Megan's mate

Then I wasn't so scared. She stayed all night. She was there whenever I woke up.

She flew away with the other one, but then you came. Is Mom mad at me?

Probably.

Kevin sighed again a long-suffering sound that made Nathaniel smile.

I guess I'm

in trouble.

Well, let's get your things and go back and face the music.

Kevin picked up his knapsack and put his hand trustingly in Nathaniel's.

Does it

hurt?

he asked, studying Nathaniel's face.

You bet.

Later, can I see all your bruises?

Sure. I've got some beauts.

Nathaniel felt every one of them as they climbed back up to the cliff path and started down the rocky slope toward home. It was worth it, worth every jar and wince, to see the look on Megan's face.

Kevin!

She flew across the lawn, hair blowing, cheeks tracked with tears.

Go on,

Nathaniel murmured to the boy.

She'll want to hug you first.

With a nod, Kevin dropped his knapsack and raced into his mother's arms.

Oh, Kevin...

She couldn't hold him tight enough, even kneeling on the grass, pressing him close, rocking and weeping in terrible relief.

Where'd you find him?

Trent asked Nathaniel quietly.

Up on the cliffs, holed up in a crevice in the rocks.

Good God.

C.C. shuddered.

Did he spend the night up there?

Looked that way. I had this feeling, I can't explain it. And there he was.

A feeling?

Trent exchanged a look with his wife.

Remind me to tell you sometime

how I found Fred when he was a puppy.

Max gave Nathaniel a pat on the back.

I'll go call the police, let them know we've found him.

He'll be hungry.

Coco swallowed fresh tears and burrowed closer to Dutch.

We'll go fix him something to eat.

You bring 'em in when she's finished slobbering over him Dutch camouflaged

the break in his voice with a cough.

Women. Always making a fuss.

Come on, let's go in.

Suzanna tugged on Alex and Jenny's hands.

But I want to ask if he saw the ghosts, Alex complained.

Later.

Holt solved the problem by hoisting Alex onto his shoulders.

With a shuddering sigh, Megan drew back, ran her hands over Kevin's face.

You're

all right? You're not hurt?

Nuh-uh.

It embarrassed him that he'd cried is front of his brother and sister. After all, he was nearly nine.

I'm okay.

Don't you

ever

do that again.

The swift change from weeping mother to fierce parent had Nathaniel's brows rising.

You had us all worried sick, young man.

We've been looking for you for hours, even Aunt Colleen. We've called the police.

I'm sorry.

But the thrill of knowing the police had been alerted overpowered the guilt.

Sorry isn't enough, Kevin Michael O'Riley.

Kevin's gaze hit the ground. It was big-time trouble when she used all his names.

I

won't ever do it again. I promise.

You had no business doing it this time. I'm supposed to be able to trust you, and nowOh.

On another hitching sob, she pressed his head to her breast.

I was so

scared, baby. I love you so much. Where were you going?

I don't know. Maybe Grandma's.

Grandma's.

She sat back on her heels and sighed.

Don't you like it here?

I like it best of anything.

Then why did you run away, Kevin? Are you mad at me?

He shook his head, then dropped his chin on his chest.

I thought you and Nate

were mad at me because he got beat up. But Nate says it's not my fault and you're not mad. He says it doesn't matter about him.

You're not mad at me, are you?

Her horrified eyes flew to Nate's, held there as she drew Kevin close again.

Oh, no,

baby, I'm not. No one is.

She looked at her son again, cupping his face in her hands.

Remember when I told you that sometimes people can't be together? I should explain that sometimes they shouldn't be together. That's the way it was with me and

She couldn't refer to him as Kevin's father.

With me and Baxter.

But I was an accident.

Oh, no.

She smiled then, kissed his cheeks.

An accident's something you wish

hadn't happened. You were a gift. The best one I ever had in my life. If you ever think I don't want you again, I guess I'll have to stuff you into a box and tie it up with a bow so you'll get the point.

He giggled.

I'm sorry.

Me too. Now let's go get you cleaned up.

She rose, gripped her son's hand in hers and looked at Nathaniel.

Thank you.

In the way of children, Kevin bounced back from his night on the cliffs and threw himself into the holiday. He was, for the moment, a hero, desperately impressing his siblings with his tales of the dark and the sea and a white bird with green eyes.

In keeping with the family gathering, all the dogs attended, so Sadie and Fred raced with their puppies and the children over the rolling lawn. Babies napped in playpens or rocked in swings or charmed their way into willing arms. A few hotel guests wandered over from their own feast provided by The Retreat, drawn by the laughter and raised voices.

Nathaniel passed, reluctantly, on the impromptu softball game, figuring one slide into third would have him down for the count. Instead, he designated himself umpire and had the pleasure of arguing with every batter he called out.