“Maddy, come on. Just tell me what’s wrong.”
How could she deny him anything when he looked at her that way? She didn’t want to string him along or make him suffer longer than necessary. She owed him the truth, and sooner was kinder than later.
“Connor . . . I just can’t do this anymore, all right?”
Something flickered in his eyes. “Do what?”
Maddy had trouble getting her tongue to function. “Us,” she said finally.
He blinked. Reared back. A long, uncomfortable silence hummed between them, his eyes locked on hers. She saw all the emotions flitter across his face. The shock was bad enough. The confusion made her ache. But the hurt in his eyes was just about her undoing.
She’d put that there. After all he’d been through, causing him pain just about hollowed her out. Her eyes burned, and she could hardly swallow past the rock lodged in her throat.
“What’s going on?” His voice sounded as if it grated across a gravelly throat. He shook his head. “What happened? Two nights ago we were fine.”
Two nights ago they’d been making out on the deck. Two nights ago they’d been happy and hopeful. Two nights ago they’d had a lifetime of possibilities ahead of them.
How had she let herself forget how much love hurt?
She reminded herself of what she’d learned over the past day. She just couldn’t go there again. Not even with Connor. Her eyes stung, but she forbade the tears to form.
“Maddy?” He gave her arm a squeeze. “Come on, talk to me.”
She shook her head, hardly able to speak. If she said anything the tears were going to come. She could feel them now, burning behind her eyes. Could feel the emotions bubbling up inside.
The sound of feet on the stairs pulled Connor’s eyes from her.
Emma was coming down the steps, her footsteps quick. “You haven’t left yet?”
“I’m going after her,” Connor said, his gaze never leaving Maddy. Finally he sighed. “Which way did she go?”
“North, along the shore,” Maddy said. “She said she thought she knew where Pippy might be, but I have no idea what she meant.”
They looked to Emma, who only shook her head.
His face still looking dazed, he gave a final nod and left. As soon as the door shut behind him the electricity went out.
Chapter 35
Connor ducked his head against the wind as he made his way across the dunes along the shore. Despite the slicker, he was wet to the skin. It was impossible to protect himself against the driving wind and rain, even with his hood up.
“Nora!” he called.
He wavered a moment as a gust of wind hit him so hard it moved him bodily. He thought of the dog and prayed she’d found a safe spot to hole up. This wind could literally blow the tiny thing away.
A piece of driftwood scuttled across the beach, nailing him in the ankle. He limped a couple steps, working it out. He was glad he’d come by the house when he had. Hoped Maddy had the good sense to stay inside.
Maddy.
His chest squeezed tight at the thought of her. At the guarded look she’d given him at the house. He’d known something was wrong earlier today. Those texts had felt too distant. What had happened to put that guarded look back in her eyes?
She was back to the old Maddy. The cautious Maddy. She’d said last night that a lot had happened since Gram’s return. He wondered if it had anything to do with Nick. Had her old boyfriend contacted her again? Convinced her to go back to him?
Connor gave his head a hard shake. Why would she go back to the man who’d hurt her so badly? No, he’d seen the fear in her eyes. It was as if her distrust had been reawakened somehow. Her fears of heartbreak resurrected.
And that was a fear he understood all too well. A man didn’t suddenly lose his young wife and not battle these feelings. And now there was that familiar hollow spot inside him again. The one he’d carried with him for years after Annie died. His chest ached with loss, and the muscles around his lungs felt like an iron cage. It was just how he’d felt after he’d lost Annie. Connor stopped in his tracks, his body wavering under the assault of wind.
I’m in love with Maddy.
He gave a wry laugh. How ironic that he hadn’t realized it until he’d lost her.
The wind pushed him, making him stagger sideways a couple steps. He used the momentum to start walking again.
It had been a crappy day all the way around. In the middle of all the chaos at the marina, Cheryl had called. Her dad had had another stroke—a bad one, it seemed—and she had gone home again. She didn’t know when she’d be back, but she needed to leave before the storm made landfall.
