LITTLE GIRL LOST - SARAH BETH LEE (tharntype novel english .TXT) 📗

be thankful that I am here today but somehow at the end of every day I still ask why.”

Maddie could see the hostility that laced every word he spoke in his firm unwavering voice. She knew she wasn’t going to get anywhere with this route it was too soon. She smiled at Nick and tried to sound apologetic.

“Nick I am sorry I know this is painful to talk about. I will tell you that I can see that you care more than you want to admit. I know that you loved your family very much and for some misguided reason you feel guilty about what happened. I have to say that it wasn’t your fault you were a nine year old kid on your way to a baseball game.”

Nick nodded his head as he stared at the floor. He knew she was reciting what was in the profile but he knew that it was all lies; the truth was that the blood of his family was and would always be on his hands.

“I hear you doc and thank you for your concern. “

“So Nick what if anything has given you comfort or support for the last seventeen years?”

Nick could see Hannah’s face in his head and he wished he had known her seventeen years ago. He knew with almost certainty that she would have been his sole reason for breathing. He couldn’t explain it and he didn’t even understand it himself but he felt connected to her in a way that he had never felt with anyone else.

“I don’t know I have lots of friends and acquaintances but no one that really sticks out as special.”

Even as he said the words he knew he was lying and it left a bitter taste in his mouth. He immediately thought of Zach and the Ryan family and Hannah was there as well. He wondered if it was possible that somehow all these years he had been waiting for that one accidental meeting. He asked himself if he had been waiting for Hannah his entire life without even knowing it.

“So you’ve never really been close to anyone you’re everyone’s best friend but you keep people at an arm’s length; you never let anyone get to close.”

“Your pretty good doc but what does that really mean? I am a young guy with no ties and no responsibilities. I am free to do or go wherever I choose and if I never came home who would miss me? I have friends but they have their own lives that don’t revolve around me. I am the guy that everyone wants to be friends with but not the guy you call when things go wrong.”

Maddie looked at the file and saw that Nick had been placed in several foster families until he was placed with the Ryan’s and that was where he had stayed.

“What about the Ryan family? Are you close to them?”

Nick looked up from the floor he had been staring at and focused on Maddie. He didn’t want to talk about his childhood.

“I care about them and in answer to your question Zach Ryan is my best friend. I would do anything for that guy and he would do the same for me. When people think of their childhood it’s supposed to be a time of discovery, learning new things, growing into the person that you’ll be someday. When something happens to change the very foundation all of your beliefs are based on you tend to lose your way. I was one of the lucky ones I was placed with the Ryan’s and they helped a kid find another way not the same way, not a better way just a different way. They helped make a very bad situation better.”

Maddie could see that she had touched a nerve and that he was very protective of the Ryan family, specifically Zachary Ryan.

“I feel it safe to say that the Ryan’s are the exception to your rule. Zach wormed his way into your life and before you knew it he was your friend. He probably annoyed you but you thought he needed protecting and so a bond was forged that grew over time into a friendship without you even realizing it. Zach and the Ryan’s are the only thing close to family in your life right now.”

“Yes he is like a brother to me. I don’t really know what you’re fishing for here doc but I think my sixty minutes are up and I need to get to work.”

Maddie hadn’t realized the time had passed so quickly. She pushed her chair away from her desk and stood to her feet. She walked with Nick to the door.

“So Mr. O’Brien I’m sorry to have met you under such circumstances but it was nice to meet you. I will see you next week same time same place.”

Nick shook Maddie’s outstretched hand and knew that he liked her despite her chosen field of expertise. He had to admit that she could read people rather well.

“I’ll see you then and next time try to be on time.”

Nick winked as he turned and walked out the door. Maddie watched as he walked across the lobby and out the front door as if he owned the place. She knew he was cocky, charming, calm and trying to forget a past that was always on his mind.

Maddie closed the office door and sat back down at her desk and looked at the file. She knew it was wrong on so many levels but she picked up the phone and dialed. She listened restlessly at the shrill ringing, she was about to hang up when she heard a breathless voice floating over the line. She waited as she was put on hold before she heard Hannah’s familiar voice flowing across the line.

