Caelee started shaking her head at him the moment he spoke, waving off his apology. No matter what he might think, none of this was his fault. There was no part of her that was angry with him, not for the accident and not for not being the one to tell her what had happened. She understood it, though. A part of her was kicking herself for leaving, for not being there, as if she could have somehow stopped it from happening. That was ridiculous, of course, but maybe it was easier to think that than to believe they were just helpless.
"I know.. It's okay.. I know," she whispered as she climbed in next to him and slipped her arms around him. The tears she'd been fighting swam in her eyes. Caelee closed her eyes tightly as she hugged Trace and a few of those tears slid over her cheeks.