Connor had no idea how he was going to cover her position. He sure couldn’t ask Maddy now. But he shouldn’t be thinking about any of this.
He blinked against the rain and sand, scanning the area. Visibility was so poor he couldn’t see beyond the nearest house. A lawn chair went airborne and crashed into the deck railing. Twigs and small branches took flight.
“Nora!” Connor called for the hundredth time, waited for a response. But the only answer was the storm’s fury.
He began to move again. His eyes scanned the landscape for movement, especially up near the beach houses.
Pippy was a curious thing, always wanting to snoop around the neighboring houses. How far could she have gotten in this? Where would Nora have gone to look for her?
He looked up at a darkened two-story with a fenced-in yard. A golden retriever named Charlie lived at the house. The one time Connor had taken a walk on the beach with the sisters, Charlie had been in the yard. And Pippy, completely oblivious to her small size, wanted at him.
Connor made his way slowly over the dunes toward the yard. The fence was made of wooden slats with plenty of room for Pippy to wiggle through.
“Pippy!” he called when the wind died down for a brief moment. The sound of the surf rose up in its place.
He heard a cracking sound and ducked automatically. A large section of siding flew by.
Connor looked over the fence into the house’s empty yard. He shielded his eyes against the rain, blinking away the water dripping from his forehead. It was hard to see anything with the house lights off and the heavy bank of clouds shielding the moon and stars.
“Pippy!” he called, listening for a long moment, scanning the yard for signs of movement. “Nora!” The storm all but swallowed his bellow.
After waiting for a long beat, he decided to move on. How long had he been looking? Fifteen, twenty minutes? How far would Pippy have gone? Nora may have stopped at one of these houses and taken refuge. Folks around here would gladly offer a stranger shelter.
The wind pushed at him, making him feel as if he were moving through thick molasses. If he didn’t find them out here, oceanside, he’d circle up to the street and make his way back toward home. But had he gone far enough to turn back now?
It made sense that the dog would head inland out of the storm’s direct path. Would Nora have thought the same thing?
Yes, he decided as a gust of wind blew him that direction. He turned and began cutting a path between two tiny cottages. The wind was at his back now, pushing him. He leaned back to keep from being propelled forward. The strength of the wind worried him. Not only for Nora and Pippy, but also for himself.
He heard a loud crack but kept his head ducked against the driving force of the wind and rain. It wasn’t safe to be out here.
It was his last thought before a blow to the head knocked him sideways. He staggered, slumping to the ground. And then everything went dark.
Chapter 36
Maddy checked her phone for the dozenth time. She had to stop doing that. She was already down to 20 percent power with no way to recharge. Her car charger was locked in Nora’s car, and she’d taken her keys with her.
The home phone was useless, of course. Emma’s cell battery was already dead, and neither Connor nor Nora had Gram’s new number. Maddy was the only one th
ey’d be able to reach. She was encouraged that they still had cell reception.
Something crashed against the side of the house, making Maddy jump.
“That can’t be good.” Emma’s attempt at levity fell flat.
“Where could they be?” Maddy said. “It’s been over an hour since Connor left.”
“Why don’t you try calling him again, dear?” Gram, her face aglow in candlelight, looked at Maddy.
Maddy opened her contacts and tapped on Connor’s number. The wind howled through the shutters, an eerie sound she was coming to hate.
The phone rang once. Twice. After the fourth ring, his voicemail kicked in. She’d already left one message, so she wouldn’t leave another. But she listened to his message, just the same. Just to hear his voice. Her heart rate doubled at the sweet sound of it.
God, please keep him safe. Keep Nora safe. Bring them home.
She ended the call. “No answer.”
“There’d be no way to hear it out there.” Gram looked toward the window.
“Or even feel it vibrate,” Emma said. “I’m sure he’s fine. They all are.” The quaver in her voice made the declaration sound more like a wish.