“Hey are you busy?”

Maddie listened knowing she was headed down a wrong way turn but it was already out of her control.

“Ok listen can you meet me here around six? We can hit Fast Eddie’s for drinks and appetizers, maybe even some karaoke.”

Maddie chatted for a minute and hung up the phone. She looked through Nick’s file and read about the accident and what had followed. She had to find a way to crack his shell and get him to talk about what happened and how it had affected him. She had a feeling that he and Hannah had a lot more in common than they knew.


Hannah had walked down the street looking in store windows and trying desperately to find the man in the aviator glasses. She had finally given up and went to her board meeting. She was tired and cranky from so little sleep the previous night but her body was wired and still thinking of that man. She just knew with every fiber in her being that it had been Nick. She was brought out of her random day dream by the intercom on her desk.

“Ms. Roberts, Ms. Jacobs on line one.”

“Thanks Jess, I’ve got it.”

Hannah picked up the phone, “Hey Mad what’s up?”

“Hey are you busy?”

Hannah listened absentmindedly as Maddie rattled on about drinks and appetizers and did she just say Karaoke?”

“Sure Mad, that sounds good all except the karaoke. However if you feel like making a fool of yourself I’ll liquor you up and put your name in the hat. I will be the designated driver.”

“If I’m getting up there then so are you.”

Hannah laughed at Maddie’s voice drifting over the phone. She sounded a bit resigned as if something were weighing heavily on her mind but what had happened in the short time since she had left her at the Café?

“Mad are you okay? What happened with Martin? Did he take you to meet his wife in the basement?”

Maddie laughed, “No actually he asked if I wanted to have drinks with him sometime.”

“Maddie that’s great I told you he had a thing for you.”

“Yeah ok so were right. Listen I have another appointment so I’ll see you at six okay?”

“Okay see you then.”

Hannah replaced the phone on the cradle and smiled at the thought of Maddie with Martin. She wondered what his last name was and if things would work out for them. She knew Maddie had been through hell after her divorce and that she was reluctant to get back out there. Hannah couldn’t really fault her for that at least she had been out there and took a chance that was more than Hannah could say for herself. She found herself thinking of Nick and wondering what he might be doing at that very moment.

Nick made his way to the office and wondered what Lucas had planned for today. He wanted to try to go back again but he had to wait and to see how the team wanted to proceed with his project now. It really got under his skin that this was all his and now they wanted to act like he was some kind of traitor. What had happened to loyalty and innocent until proven guilty? He sighed as he pulled into the parking garage and parked his car. He grabbed his bag and headed to the elevator. He impatiently waited for the door to open and then he had to wait again as the elevator made the trip to the top floor. He tapped his foot impatiently and glanced at his watch it was almost 1pm. He rushed out the door as soon as it opened and headed to the meeting room. He could see through the floor to ceiling windows there was Lucas, Damien, Marcus and Zach sitting around the table laughing and shooting the breeze but he knew as soon as he walked in that the temperature in the room would be frigid and all pretend normalcy would be gone. He took a deep breath in and pushed the door open and stepped in the room.

He nodded at the team as he took his seat next to Zach. He could see the concerned look on Zach’s face and he knew what was coming next. Zach leaned close and whispered, “So how was the shrink?”

Nick grinned at Zach he always knew how to lighten things up even when Nick wanted to kill someone.

“Not bad we’ll talk about it later.”

“Oh you bet we will tonight your going with me and Beth to Fast Eddie’s.”

Nick wasn’t sure that was such a great idea, he really wasn’t in the party mood. He looked at Zach skeptically.

“I don’t know man.”

“Come on Nick you have to be there it’s congratulation on getting hitched get together. Everybody’s coming. Carson and Mac, Blake and Abby, Dean and Steph and of course Carter, Hunter and Eli will be dropping in as well. Nick you are my best friend and you have to be there.”

Nick knew this was important to Zach and despite his crappy day and his undying need for peace and quiet he would