“Tone it down, chum. She’s not going anywhere,” said Peter.
Megan almost jumped when Peter’s hand touched hers. In the midst of taking her seatbelt off, she glanced up and saw the worry in his eyes.
“We’re not staying long, right?”
Megan shook her head.
“Long enough to enjoy our ice cream. Why?”
Peter grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers with hers.
“I’m just not in the mood to socialize.”
Megan furrowed her brows at him. Neither was she, but that’s not why they came. She glanced into the parlor and saw couples they were friends with, people they had over for coffee and barbecues and shared picnics with during Alexis’s soccer tournaments and Hannah’s swim meets.
“Then don’t.”
Megan climbed out of the Jeep and left Peter there alone.
Inside the store, Megan stopped at the first booth, where an elderly couple known as Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Herb shared a banana split.
“How are you doing, dearie?” Kathy reached her hand out and patted Megan’s arm.
The couple was so sweet, sitting in the booth, across from each other, making eyes at each other.
“I’m good. Thanks for asking.” Megan beamed a bright smile and hoped Kathy was too high on sugar to notice the false ring to her voice.
“You know, Herbie and I were just thinking about your family. How hard today must be. But don’t you be giving up hope, you hear? Your sweet baby will come home. I feel it in my bones.” Kathy nodded her head while Herb pounded the table in agreement.
“That’s right. And you know if Kate here feels it in her bones, then God’s speaking to her. Mark her words, that little girl will be home before you know it.” Herb grunted before he spooned a big glob of ice cream into his mouth.
“Of course she will,” said Megan. A shiver tiptoed across her back and she shuddered. From their lips to God’s ears, that’s how the saying went, wasn’t it?
Megan took a few steps before she found herself at the back of the line. She glanced around for her daughters and a momentary flight of panic gripped her heart before she found them seated beside friends in the booth by the corner.
It was good to see them smile. Both girls had been sullen throughout dinner, but Megan couldn’t blame them. Was celebrating Emma’s birthday this year the right thing to do? Maybe Peter had been right. There wasn’t much to rejoice about. Emma wasn’t here to blow out her candles or even to make a wish. Did she even know it was her birthday today? Was she happy?
Megan choked back a sob before she remembered where she was. In a crowded store where everyone stared at her, waiting to see if she would break.
She stiffened her shoulders and straightened her back before she noticed the small tug on her purse. When she glanced down, Johnny, from the assembly this afternoon, stood there with a bright smile on his face.
“Mrs. Taylor?” His toothless grin beamed up at her. The ice in her heart started to melt. How could it not with a grin like that?
“Mrs. Taylor, it’s my birthday today, did you know that?”
Johnny’s words surprised her. She had no idea the boy shared Emma’s birthday.
She bent down to his level and gave him a gentle hug.
“Happy birthday, Johnny. May all your wishes come true,” she whispered into his ear.
Johnny pulled away and his face flushed.
“They did. Now it’s your turn. My mom said I could give you this.”
Megan glanced down at the chubby hands covered in chocolate ice cream. Carried in his palm was a white candle. He pushed his hand closer toward her face until the candle was right beneath her nose.
“You gotta wish on it, Mrs. Taylor,” he said with a serious face.
Megan stared at the tiny white candle. There was nothing special about it. Ten to one his mom bought it at the grocery store. Yet he believed it was a magic candle.
She glanced over to where Johnny’s family sat in a booth. They all stared at her. The people of Kinrich had such good hearts, she was proud to call this town home.
“I will. I promise.” She ruffled his shaggy hair before he took off back to his ice cream.
“Promise what?”
Peter stood behind her.
“That I will wish on this magic candle for Emma to come
home.” Megan held out the candle for him to see.
“Like that’s going to work.” Peter’s gaze swept over the innocent candle in her hand before he peered into the floor display filled with tubs of ice cream.
Megan fisted the candle and placed it in her pocket. She should have just brought the girls and left him at home. No matter what Johnny’s wish was, it came true because his parents were determined to see him happy. Who knows? Maybe Megan’s wish would come true too, then. God still answered prayers right?
Five
What took you so long?” Laurie jogged in place at the entrance to the town park in the middle of down- town where she and Megan met every morning. A strand of blonde hair fell over her eyes. She blew it away and tapped her wristwatch.
Megan shrugged her shoulders before she passed her friend. Victoria Park was halfway between their houses and right across from the harbor. Most mornings she enjoyed the colorful display as the sun rose over the water, the reflection that danced among the waves as she ran through the park and down to the beach. Kinrich was known for its gorgeous sunrises. But this morning all she had wanted was a hot cup of coffee. It had taken a couple nudges from Peter before she worked up the energy to get out of bed.
“Hey, wait up,” Laurie called out.
Megan shook her head. Now that she was up, she knew that running could help work off the steam that still boiled inside. Last night’s emotional roller coaster had carried over to today. Peter had refused to speak to her the rest of the night after he had seen her holding the candle.
