Читать книгу The Longest Silence - Debra Webb - Страница 19

9

11:20 p.m.

Angie Durand hugged her husband closer. As hard as she tried she could not go to sleep. How could her beautiful daughter get involved with an older man? She knew better. Angie had taught her better. Tif was so much more mature and responsible than most girls her age.

Anger and hurt twisted inside Angie. She closed her eyes tight to hold back the tears. Dear God, how could she feel anger right now? Her baby was missing. She could be hurt badly or, oh God, dying. Please, please, just let me find my baby alive.

Didn’t matter how old Tif was, she would always be her baby.

Tif had her entire future ahead of her. Angie closed her eyes and prayed. Please, God, don’t let my sweet girl be taken from me.

Maybe Tif did make a terrible mistake, but she was only human and so very young.

“I’m so scared.”

Steve turned onto his side, facing her. He stroked her hair gently. “I know. I am, too. But we have to trust Tony and the police. They will find her. I refuse to believe otherwise.”

“I don’t know about Tony.” More of that ridiculous anger fired inside her. “He’d been drinking tonight.” Tears choked her for a moment. “Maybe...” Her voice broke. She cleared her throat, fought back the tears. “Maybe he can’t help. I know he wants to, but maybe he just can’t. Between the divorce and all the drinking and now his career is tanked.” She pressed her hand to her mouth for a moment. “Maybe he just can’t help the way he wants to...the way we need him to.”

Steve pulled her close against his chest. “Please don’t cry. We have to be strong right now. For Tiffany and for Tony. We have to believe.”

Angie nodded, unable to speak for fear of breaking down completely.

She believed. She believed. Tiffany was coming home. Tony would find her.

Angie believed this with all her heart.