River's Edge Read Online Free Page B

trembled, but he seemed grateful when he learned just how much the police department had already done to find Lisa.
    He rubbed his stubbled jaw and looked up at Cade with misty eyes. “Listen, about all the stuff I’ve said about you during this campaign—”
    “Don’t worry about it, Ben. None of that matters. I’m just here to do my job.”
    Ben looked more humble than Cade had ever seen him. “I’m just saying that if I’d known I was going to need you like this, I sure would have been a little more careful what I said.”
    Morgan patted his shoulder. “Cade’s not the type to hold grudges. You’ll find her, won’t you, Cade?”
    “We’re giving it everything we’ve got. But I need to go over some more things with you, Ben.”
    Ben nodded, as if anxious to cooperate. “Of course. Anything.”
    Jonathan got up. “Look, we’ll be leaving now so you guys can talk.” He reached out to shake Ben’s hand. “Let us know if you need anything, okay?”
    Morgan gave Ben a hug. “Please, if she turns up, would you call us? We’re going to get everybody to pray.”
    Ben rubbed his face. “I appreciate that.”
    “And we’re not going to be debating without you,” Jonathan said. “I’m calling it off.”
    “You don’t have to do that. Sam will revolt.”
    “Of course I’m gonna do it. This is serious. He’ll get over it.”
    Ben couldn’t have looked less interested. He just fixed his eyes on Cade, clearly ready to begin. Cade got the feeling that the mayoral race was the farthest thing from Ben’s mind.

CHAPTER 7
    M organ was quiet as they drove home.
    “You okay, babe?” Jonathan asked.
    She leaned her head back on the headrest. “Yeah.”
    “You were thinking about the baby, weren’t you?”
    She closed her eyes, hoping they’d look less haunted. “I was actually wondering if God still answers my prayers. Will he hear my prayers for Lisa, when he didn’t hear my prayers for the baby?”
    Silence fell between them. She was glad he didn’t spout out some pat answer about how God heard but had a different plan. Even if it was true, she didn’t want to hear it right now.
    “Is it ever going to happen, Jonathan?”
    “Of course it is.” His voice sounded as weak and uncertain as hers.
    She leaned her head against the window. “I’m not so sure. It took so long to get pregnant, and now this. There’s got to be something wrong.” She looked back at him.“Jonathan, I think it’s time for us to make an appointment at the fertility clinic.”
    He pulled into the driveway and cut off the engine but made no effort to get out of the car. “Don’t you think it’s too soon? It’s only been a little over a year.”
    “If it’s too soon, they’ll tell us. Meanwhile, I just want some tests. I want to know if there’s something wrong that can be fixed before much more time passes.”
    “You’ve got plenty of time left on your biological clock, Morgan. You’re only twenty-nine.”
    “But I want a big family, and I don’t understand why I can’t get pregnant when teenagers do after one indiscretion. I need to know what’s wrong with me.”
    He looked out the window for a long moment, staring at the wax myrtles along the driveway, their branches reaching up to the sky. Blair’s car sat in the driveway. Was Sadie filling her in on the miscarriage? She hoped not.
    “It could be me, honey.” His words came out raspy, uncertain.
    She shook her head. “You know that’s not true. I was pregnant. I’m the one who lost the baby.”
    “But the bottom line is, something’s going wrong with us . And if you feel like you need to go to the fertility clinic, I’m with you.”
    She had expected a fight. “Are you sure, Jonathan?”
    “Of course I’m sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “All the reasons you’ve said before. It seems like once we start on this cycle, it’s hard to stop.”
    “It’s worth a try, baby. Just one appointment. We can find out what our options are. Then we can