Their marriage hadn’t been the same since Emma’s disappearance. She thought they’d been doing so well. Sure, there’d been rough spots but they’d managed to get through them. She hoped this time wasn’t any different.
Megan glanced to her left. Laurie had caught up. They made it to the other side of the park in silence, but as they waited for the crosswalk light, Laurie passed her and stopped directly in her path. Her eyes shot daggers not even Megan could match on her worst days.
A glare from Laurie was never a good thing. For one, it made Laurie’s face bunch up into an ugly scowl, and if there was anything Laurie hated, it was to look ugly. For another, Laurie was honest to a fault. Sometimes too much. Megan wasn’t sure if she really wanted to hear what her best friend was about to say.
“What’s going on?”
Megan shook her head and looked to the side.
“How did last night go?”
Megan pursed her lips. She wished the light would change so they could continue their run down to the beach. The thought of running on the sand and the muscle exhaustion that would set in afterward set her pulse racing.
The illuminated walking man flashed white across the street. Megan sidestepped Laurie, ran across the road, turned right, and passed a coffee shop that had just opened. The aroma of fresh-ground beans wafted through the open window and followed Megan as she continued down the street.
The pounding of Laurie’s running shoes as she increased her pace pushed Megan faster. If she could outrun Laurie, maybe she could ignore the emotional overload sure to follow once Laurie cornered her and demanded answers.
“Stop.”
Megan ignored Laurie’s plea and continued her pace. The corner was just ahead. Once she turned left, it was a straight line down to the beach.
“Megan, please, STOP!”
Megan glanced over her shoulder. Laurie leaned against a metal bench outside of a florist shop. Her arms were crossed against her chest and a frown had settled on her face. Megan stopped. She glanced toward the beach and then back at her friend. Not once in the past year since Laurie bega
n to run with her in the early mornings had Megan left her friend to run alone.
Megan stopped, turned her back on the gentle calling of the beach sand, and walked toward her best friend. “Sorry. I just . . .”`
Laurie raised her hand.
“Don’t apologize. I know yesterday wasn’t the best of days for you. But don’t shut me out, okay?”
Megan dropped her head and fixed her gaze on her running shoes. Laurie was right.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” She lifted her face and noticed the twinkle in her friend’s eyes.
“I know. I usually am,” Laurie said.
A bell jingled over the coffee shop door as they passed by on their way back.
“I donated to the Missing Children Foundation yesterday. As a birthday gift to Emma,” Laurie said.
Tears filled Megan’s eyes.
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
Megan squeezed Laurie’s arm. She swallowed back the tears and did her best to ensure a smile was planted on her face.
“What would I do without you?”
As they stood at the crosswalk, waiting to cross the street and head back into the park, Laurie unwound her arm from Megan’s and placed it around her waist.
“Thank God, we’ll never find out.”
At the park, Megan enjoyed the silence. While she hadn’t run like she wanted to, she did feel a lot better. With- out Laurie, she’d be lost.
“You’re fine though, right? Nothing you want to share with me, your best friend, that you haven’t told anyone else?” Megan stared at Laurie in silence. You’ve got to be kidding me? Not her too.
“I’m fine. I’m not hiding anything from you or anyone else for that matter. Stop worrying, okay?”
Megan fingered the card Laurie slipped into her hand ear- lier this morning as they said good-bye.
When life hands you lemons, choose chocolate. It always works. Love, Laurie.
By eleven in the morning, Megan couldn’t handle the silence in the house any longer. She grabbed the keys from off the counter and let them dangle in her hand. She toyed with the idea of dropping by Peter’s office as a surprise. Maybe he’d have time to sneak away for an early lunch. With the summer holidays looming ahead and a summer full of kid activities, Megan’s free time was almost up. She might as well take advantage of it.
As she pulled into the driveway of his office, she admired the brownstone that Peter leased for his real-estate company. Situated on a corner lot, it was considered a prime location. Only three main roads led into the small town of Kinrich. When the lease on the historic building on the corner of the main street had come up, Peter grabbed it. It was an investment, but they both agreed it was worth it.
The bell over the door jingled as Megan walked through. “Hi, Mrs. Taylor.”
Dana, the petite receptionist greeted her. She sat at her desk, legs crossed, with a nail file in her hand. A young twenty something with an attention span that could be measured by the minute, Megan didn’t understand why Peter kept her on staff.
“Dana, love the color of your nail polish.” Megan tempered the sarcasm in her voice. Not that it would matter.
“You do?” Dana’s eyes widened with delight. She held out her fingers and admired her bright purple nails. “You know, purple is the new black. It’s the must have color for the summer.” Dana smiled. The illuminated whiteness of her teeth shone. Megan winced. Too white.
“Is Peter in?”
“Oh.” Dana, flustered, glanced down at her appointment book. “No, he just left. Like, just left.” Her dainty little shoulder shrugged.
Surprised, Megan glanced out the front door. Peter’s car sat out there. So, where did he go?
“Oh, he went with Sam,” Dana said. A coy smile crept on her face.
Megan bit her lip. Her. He’s out with her.
