Bianca's Joy: Rose Island Book 3

by Kristin Noel Fischer

  “We are, but he’s not home. He’s been gone all day. Well, he had the baby this morning, but after bringing her home, he left again. He promised to be back at seven, but he’s still not here. I’m about to cancel the babysitter.”

  “No, don’t do that. He’ll be there.” I imagined Keith had gotten caught up in some party planning detail. Maybe Daniel hadn’t been able to fix the strobe light and they were still working on it. Or maybe Vicki never showed up with the desserts. Regardless, hadn’t I told Keith his plan to surprise Jillian would backfire?

  “I just don’t understand,” she said, sniffing hard. “Things were going so well, but now . . . I checked the location of his phone, and he’s at the Rose Museum.”

  “Are you sure? Why would he be there? That doesn’t make sense. I bet the location system on his phone is messed up.”

  “I don’t know. What if he’s having a secret rendezvous up there?”

  “He’s not having a secret rendezvous. Trust me, if he was going to have an affair, he wouldn’t go to the Rose Museum. The rooms there are way too expensive.”

  “Bianca, that’s not helping.”

  My in-car hands-free phone buzzed with an incoming call from Keith. “Jillian, listen to me. I’m one hundred percent positive your husband is not seeing someone else. I have another call I have to take, but I’m sure you’ll be hearing from him real soon.”

  Without saying good-bye, I switched over to Keith’s call. “Your wife thinks you’re having an affair. Where are you?”

  “I’m at the museum.”

  “Well, call her now and go home. Otherwise, you’re going to have serious problems.”

  “Bianca—”

  “I know, I know. I’m running late, but I’m almost there.”

  “Is Joy with you?”

  “No.”

  “Have you heard from her?”

  The alarm in Keith’s voice caused the hair on the back of my neck to prickle. “No. What’s going on?”

  Before he could respond, I turned into the museum’s parking lot and gasped at the sight of several emergency vehicles, their lights flashing.

  “Keith.”

  “I see you. I’m walking toward your car. Just park, and I’ll explain everything.”

  Hands shaking, I pulled into a parking spot and cut the engine. Then, I pushed open the car door and ran to Keith. One look at his stricken face told me something was horribly wrong.

  Chapter 42

  Daniel

  White-hot pain seized Daniel’s ankle as he awoke in darkness. He knew he’d slipped and fallen down the mountain, but he had no idea where he was or how long he’d been lying in the mud.

  Automatically, he reached into his pocket for his phone. It wasn’t there of course. Most likely, it’d been swept away by the river of mud that’d brought him down here.

  Joy.

  Was she okay? Had she found her way back to the museum?

  Sitting up, pure agony shot up his leg. He fumbled in the dark to discover his ankle was trapped beneath a log.

  Using his good foot, he tried to free himself, but the log wouldn’t budge. Again and again he tried to pull himself free without success.

  “Help! Help! Joy!” His frantic voice echoed off the cliffs, taunting him and reminding him he was all alone. Nobody was coming to save him. Nobody knew where he was. Nobody even knew Joy was missing.

  Father, I abandon myself into your hands, do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you.

  I thank you? Were those really the words of the prayer he prayed every day? How was he supposed to be thankful for something like this? It was one thing to be stuck down here, but not knowing about Joy? How was he supposed to just sit here knowing his daughter was in trouble?

  Lord, I want to be grateful for everything that happens to me, but I don’t know if my daughter is okay or not. Please keep her safe. Please protect her. Please let her know that I love her.

  In the silence, he listened, desperate to hear an answer, desperate to hear the voice of God or his daughter or a hiker calling out to him.

  “Help!” he screamed again. “Help!”

  Nothing.

  He swallowed hard, bile burning the back of his raw throat. Lord, is this your will for me? To be trapped under this stupid log while Joy needs me? What am I supposed to do?

  God’s answer was to send sheets of rain, pelting down so hard he had to throw his arms over his head for protection.

  His thoughts turned to Bianca and the rainstorm they’d been caught in last week during their morning bike ride. Laughing, they’d sped through the streets to the safety of Keith and Jillian’s house.

  The other couple had welcomed them onto the front porch where they’d been sitting with their baby, watching the storm. Keith went inside and brought each of them a cup of coffee and one of those enormous, plush bath towels that took weeks to dry.

  As thunder shook the house, Daniel had cozied up on the outdoor sofa with Bianca, thinking there wasn’t any other place he wanted to be. This afternoon, he’d treated her unfairly, snapping at her for something that wasn’t her fault. She’d only been trying to help. Only been trying to encourage him to do the right thing.

  If he ever got out of here, he’d beg both Joy and Bianca for forgiveness. He’d confront his brother in person and talk to him until Enzo finally forgave him.

  Then, he’d do his best to make up for everything. And he’d try to be grateful for this moment that led him to that conclusion.

  Chapter 43

  Bianca

  Heart in my throat, I ran to Keith. “What happened?”

  “Daniel was spotted at the bottom of a ravine by a hiker. They think he fell and is trapped beneath a log.”

  “Is he okay?” I asked.

  “He’s moving. At least, that’s what the hiker said.”

