by Amy Clipston
“It’s not your fault.” Rebecca sat across from her and placed her hands on Lindsay’s. “She was really upset, and she has some things to work through. I don’t think you or I can help her. She needs to open her heart to God for help.”
Lindsay sniffed. “I just feel like I shouldn’t have been so mean to her. I said some awful things. I told her she’s selfish, and she needed to think about how she treats people.” She wiped her eyes. “And I told her Brian’s cheating on her.”
“Is he?” Rebecca asked.
“I caught him kissing Morgan one night at our house. I just never told Jessica because I was afraid she wouldn’t believe me.” She wiped her eyes.
Rebecca patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry. You did the right thing. You’re just looking out for your sister, and that’s honorable. Someday she’ll realize you did it because you love her and want what’s best for her.”
Lindsay gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I hope you’re right.”
“You’re a good person, Lindsay.” Rebecca leaned over and hugged her. “Don’t ever doubt your heart.”
“I don’t know what we’d do without you.” Her niece pulled back.
“Thank you.” Rebecca touched her hair, her heart swelling with love for the girls. Elizabeth’s words invaded in her mind. Was she wrong not to let Jessica go? Was she ignoring what Daniel, Jessica, and God were trying to tell her?
Lindsay gazed down at the table. “Do you think we should get in the buggy and search for her?”
Standing, Rebecca considered the question. Part of her wanted to organize a search, but the other part of her felt that she needed to give Jessica her space to come back when she was ready. “I think we should wait. I’m sure Jessica will realize she acted in haste and come back.”
“Can I ask you something?” Lindsay bit her bottom lip.
“You can ask me anything.” Rebecca leaned against the counter.
“Jessica said she heard you and Uncle Daniel arguing earlier.” Her niece’s eyes glittered with the question. “Is it true Uncle Daniel wants us to leave, but you want us to stay?”
Rebecca’s stomach twisted. Telling her niece the truth would hurt her, which was the last thing she wanted to do. She glanced toward the door leading to the living room and hoped Daniel wasn’t within earshot.
“It’s true, but you have to understand Daniel’s point of view.” Rebecca took a deep breath. “The bishop came to see him tonight.”
“What does that mean?” Lindsay looked confused.
“It means some people in the district have said they’re concerned Jessica’s behavior isn’t good for our community.” Rebecca glanced toward the doorway and then back at her niece. “Daniel is worried the community may start treating us differently because of Jessica. He feels she belongs back in Virginia, but your mother wanted you both with me. I want you here.”
“What’s going to happen to us?” Lindsay sniffed and wiped her eyes.
“You’re going to stay here with me.” Rebecca hugged her. “Don’t worry about anything.”
“Is Uncle Daniel mad?”
Rebecca nodded. “He’s angry with me. But it’s something I have to deal with and nothing you have to worry about. Understand?”
“Ya.” Lindsay cupped her hand over her mouth and yawned. “I guess I’ll head to bed. We’re leaving early in the morning for work.” She touched Rebecca’s shoulder. “Good night.”
“See you in the morning,” Rebecca said.
Lindsay disappeared through the doorway, and Rebecca finished cleaning up the kitchen. She stepped into the living room and found Daniel sitting in his favorite chair while reading the Bible. His eyes met hers and a frown creased his face. He stood and headed up the stairs without saying a word.
Rebecca lowered herself onto the sofa. Her heart ached for him to speak to her, but she knew she couldn’t change his mind about the situation. Her main focus was seeing Jessica come home. She’d handle Daniel later.
While rain pounded on the roof and splattered the windows, she leafed through the Bible and waited for the sound of Jessica coming through the door. After an hour, she fell asleep.
Rebecca rolled over. Her first thought was that her neck ached. Sitting up, she glanced around the room. She was on the sofa in the living room. Why had she slept there?
Rubbing her eyes, she recalled that she had fallen asleep waiting for Jessica to return. Jessica had never come back in last night! She popped up and rushed up the stairs. Padding down the hallway, she spotted the door to Jessica’s room open. Standing in the doorway, she found the bed still made, untouched since the day before. Panic coursed through Rebecca’s veins.
Where’s Jessica?
“She didn’t come home?” Lindsay’s voice sounded behind her as if reading Rebecca’s thoughts.
Rebecca turned to see Lindsay standing in the doorway clad in her dress and apron. “I guess not,” Rebecca said.
Her niece folded her arms across her chest, her eyes glittering with distress. “Do you think something happened to her?”
“I don’t know.” Rebecca shook her head. She scanned Jessica’s room looking for clues, and her heart raced with question and worry. “Maybe she and Daniel left for work without waiting for Barry Holden. I’ll go check.” She peeked in her bedroom and found it empty and the bed made.
“They must’ve gone to work,” Lindsay said, sidling up to her. “But I’d feel better if I knew for sure.”
“I’ll get changed,” Rebecca said. “Let’s go by the shop to make sure she’s there.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” Her niece nodded, wiping her eyes.
Jessica awoke when the bus pulled into the station in Virginia Beach. She’d endured a restless night, sleeping little between bus connections. Her brief dreams consisted of a mishmash of memories centering around her parents.
