The kids were all struggling to find something to say; some reassuring words that would give us hope. However, there were no such words, and so we stayed quiet. I couldn't help but notice the accusitions in the looks Zac and Nicky flashed me. I wondered if they hated me for losing their little brothers. I know I hated myself.

I volunteered to wash the dishes for no other reason than to hopefully help lessen my guilt. Taylor said he would help. I was afraid of what he might say to me; that he would come to the same conclusions that I already had. Joe and Mac had been kidnapped because I was careless.

"So," he said, once we were alone. "What happened?"

I began to fill the one side of the sink with hot water, and poured a bit of the lemon-sented dishwashing soap into it. I stirred it with my hands, causing suds to rise up. "We were watching the movie, and Mac asked to go to the bathroom. I said that he could gp as long as Joe went with him. I didn't think twice about it..."

"When did you realize they hadn't come back?" Taylor asked, handing me a bowl. I scrubbed the chunks of oatmeal from the sides and bottom, then rinsed it. I handed it to him, and he dried it while I picked up another bowl.

"About halfway through the movie," I told him. He nodded, and took the next bowl I handed him.

"That's when you began to look for them?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. He nodded, a solemn expression on his face.

"I'm sorry they had to disappear while they were out with you," he said. I gave him a peculiar look. "I know, you think it's all your fault. The reality is that it's not your fault or Isaac's fault. Whoever it was that took off with them is to blame; nobody else."

"What about Zac and Nicky?" I asked. "They seem pretty certain about that it's my fault. And I'm going to guess that the other kids are going to begin to follow their lead..."

"They're just upset," Taylor said. "They'll come around, and understand soon. For now, you just concentrate on helping get Mackie and Joey back where they belong."

"I am," I said softly.

"Good," Taylor said.

We finished doing the dishes without uttering a word to each other. Afterwards, he went to his room in the basement, and I went into the living room to watch cartoons with Jessica and Avery.