  “And what about Joy?”

  Keith shook his head. “Nobody knows where she is. Matt, Drew, Hannah, and Kayla have been trying to get ahold of her, but she’s not answering her phone.”

  My stomach sank. “What about her backpack?”

  “Her backpack?”

  “Her diabetes backpack. She’s supposed to have it with her at all times. I can’t remember if she had it when she ran off.”

  “She ran off?”

  I nodded.

  Keith’s phone rang, and he picked up immediately. “Keith Foster . . . yes . . . that’s great news . . . no, nobody has heard from her . . . Yes, Bianca is here now . . . okay, on our way.”

  He hung up the phone. “That was the sheriff. He wants to talk to you.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Keith explained as we headed across the parking lot. “They reached Daniel, and he’s going to be okay. His ankle is broken, but other than scratches and bruises, he’s fine.”

  “What about Joy?”

  Keith shook his head. “Daniel doesn’t know where she is, and her phone isn’t on. Apparently, she went walking in the woods and got turned around. Daniel’s afraid her low blood sugar caused her to get confused.”

  My stomach sank. “Oh no.”

  The sheriff looked up as Keith and I approached him. “Bianca Morgan?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Sheriff Strickland. Daniel talked to one of my deputies about Joy. He’s hoping she might’ve found her way back to the museum and you might know where she is.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. “I don’t. The last time I saw her was several hours ago. She was headed toward the Rose Garden.”

  “And you haven’t heard from her since?”

  “No.”

  A deputy joined us, carrying Joy’s backpack. “Here it is, Sheriff.”

  “That’s her diabetes backpack,” I said. “If she doesn’t have it . . .”

  “I know,” the sheriff said. “We’re sending out a team to look for her right now.”

  “Everyone who goes looking needs to have a piece of candy or ju
ice,” I said. “If her blood sugar is low, she’s going to need sugar to bring it back up.”

  “I understand.”

  I glanced around the parking lot, which was beginning to fill with guests for the party. Dr. Jacobs, the psychologist who’d worked with Keith last year, strode toward us.

  Keith explained the situation, and Dr. Jacobs gave a decisive nod. “I’ll put a crew together from the other guests. We’ll start from the bottom of the mountain and work our way up.”

  “Thank you,” I said, grateful for his plan of action.

  “I’ll go with you,” Keith said.

  Dr. Jacobs nodded, and the two of them left. I turned to the sheriff and told him I was going to check Camp Windham.

  Sheriff Strickland frowned. “Do you really think she could make it that far with this rain?”

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I just have this feeling she’s there.”

  “Okay,” he said. “Keep in touch and tell me what you find.”

  Heading back to my car, I glanced at the party guests standing outside the museum. Someone else would have to tell them what was going on because I was driving down to Camp Windham right now. I couldn’t explain it, but like I’d told the sheriff, I just felt Joy was there.

  A car pulled up beside me. As the driver’s side window came down, I realized it was Jillian.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  As quickly as I could, I explained everything.

  “Get in,” she said. “I’ll drive you to the camp.”

  I climbed into my sister’s van, and we flew down the mountain, making it to the turnoff in record time. Although Jillian’s brights were on, it was almost too dark to see the dirt road leading to the camp.

  A couple of times, the van got stuck in the mud. Powered by prayer and sheer will, we finally made it.

  Using the hidden key, we let ourselves into the main cabin and turned on all the lights. Then, we ran outside, calling Joy’s name. I waited, expecting to hear her voice, but she didn’t respond.

  Where is she, Lord? Where is she?

  “We should ring the bell,” Jillian said.

  “Yes, good idea.”

  We raced to the chapel, and Jillian climbed the ladder to let down the heavy rope. Pulling together, we rang the bell until our arms felt like they were going to fall off. Then, we rang it some more.

  Exhaustion forced us to stop, but we walked back through the camp, yelling Joy’s name. When it started to rain again, Jillian stepped under the covered porch and pulled out her cell phone.

  I held my breath as she called both the sheriff’s department and Keith. Hopefully, someone had found Joy.

  Chapter 44

  Daniel

  Lying in the hospital bed, unable to do anything but wait for news of his daughter was the hardest thing Daniel had ever done. Because he’d lost his phone, he couldn’t even call to see if she’d been found. Instead, he was at the mercy of everyone looking for her.

  Over and over, he pleaded endlessly with God. And he’d prayed the Abandonment Prayer, desperate to align his will with the Lord’s.

  Defeated, he leaned back in bed and closed his eyes. What else could he do?

  His greatest fear had come true. He’d lost his daughter, and he was powerless to find her.

  The door opened, and for a moment, Daniel’s heart lifted. Had they found Joy?

  “Hi, Daniel,” a salt-and-pepper-haired woman in her forties said. “I’m Dr. Martin, and I’ll be performing your surgery tomorrow.”

  Daniel nodded and did his best to pay attention as the doctor explained tomorrow’s procedure. Given Joy’s unknown whereabouts, however, he hardly heard a single word Dr. Martin said. When she finished, she asked if he had any questions.

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Okay. I want you to know we’re all praying for your daughter.”