Anxiety and doubt filled her while she gathered up her belongings and climbed off the bus. She worried she’d made a mistake coming back to Virginia. What if Brian wasn’t happy to see her? Would Lindsay ever forgive her for leaving without telling her where she was going?
Jessica pushed the uncertainty aside and approached a taxi idling at the corner outside of the bus station. She opened the door and gave the driver Brian’s address. She then loaded her bag into the backseat and climbed in.
A gentle sprinkle of rain peppered the windows while the taxi weaved through the busy roads. She glanced up at the dark clouds, which seemed to mirror her mood.
Yanking out her phone, she studied it. No missed calls or messages. She wondered if Lindsay had discovered she’d left yet.
A pang of guilt radiated through her. She should’ve told Lindsay she was leaving, but she knew her sister would never have understood. Now she had no way of reaching her, unless she called the bakery.
Jessica scrolled through to the bakery’s number but snapped it closed before hitting Send. She couldn’t call just yet, especially since the battery was almost dead. She wanted to talk to Brian first and then she’d call Lindsay.
Flipping the phone open again, she powered it off. She didn’t want Lindsay trying to call her before she accomplished her mission.
The taxi steered down Brian’s street and Jessica’s stomach clenched. She hoped he was home and not at work. Cutting her eyes to her watch, she found it was almost eleven.
The taxi pulled up in front of Brian’s house and stopped. Jessica’s stomach soured when her eyes fell on Morgan’s SUV parked in the driveway next to his pickup. She wondered why Morgan was there on a Monday morning when they should both have been working.
“This is the address, ma’am,” the driver said.
“Thank you.” Jessica fished her wallet from her purse, counted out the fare and a tip, and handed it to him.
“Would you like me to wait?” the driver asked.
“No, thank you,” she said. “This may take awhile.”
Gathering her duffle bag and purse, Jessica opened the door. She t
hanked the driver again and dashed through the rain to Brian’s parents’ two-story brick colonial. She climbed the front steps and rang the bell.
After a few moments, the door opened slowly. Brian stood in the doorway clad in a T-shirt and boxers. His eyes widened with shock. “Jessica. What are you doing here?”
Confidence surged through her despite the hurt and disappointment rioting within her. “I thought I’d come and see why you stopped calling me.” She dropped her bags on the wet cement porch. “Did you know yesterday was my birthday?”
“Yes, I did.” He nodded. “Your gift’s in the mail.”
“Sure it is,” she deadpanned, folding her arms.
“Brian?” a feminine voice called. “Who is it?”
Craning her neck to see past him, Jessica gasped when she spotted Morgan leaning in the doorway to the den wearing only one of Brian’s T-shirts.
Morgan met her stare and shrieked. “Jessica? Oh no!”
“Jess,” he said, grabbing her forearms. “It’s not what you think.”
“It’s not what I think?” Jessica stepped out of his grip and shook her head. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“No.” He gave her an apologetic expression. “I’m so sorry. We were planning to tell—”
“Save it, Brian.” Jessica held her hands up. “You know, on second thought, I am stupid. My sister had already figured out you were cheating on me with Morgan. I guess I knew all along in my heart, but I was too stupid to admit it.”
“I’m really sorry.” He reached for her again, but she backed away. “Really, I am.”
“Don’t touch me,” she warned. “I’ll just leave.”
“Jessica!” Morgan stood beside Brian. “This wasn’t planned. It just happened. I’m sorry we didn’t call you for your birthday. We were out all day, and the time just got away from us.”
“Whatever.” Jessica shook her head, her sour stomach making her feel as if she were going to be sick. “Just leave me alone. Don’t call me. Don’t write me.”
She heaved her bag onto her shoulder and started for the street, the rain splattering her blouse and pelting her hair. She absently wished she’d worn her windbreaker instead of shoving it in her duffel bag when she boarded the bus last night.
“Jessica!” Brian ran after her. “Just wait.”
“No.” She faced him. “There’s nothing more to say. I’ve been a fool, and it’s my own fault.”
“Jess, I want to be friends.” He gave a weak smile. “You were my first love.”
Jessica laughed with sarcasm. “Like that means anything.”
Morgan trotted down the front steps. “You’re my best friend, Jess. Please forgive me.”
Jessica glared at her, contemplating if she’d actually known her so-called best friend at all. “Go put on some clothes. The neighbors will talk.” She cut her eyes to Brian. “I hope your parents aren’t home. They might not be happy to find hanky-panky going on in their house.”
“Jess, wait.” He grabbed her arm again.
“Go back in the house and finish whatever it is you were doing.” She backed away from them toward the street, not taking her glare off the two people who’d hurt her most of all.
A lump lodged in her throat with the realization she’d now lost everyone in her life—Lindsay, Trisha, Aunt Rebecca, Morgan, and Brian. She was utterly alone.
“Jessica! Wait!” Morgan yelled.
Without listening, Jessica stepped into the street. By the time she saw the truck speeding toward her and hydroplaning on the wet pavement, it was too late to get out of the way.
Brakes squealed, and something heavy knocked her backward. She felt her head hit the pavement and then everything went black.
