Cradle Of Secrets by Lisa Mondello

into a knot. “Do what?”
    â€œYou’re having a hard time looking at me. Don’t try to deny it.”
    â€œReally? I wasn’t aware of that.”
    She walked toward him. “Well, I am. Is it because when you look at me, you see Serena?”

SIX
    D ylan was still holding the bag of garbage in his hand. He dropped it to the ground and gave Tammie his full attention.
    â€œThe resemblance is striking. I can’t deny that it took me off guard yesterday. But why should that make a difference?”
    Tammie folded her arms across her chest. “Because it’s clear you blame Serena for Cash’s disappearance.”
    She wasn’t surprised that he didn’t deny it. “I’ll admit that for the month I’ve been in Eastmeadow, I’ve built up a fair amount of anger toward the woman, without having any reason, other than the fact that she has something to do with Cash’s disappearance.”
    Tammie closed her eyes briefly, and sighed. His fear over his brother’s disappearance must be overwhelming. Under the same circumstances, she might react the same way.
    Still, she felt the need to defend Serena. “After meeting Serena yesterday, I wonder if she is as much a victim as Cash.”
    Dylan didn’t look convinced. “Do you really believe that?”
    Tammie sputtered. “Serena could hardly stand up on her own. Something is going on with her. And last night she was so incoherent. How could you blame her for anything that happened to Cash?”
    His expression showed remorse. “Anger isn’t an emotion I’m proud of. As you saw yesterday, I let my frustrations get the better of me sometimes. But I also know that any anger I have toward Serena is wasted energy. It’ll only detract me from my real purpose here, and that is to find Cash. If it’s His will, the Lord will help me find the right path to make it happen.”
    In that moment, Tammie realized what it was she found so appealing about Dylan. After all, given the way they’d met and the way he’d behaved, she had every reason to fear the man. And yet, even when he let his temper get the best of him, he quickly reined it in.
    She envied the way he took control of himself. She wondered if it was his military training or his faith in the Lord that was at the core of it. Or maybe it was just Dylan. Even when he was full of frustration and anger, he had a sense of calm about him that radiated to her.
    Looking around the campsite, Tammie realized it hadn’t been that way for her. When her parents had been killed, she’d drifted farther and farther from the Lord. It just didn’t seem possible that they’d been taken from her without reason. Deep down, she knew she’d been wrong to think that way. God was merciful. But no matter how hard she’d fought to let it go, she couldn’t shake her feelings.
    She’d always pictured herself with a faithful man in her life. Just like her father had been. Under different circumstances, she would have been attracted to Dylan. If they’d met on the street or at church, she would have allowed herself to act on the attraction she felt now.
    She’d met Dylan under strange circumstances. How could she possibly entertain the thought of getting involved with a man like him, or any man, when she still had no clue about her past?
    Besides, Cash was still missing; the only thing Dylan needed to focus on right now was finding his brother. And she needed to unravel the mystery of what had gone on all those years ago, when she was born. The last thing either of them needed was to distract themselves with the idea of romance.
    It had only been twenty-four hours since they met, and he’d given her no indication of interest beyond what she could do to help him find his brother, she told herself. She didn’t know the man. Those gazes he cast in her direction could mean anything.
    She pushed the notion aside,