  “Thank you.”

  Dr. Martin reached into her coat pocket and handed Daniel a business card. “Here’s my personal cell phone number. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions.”

  “Thank you,” Daniel repeated, unable to say anything else.

  She started to leave, then she stopped. “Daniel, is there anything I can get you? Something to eat or—” A text interrupted her, and she glanced down at her phone before firing off a reply. “I’m sorry. They need me in the ER.”

  “It’s not Joy, is it?”

  “No, it’s a ninety-year-old woman who fell, but if I hear anything about your daughter, I’ll tell you.”

  “Thank you.”

  With a nod, Dr. Martin turned and strode out the door, leaving Daniel lying there, completely helpless and alone.

  Chapter 45

  Bianca

  Rain beat against the metal roof as I stood under the covered porch at Camp Windham. “I can’t believe she’s not here,” I told Jillian, feeling discouraged. “I know logically it doesn’t make sense that Joy would come this way, but I just had this gut feeling she’d be here.”

  Jillian nodded. “Did I ever tell you about the time I lost Matt at the Target in the Woodlands?”

  “No.”

  “It was horrible. The manager locked all the doors and wouldn’t let anyone leave. Christmas was just a few days away, so the store was packed. Everyone was calling Matt’s name and looking for him, but it was like he’d vanished. One minute he was riding on the edge of the cart like little kids do, and the next minute he was gone.”

  “Jillian,” I snapped. “This isn’t helping. You found Matt. Matt is perfectly fine. Joy could be anywhere. And she’s diabetic. If her blood sugar gets too low, she could die.”

  Jillian reached out and clasped my hand. “I know, but there’s a point to my story.”

  “Well, get to it.”

  She nodded and released my hand. “After praying and pleading with God to let us find him, this female cop told me to close my eyes and think about where he could be. She said the connection between mothers and their children is so powerful that I might be able to find him just by thinking about him.

  “So, I did what she said. I closed my eyes, and I thought about where he could be. And I saw him. Just like that, I saw him sleeping in one of the cribs underneath a blanket. I opened my eyes and rushed over to the baby furniture department where he was sleeping in a crib just as I’d pictured him.”

  “That’s great,” I said, frustrated, “but I still don’t get your point.”

  “My point is you should close your eyes and see if you can feel where Joy is. I know you’re not her mother, but you two have a special connection. It might just work.”

  Desperate to do anything to find Joy, I did as Jillian suggested. I closed my eyes and tried to picture where she could be.

  “Anything?” Jillian asked.

  Opening my eyes, I shook my head. “It just feels like she’s here. It feels like any minute she’s going to come strolling into the camp.”

  “Then we’ll wait.”

  I paced the floor. “I can’t just stay here doing nothing. Maybe we can take one of the paths.”

  I peered into the darkness, helpless. Even if it was light enough to take one of the paths, which one would we take?

  Lord, you alone have the power to find her. Find her, please. Find her.

  “Bianca?” a small voice said.

  “Joy?” My heart pounding, I waited to hear her voice again.

  “Did you hear her?” Jillian asked.

  Ignoring my sister, I screamed Joy’s name over and over and over. She was out there, I knew it.

  “Let’s go ring the bell again,” I said.

  Jillian nodded, and we raced back to the chapel. Grasping the rope, we pulled and pulled. The blister on my palm split open, but I kept ringing the bell, knowing Joy would hear it and find her way to me.

  And then, there she was, standing less than ten feet from me. There was a horrible gash on her arm, and blood soaked her shirt, but she was here, and she was safe.

  Rush
ing toward her, I threw my arms around her. “Oh, Joy! Honey!”

  “I got lost and couldn’t find my way back to the museum,” she said. “My phone died and—”

  Tears streamed down my face as I held her tight. “I know, but we found you, and everything is going to be okay.”

  Chapter 46

  Daniel

  The first time Joy called Daniel “Daddy” was amazing. For the longest time, she called him Daniel, which was adorable because she pronounced it “Dan-wul.”

  Then, one evening he was pushing her on the swing at the park. “Higher, Daddy, higher,” she yelled.

  His heart filled with so much love it felt like it would burst. “What’d you say?” he asked, wanting to hear it again.

  “Higher, Daddy. Please.”

  Needless to say, he obliged. In return, Joy threw her head back, laughing like she’d never had so much fun. He laughed as well, wondering how he’d ever lived his life without her.

  As they walked home that night, Joy slipped her hand in his and looked up at him with pure admiration. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, too,” he said, hardly able to speak.

  This was the memory he was thinking about when the door to his hospital room opened. He feared it was another nurse, coming to take his blood pressure or tell him he needed to get some rest.

  Instead, it was Joy.

  “Dad!” she shouted, racing across the room.

  “Joy.” Tears stung his eyes as he opened his arms to embrace his sweet and precious daughter. “Oh, Joy. Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “I’m fine. I got lost and my phone died, but Bianca and Jillian found me. Bianca had some candy, which was good because I was feeling low. When we got back to the museum, I checked my numbers and I’m okay.”

  “You’re okay? Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’ll check my numbers again in a minute, but they weren’t bad. I promise.”