Maddy should’ve convinced Nora to stay home. As much as Maddy loved Pippy, she loved her sister even more. And Connor . . . Now he was in danger too.
“I can’t believe Nora went out in this,” Emma said.
Maddy took comfort in Emma’s tone. There was a softness not usually present when she spoke of Nora. “She knows how much Pippy means to you.”
Emma blinked rapidly. “What if something happens to her? After we argued, after . . . after everything that’s happened?”
“Have faith,” Gram said with a confidence Maddy envied. “It’s all in God’s hands.”
“Maybe they’ve taken shelter somewhere,” Emma said. “Surely they have.”
Maybe Nora had. But if Connor thought she was out there in this, he wouldn’t give up until he’d turned over every stone. But if Nora had taken shelter somewhere, wouldn’t she have called on a borrowed phone? She didn’t say the words aloud.
Gram stretched her hands out on the table, palms up. “Come on, girls, we need to pray.”
The sisters joined hands with their grandmother and bowed their heads.
“Lord, we’re grateful for Your many blessings. For Your comfort and Your peace and Your gracious mercy. Father, we pray for our dear ones: Nora and Connor and little Pippy. They’re lost in the storm and in need of Your loving care. God, we pray You’ll protect them and bring them home safely. Even in the midst of the storm give them peace and—”
A loud crash sounded. Maddy’s eyes snapped open. What now? It had come from the living room. She jumped from her chair and dashed toward the sound, the others on her heels.
Maddy stopped on the living room threshold, her flashlight’s beam focusing on a stilled figure. Nora stood dripping on the entry rug, the door wide open. Pippy was wet and shivering in the cradle of her arms.
“They’re back!” Emma said.
“Thank You, Jesus,” Gram breathed.
Maddy rushed forward.
“Pippy!” Emma took the dog from Nora’s arms, and Pippy began licking her owner’s face.
“Oh dear!” Gram grabbed a throw from the recliner and began dabbing at a gash on Nora’s temple. “Just look at you.”
“Just a little scrape,” Nora said. “I’m all right.”
As Gram daubed at the wound, Maddy saw that Nora was right. It was just a little scrape, but the rain had made a bloody mess of her sister’s face.
“I must look like a drowned rat.” Nora was breathless. Her auburn hair was plastered to her scalp, and her clothes pressed to her body like a second skin.
“It’s awful out there,” she said. “And getting worse by the second.”
“Oh, heavens,” Gram said. “Your elbow’s bleeding too.”
In all the commotion, Maddy only now noticed Nora had come in alone.
Her blood froze in her veins. “Where’s Connor?”
“Connor?” Nora asked. “What do you mean?”
“He went after you.” Maddy’s voice sounded frenzied even to her own ears. “You didn’t see him out there? He didn’t find you?”
“No. I finally found Pippy at that house where the golden retriever lives. She was hiding under the deck. I grabbed her and ran back along the street, but we about got blown away.” Nora’s gaze toggled between the others. “How long has he been gone?”
Maddy’s chest felt weighted, making it difficult to draw a breath. “Over an hour.”
A long silence hung between them. An hour was a long time out there.
God, where is he?
What if something had happened to him? What if she never saw him again? What if her last words to him were I can’t do this anymore?
She had to go after him. She reached for an umbrella in the base of the coat tree, though it would provide little protection.
“What are you doing, Maddy?” Emma said.
“I’m going after him.”
Gram took the umbrella with surprising force. “No, you are not.”
“I have to find him. What if something happened to him?”
With stealth beyond her years, Gram pivoted in front of the door. “Do you think any of this is a surprise to God? He’s in control. He has Connor in His own hands, and we can’t forget that.”
“Then He’ll take care of me too, Gram.”
Gram pursed her lips and tilted her chin at a stubborn angle. “Well, He also expects us to use our noggins, young lady.”
“Honey, it’s dark as pitch out there,” Nora said. “And the rain . . . You can hardly see two feet in front of your face.”
