Why?

Her phone rang. Joe.

“Is Sandra there?” he asked when she picked up. “I’ve just come out of the meeting, but we still have a few things to tie up. She left three messages, and the last one said that she was on her way to the cottage. She sounded … impatient. I thought I’d touch base with you to see if I need to hurry home.”

“She’d say you do.” Eve was silent a moment. “No, there’s no reason for you to rush home. Do what you have to do. I’ll take care of her.”

“That sounds familiar. It’s what you’ve done all your life. She’s never been a real mother to you.” He paused. “I suppose I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just surprised you’ve never resented it.”

“I did resent it when I was a kid. I got tired of blaming it on the drugs, and I wanted her to be the kind of mother that my friends had.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not that a lot of them weren’t just as neglectful. Dysfunctional families were pretty common in my housing development.”

“They weren’t unusual where I grew up either.”

“But you were a rich kid, and you only got sent to some fancy school instead of getting kicked out on your ass.” She added, “But Sandra never threw me out. Between her welfare payments and an occasional job, we made it until I was old enough to get a job myself to help out. Look, some people never grow up. I think Sandra may be one of them. But beneath all that vanity and self-absorption, she has a good heart. I was better off than a lot of kids.” She looked at Sandra, who was nearly out of sight. “And she was good to my Bonnie. She might not have been a good mother, but she was one hell of a good grandmother. That was more important.”

“To you. I’m afraid I feel differently. You’re the one who is important in my world.” He went on before she could speak, “But that doesn’t mean I’m not willing to take responsibility for her. Does she need money?”

Joe was always ready to take responsibility, bear the burdens, fight her battles. Which was the reason she had to protect him from his own instincts. He had appeared in her life after Bonnie had been taken, and it would have been easy for her to go into a cocoon and lean on him, but she had been careful to maintain her own independence. And taking care of her mother was part of that independence. “No money. Not this time. And if she did, I’d manage. But if you could make a phone call or two before you start home, it might smooth the way to easing her off our doorstep.”

“Another traffic ticket?” he asked warily.

“I’d never ask you to do that. What the hell are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that you seem to be feeling softer and more lenient than usual toward Sandra. Who am I supposed to be calling?”

“Santa Barbara Police Department. Maybe the local mental hospital. According to Sandra, Jackie, one of her friends, has a cousin in a mental hospital out there. The woman wandered off two nights ago from Seahaven Behavioral Health Center, and she hasn’t been found. Sandra is worried and wants you to do something to get her back.”

“Sandra is worried?”

“I know, it’s not like Sandra to empathize. And I think the friend is phony. But I don’t know what the hell connection Sandra has to all of this.”

“What’s the name of the patient?”

“Beth Avery. And she’s a member of the South Carolina Avery family. Low on the totem pole, but enough clout to cause everyone to keep the media at bay until they can find her.”

“Mental patient. What’s her diagnosis?”

“I don’t know. Sandra is pretty vague about everything. You’ll have to find out.”

“I’ll do what I can.” He was silent. “Strange. None of this is making sense. I wonder what’s going on with Sandra. You’re sure I shouldn’t come right home?”

“I’ll take care of her,” she repeated. “If you’ll make those calls. That’s all you could do if you were here. I’ll see you when you get home.” She hung up.

The sun was almost down, and trees were casting long, dark silhouettes on the lake.

Where the hell was Sandra? She was nowhere in sight.

Sandra was prone to melodramatic gestures, like stalking off into the sunset, but the moods never lasted long. Particularly if she was subject to discomfort like this chill that was sharpening the air.

And she had seemed genuinely upset when she had left the cottage.

Okay, go after her. She might still be irritated with Eve, but she could just deal with it. Eve wanted all the outbursts and the main problems brought out into the open before Joe got home. Joe might think he was responsible for everything in Eve’s life, but she wouldn’t let it include her mother. She and Sandra had gone through experiences and traumas that she would never confide to Joe. He would only become angry and protective and want to shut Sandra out of her life. Eve couldn’t do that. These days, Sandra was more difficult than pleasant, more selfish than giving, but you had to accept the cards you were given.

She started down the porch steps, her gaze searching the trail.

And the cards Eve was being given at that moment was the task of going after Sandra, bringing her back to the cottage, and getting her to tell the truth about this Avery business.

*   *   *

SHE FOUND HER MOTHER leaning against a pine tree a half mile down the lake path.

“I didn’t think you were going to come.” Sandra was limping toward her. “I fell down and hurt my foot.”

Eve hurried forward and put Sandra’s arm around her shoulders. “Those damn high heels.”

“Don’t you tell me that you told me so,” Sandra said. “You said I’d break my ankles. I only hurt my foot.”

“Big difference.”

“And it’s your fault. I wouldn’t have had to leave the cottage if you hadn’t been nagging at me.” She leaned heavily against Eve. “But you’re always like that. You never believe me.”

“I was only asking questions.” Now that she was closer, she could see that Sandra’s face was tear-streaked, her stockings torn at the knees, and one heel had broken off her shoe. “Are you hurt? You don’t look so good.”

“I’m fine.” She was shivering. “A little cool. How do you expect me to be? I’m a city woman. I don’t like the outdoors. I don’t know why you’d move out here anyway.”

“We like it. It was Joe’s house before we started living together. But it’s our home now. You should come out more often. You might get to like it.”

She shook her head. “There’s nothing for me here.”

“You never can tell.” Five minutes later, they had reached the porch stairs, and Eve was gently helping her climb them. “You weren’t sure you’d like to help me take care of Bonnie after she was born, but it worked out fine.”

“And what did it get me? I got to love her, then she died. It’s better not to get too close. You always get hurt.”

“Sometimes.” They had reached the front door, and Eve helped her into the house and over to the couch. “Sit down here. I’ll go get some water and salve. Can you manage to get those hose off?”

“Yes. I’m not helpless, Eve.”

No, but Sandra looked weak and shaken, and her eyes were glittering with unshed tears. “I know you’re not,” Eve said quietly. “But you took a fall, and if I can help you, I want to do it. You’d do the same for me. I’ll be right back.”

When she came back carrying the basin of water, Sandra was leaning back against the couch, her eyes closed. “I have to talk to Joe,” she whispered. “When is he coming?”

“It will be a little while. But you need some time to pull yourself together.” She began to gently bathe Sandra’s scraped knees. “You’re a bit tousled. You looked so pretty when you got here. You don’t want Joe to see you when you’re not at your best, do you?”

“I did look nice, didn’t I? This is a new sweater.” She opened her eyes. “I looked in the mirror this morning, and I thought that I didn’t look too much older than I did when I gave birth to you, Eve. Was I lying to myself?”