Confrontation

Alyssa rubbed her eyes. Trying to sleep was ridiculous. How could she get any rest when her son—her baby, the one who always seemed to make her worry—was missing? Not only that, but a different cadet had been found dead.

Her stomach twisted, but she forced herself to think about something else. She couldn’t let her mind go there—not with Alex. There was no proof that anything had happened to him. For all anyone knew, his disappearance had nothing to do with the dead cadet’s murder. 

Chad let out a snore next to her. Must be nice to be able to sleep with everything going on. But then again, people disappearing was practically normal for their family. Just another day for the Mercers.

Her mind wandered back to Lydia at the airport. She went over the entire interaction in her mind, scrutinizing each and every detail. Chad and Lydia had definitely acted weird. Nothing at all like she would’ve expected from an old neighbor. 

The woman and her murderous ex-husband had lived practically at the other end of the neighborhood. Alyssa and Chad would’ve only run into them on occasion, and even then, probably only at the HOA meetings. 

Alyssa pushed her pillow against the headboard and sat up, thinking back to when the kids had been kids. Had she and Chad spent any time with Lydia and Dean?

Her head hurt as she sifted through long-forgotten memories. None of them included either neighbor. 

Wait.

She’d brought over some food when Macy had been abducted. 

Alyssa’s heart jumped into her throat and she struggled to breathe normally.

Get ahold of yourself. 

Half the neighborhood had provided meals during that excruciating time. That didn’t mean something had happened between Lydia and Chad.

Alyssa closed her eyes and pushed through her thoughts, determined to find a memory that would provide the answers she needed.

She had no reason to think that Lydia had been anything other than a concerned neighbor. The woman hadn’t done anything that all the other neighbors hadn’t done. 

Not that any of it changed the fact that Alyssa could practically feel something between the two of them at the airport.

She froze. Back then, her and Chad’s marriage had been on the rocks. It wouldn’t have surprised her if they’d have gotten divorced. She’d actually wanted it for a while before they worked things out.

Alyssa drew in a deep breath, held it as long as possible, and released it.

Chad rolled over. “Are you okay?”

“Do you think I’m okay?” she snapped.

He sat up. “What’s going on?”

“That’s what I want to know.”

“Elaborate.”

They stared each other down. Alyssa didn’t want to outright accuse him of cheating, but she didn’t know how to approach the subject either.

“You’ve been acting strange, Lyss, and I don’t know why.”

“Our son is missing.”

He threw her an exasperated expression. “I mean beyond that. Something else is going on. What is it?”

Alyssa struggled to find the right words. Maybe it didn’t matter. She just needed to say something. “What’s the deal with Lydia?”

“Lydia?” Chad exclaimed. “Nothing’s going on with her. Are you accusing me of something?”

“Is there something to accuse you of?”

“No. I haven’t so much as thought of her in years, much less even seen her.”

Alyssa clenched her jaw. “Then why was there a weirdness between you two at the airport?”

“A weirdness? What does that even mean?”

“You two didn’t act like just former neighbors, Chad. There was something more. I can’t put my finger on it, but something wasn’t right.”

His brows came together. “The only thing that isn’t right is that our son is missing. We should get up and see if there’s any news regarding him. Forget about Lydia—and every other neighbor, while you’re at it.”

They stared each other down. Finally after what felt like an eternity, Alyssa spoke. “Has there ever been anything between you and Lydia?”

Chad looked away.

Alyssa’s stomach dropped, crashing through the bed. That hadn’t been the reaction she’d expected. “Chad?”

He didn’t respond.

Her pulse pounded through her body. “Talk to me.”

“It was a long time ago.” His voice was so quiet she almost couldn’t hear him.

“What did you say?”

He spoke louder this time. “It was a long time ago. Before Macy was kidnapped.”

“You… you actually…?” Alyssa couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

Chad took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m sorry. If I could take it all back, I would in a heartbeat. It’s my biggest regret.”

Alyssa couldn’t find the words to say what she wanted. She didn’t know what she wanted to say. So many thoughts raced through her head it made her dizzy.

“I put an end to it, Lyss. It was stupid, and I realized my mistake. You’re the love of my life, and I was blinded to that fact for a while when things were so bad between us. You remember that, right?”

She didn’t want to admit it, but she remembered all too well. “That doesn’t excuse you for…” The words nearly choked her. “…cheating on me.”

“I know it doesn’t.” He finally looked at her. “Nothing does. I’ve tried to make up for my indiscretion every day since then.”

Alyssa’s mouth gaped. “Wait. So all your devotion hasn’t been about me, it’s been about making up for betraying me?”

He shook his head, his eyes wide and his face pale. “No, that’s not it. It’s all because of my love for you. You’re the only one for me. It’s only ever been you.”

She stared at him. “And Lydia.”

Chad shook his head. “I never loved her.”

“Then why? Why?” She was practically shouting.

“I was stupid. Blinded by our petty disagreements. Those were all I could see, and I didn’t think there was a way around them. It seemed like our marriage was doomed. Then Macy disappeared, and I realized how much I needed you. How we belonged together.”

Alyssa choked back a sob. Bile jumped into her mouth. “It took our daughter’s abduction to make you realize that?”

“Unfortunately.”

“So what you’re saying is that if she hadn’t been kidnapped, you might be married to Lydia right now instead of me?”

He shook his head. “It’s only you, Lyss. You’re the only one.”

“I need some space to think.” She fled the room, slamming the door behind her.