she tipped her chin toward Marianne. "Ask her. She will tell you."
Adam turned. The movement gave Melody another few inches toward the window sill. If Marianne spoke the truth, Melody would jump, and Marianne knew that Melody would not bluff.
Marianne looked at Melody and wiped her cheeks with trembling fingers. She drew a long breath that shook on the way out. "It is my fault," she said, words thick with regret. "I started remembering when my girls were small. I thought about the years I prayed to see them both in the same room again. Today I have one of them back, but the other is still out there, still missing, still alone." Her gaze dropped to the floor. "Melanie tried to comfort me. Instead I upset her, and we both ended up in tears."
Adam watched her as she spoke, then looked over his shoulder at Melanie for confirmation. Melanie gave one slow nod, holding his gaze until he relaxed.
He reached for her hands and pulled her close, "It is all right. Do not worry. The police are looking. We will find your sister."
Melanie nodded against his chest. However, hidden from his view, a small, satisfied smile curved her lips. Her ’sister’ would not be found. Cadence would see to that.
Adam kept her in his arms a moment longer, rubbing slow circles on her back before stepping back as he said, "You two need to eat. I brought your favorite almond pastries." Mrs Thomas, you join us to."
Marianne managed a faint smile, but her eyes kept flicking to the window where Melody stood. "Thank you, Adam. I would love to join you." she said quietly and moved to the side table as she straightened a stack of magazines with nervous fingers and tried to look busy, breathing only a sigh of relief when Melody stepped away from the window and came to sit at the table.
As the three people sat at the table, Adam hurriedly opened the boxes of the breakfast but before he could pass any to Melanie, Marianne spoke up slowly," After the discharge... I would like Melanie to come home with me. At least for a few days." She glanced at Melody, then quickly looked away. "It would give us time. Time to talk, to understand each other. We’ve only just found one another again. And we never had a chance to live like a family. Also, with Melody gone, it would be comforting to have at least one daughter close to him for my husband..."
Adam blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. He looked at Marianne, then shifted his gaze to Melody, about to speak.