Samantha Grayson. Peter’s beautiful business partner. Devil incarnate in a miniskirt. Samantha had started to work with Peter as a real estate agent just after Emma had been born. Maybe it was the postpartum depression, or the fact the baby weight had taken its time to melt off, but the first time Megan laid eyes on the woman, she was labeled HER.
Samantha was everything Megan was not. Tall, with the body of a model—her whole persona exuded mystery. Everything a man could want, wrapped up in a package complete with stiletto heels and tight skirts.
“Do you know when he’ll return?” Megan swallowed back the remark she wanted to make.
Dana shrugged her shoulders and continued to file her nails.
Megan bit her lip before she squared her shoulders and plastered the warmest smile she could fake on her face.
“Let him know I dropped by, will you?”
“Oh, of course. He’s quite busy today though. His calendar is booked. There’s a new client they’re trying to land.” Dana twirled her chair until she faced the computer, her fake fingernails poised over the keyboard.
Megan grabbed the doorknob and squeezed it. She counted to three.
“Thank you, Dana,” Megan said through clenched teeth.
The little brat.
She pulled open the door with too much force and the doorknob slipped out of her hand. As the door swung open, Peter walked in, his head down as he spoke on his cell phone.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you. Some days I wonder . . .” Peter stuttered when Megan grabbed onto his arm before he pushed her over. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, Sam.”
Megan watched her husband, the way he slid his phone in his pants, the slight redness that crept up from his neck to his cheeks. She turned her face away slightly as he placed an awkward kiss on the corner of her mouth.
“I didn’t expect you here.” He shuffled his feet in the entryway.
Megan shrugged. “I thought I’d see if you have time for coffee or maybe an early lunch.” She readjusted the purse strap on her shoulder and waited. She wasn’t sure how to take what she’d just heard.
“I ah . . . I’m actually running late for a meeting. I forgot the contract . . .” He jiggled the briefcase in his hand as if she was to know the contract wasn’t in there.
Megan lifted her eyebrow and glanced behind him at Sam’s brand-new hybrid.
Peter sneaked a look over his shoulder. “Oh, Sam stayed with the new client. You know, create a connection, land the deal. I need to get back there.”
Megan counted to three, smiled, and stepped to the side. “Of course you do.” Her cheeks hurt from keeping lips curved. “Maybe I’ll bake a cake to celebrate landing the contract.”
“Oh, but we don’t have it yet.” Peter glanced at his watch again.
This time she had no trouble keeping the smile on her face. “Knowing Sam, I have no doubt she’ll create a connection with your new client. She always does.”
She took a step forward, stood on her tiptoes, and placed a gentle kiss on Peter’s cheek. She read the surprise in his eyes.
Megan paused for a moment, a brief moment, before she walked out the front door to her Jeep. She didn’t even glance up to see if Peter watched her. She knew he wasn’t.
Once upon a time, Megan had been considered an active partner with Peter in his business. When Emma had been born, they decided Megan would take a step back from work for a short time and focus on their family. She’d never really stepped back in.
When Emma disappeared, they both agreed that Me- gan would put all of her focus and energy into finding their daughter. They had not anticipated it, but Megan’s absence from the company had made it necessary for Samantha to step up and become a partner. Megan rued the day that Samantha’s presence had become necessary. Whether fairly or not, Megan didn’t trust her. Not only did Megan feel like Samantha had somehow stolen her place in the company, but Megan was quite sure Samantha was out to steal her husband as well.
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DID YOU KNOW…
A few ‘behind the scenes’ of Finding Emma you may not have known�
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JACK - he’s not in those first 5 chapters, but he’s coming up next - was created as a homage to my own father and grandfather. My maiden name is Jack - and since this book, I’ve tried to add a JACK to every book I write (it may be my father/grandfather/uncle etc).
A few of the secondary characters in this story are based on other family members.
Laurie is based on a friend by the same name. She also loves to run.
I’ll add more … behind the scene notes after each story in this collection….stay tuned!
DEAR JACK
BEFORE YOU START READING
This novella is written a little different…it’s intended to give you a look back into Jack and Dottie’s life. There are no chapters…instead, there are letters.
The following letters were written to Jack Henry by his wife, Dottie Henry, during the time period when Jack left to serve in the war. They serve as part of her diary...
No historical facts are represented here. Instead, what you will read is one woman’s heartfelt letters to her husband while he is away.
One
Dear Jack,
You just drove away and as I watch the dust trail behind you, it’s all I can do not to cry. I picture your hands clutched together on your lap while Doug tries to get your mind off of what you just did. You’re looking out the window, thinking about the things you left undone and wondering if I can keep everything together until you get back.
But what you’re really thinking is if you get back. If. Even when you told me to never say it, I know you’re thinking it. How can you expect me not to? I believe in you Jack. I trust you. I know that you will do everything possible to come back home to me. It’s them I don’t trust. The people you’ll be fighting against.
The whisper of your breath still caresses my cheek from when you held me close. What happens when I lose that feeling, when it only becomes a memory?
The Finding Emma Collection (Books 1-5) Page 4