“Connor knows what he’s doing,” Gram said. “And he’d have my head on a platter if I let you go running after him. I have to live right beside the boy, so you’re staying here.”
Maddy stared into her grandmother’s set face. She’d never seen the woman so adamant.
Her heart thrashed against her rib cage as realization sank in. Gram was right. She didn’t want to admit it, but she knew it was true. Helplessness closed around her lungs like a cage, making it hard to draw breath.
Gram squeezed her arm. “I’m sure he’s just fine, honey. The Lord will take care of him.”
Maddy wanted to believe that. He’d brought Nora home safely, after all. But He didn’t always keep everyone safe. People died in the prime of their lives. Daddy had died, hadn’t he?
Maddy’s shoulders slumped. “All right.”
Gram put the umbrella back and wrapped a spare throw around Nora’s shivering shoulders. “You need a warm shower, honey. But first, let’s go get you patched up.”
“I’ll do it,” Emma blurted. All eyes turned to her. “It’s the least I can do after you brought Pippy back safe and sound.”
Something passed between Nora and Emma as Maddy looked on. Something soft and sweet. Something long overdue.
“You risked your life for her,” Emma choked out. “I’ll never be able to thank you for that.”
Nora’s eyes flooded with tears. “I’m so sorry for everything, Emma. I’m sorry I hurt you back then. I’m sorry I betrayed you. And I’m sorry I’ve been so stubborn all these years. I was just drowning in guilt. I handled it all wrong. Please forgive me.”
“I do.” Emma gave Nora a sad smile. “I haven’t exactly handled it well either, and I’m sorry for that.”
A quiet moment passed, as though the air was sighing in relief.
“Well, it’s about time,” Gram said, all smiles. “Nora, you’re bleeding all over the place. The first aid kit is in my bathroom under the sink. Wait a second, take a flashlight.” She scurried to the kitchen and returned with a heavy-duty flashlight and a jar candle with three flickering wicks.
The sisters headed upstairs, Pippy still tucked like a football into Emma’s side.
Maddy’s legs quivered under her. She looked at the door feeling m
ore helpless than she’d felt in years. Heart in her throat, she pulled out her phone and dialed Connor again. She could hardly hear the ringing over the sound of her blood rushing in her ears. When his voicemail kicked on, she disconnected the call, fighting the tide of despair.
Gram took her arm, leading her to the sofa. “Sit down, honey, you’re shaking. Give me your phone. I’ll call 911 and give them an update.”
After Gram made the call she sank down beside Maddy. “They said they’d keep an eye out for Connor.”
“Thanks, Gram.” Her words sounded mechanical. She clasped her phone, willing it to ring.
“My, my,” Gram said. “You really are smitten with that boy, aren’t you?”
Someone had set the flashlight upright on the coffee table. Its cone of light spread onto the ceiling above them, giving the room an eerie glow.
“He’s a man’s man, dear. He knows how to take care of himself. Don’t you worry.”
The rain pummeled the roof, and the faint sound of radio warnings drifted in from the kitchen.
Maddy stared into the darkened room, her chest aching with regret. “You don’t understand, Gram.”
“Sure I do. You’re in love with him, anyone can see that. But you have to have faith.”
Maddy’s eyes stung until her vision blurred. All she could think of was the look of hurt on Connor’s face. The pain in his eyes. The raw scrape of his voice.
“You don’t understand.” Maddy bit her quivering lip.
“Aw, honey. Come here.” Gram wrapped her arms around Maddy. “What is it?”
Maddy buried her face in her grandma’s soft shoulder, letting the tears come. Connor was a good man. He deserved so much better than her. He deserved to fall for someone whole. Someone unbroken. She was an awful person.
“I broke up with him,” Maddy said, sniffling. “Right before he left.”
Gram rubbed her back. “Now, what did you go and do that for?”
“I don’t know.”
Gram drew back, giving her a direct look. “Well, that’s just nonsense. Of course you know.”
She was right. Maddy knuckled her tears, trying to form words to explain the deep well of emotion that roiled inside.
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