Rebecca rushed in through the back door of the shop.
“Rebecca?” Jake Miller rushed over to her. “Good morning.”
Rebecca scanned the room behind him, searching for her niece. “Have you seen Jessica?”
He frowned. “She didn’t come home last night?”
“No.” Rebecca glanced over at her husband. His eyes met hers and he scowled. She pushed aside her disappointment in him and concentrated on Jessica.
“We thought maybe she came to work early,” Lindsay said, standing beside Rebecca. “She’s not here?”
Rebecca shook her head while her stomach twisted with icy fear. “I have a bad feeling.”
Eli approached them. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Daniel’s younger brother Timothy also joined the group, a concerned expression clouding his face.
“Jessica is missing,” Lindsay said. Her voice quavered as tears filled her eyes.
“She’s missing?” Eli’s eyes widened.
“I don’t understand it,” Jake said. “I thought she went home last night.”
“Jessica was with you?” Eli’s eyes narrowed. “Do you have something to tell us, Jacob?”
Jake’s eyes widened. “What?” Recognition flashed through his eyes. “No, no!” He waved his hands. “Not like you mean. Jessica was upset last night. She walked to my house and asked me for a ride to the bus station.”
“The bus station?” Eli asked.
“Oh no.” Rebecca covered her mouth and groaned as panic gripped her. She did it! She ran away!
Daniel sidled up to his father, his eyes not moving from Rebecca. She met his stare, and intensity flashed between them. She wished he’d speak, say anything. But he remained silent, breaking her heart into tiny pieces.
Lindsay shook her head. “Why didn’t you stop her, Jake?” Her question wrenched Rebecca from her thoughts.
“I tried!” Jake said, gesturing with his hands for emphasis. “We talked, and I thought I had convinced her to go home. I offered to drive her back to the house, but she insisted on walking to clear her head.”
“She never came home.” Lindsay leaned on the counter behind her. “She went back to Virginia Beach.” Her eyes filled with anxiety while she gazed over at Jake. “What do we do now?”
“We wait,” Eli said. “We can’t do anything until we hear for sure that she’s in Virginia.”
“Ya, you’re right.” Rebecca sighed. “I should’ve talked to her more last night. Maybe if I had listened to her, she wouldn’t have run away.”
“It’s not your fault.” Jake touched Rebecca’s arm. “There’s nothing that any of us could’ve said to make her stay. Her mind was made up.” He pulled out his phone. “Why hasn’t she called us?”
“Rebecca,” a voice called from the other end of the shop.
Rebecca glanced over at Peter standing in the doorway.
“The phone is for you and Lindsay. It’s someone named Morgan,” her brother-in-law said.
“Morgan!” Lindsay yelled. “That’s Jessica’s best friend in Virginia.”
Rebecca and Lindsay maneuvered through the workers in the shop toward the front. Rebecca snatched the receiver from Peter. “Hello?” she asked. “This is Rebecca Kauffman.”
“Mrs. Kauffman,” a young feminine voice said. “My name is Morgan. I’m Jessica’s best—” She paused. “I’m Jessica’s friend.”
“Yes,” Rebecca said, her stare fixed on the desk next to her. “Jessica’s mentioned you. Please tell me what’s going on.” Her heart pounded with anticipation.
“There’s been an accident,” the girl said.
“What?” Rebecca trembled, and Lindsay touched her arm. “What happened?”
“Jessica got hit by a truck.” Morgan’s voice was thick. “She’s in the hospital.”
“Oh no.” Rebecca cupped her hand to her mouth, tears spilling from her eyes. Worry and guilt surged through her. She should’ve searched for Jessica last night. Maybe then she’d be okay. She should have stopped Jessica from running off!
Lindsay wrapped her arms around Rebecca. “What happened? Where’s my sister? Please tell me!”
Jake lunged for the phone and held it to his ear. “Morgan?” he asked. “My name is Jake. I’m friends with Jess
ica. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
He was silent while he listened on the phone. “I see,” he finally said. “We’ll be there as soon as we can. Thank you.” Jake glanced over at Rebecca. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll leave.”
“What’s going on?” Daniel asked as he stood in the doorway.
“Jessica’s in the hospital in Virginia Beach,” Jake said. “She was hit by a truck this morning.”
Lindsay gasped.
Jake touched her arm. “Go pack a few things. I’ll drive us all there.”
[Return to Table of Contents]
Jessica moaned. Her head felt like it was stuck in a tightening vise. Pain radiated from her right ankle to her knee. She opened her eyes and stared up at a long fluorescent light, which was buzzing so loud that it echoed in her aching head.
Where am I?
She opened her mouth to speak and a moan escaped.
“Jessie?” a familiar voice asked. “Are you awake?”
Moving to her side, more pain shot up Jessica’s leg, and she moaned again. What’s going on? Why do I hurt so badly?
“Jessie, honey.” Trisha stood over her. “Don’t move. I’ll get the nurse.”
“Nurse?” The question came from Jessica’s lips in a hoarse whisper.
“You’re in the hospital.” Trisha pushed a button.
“May I help you?” a nurse appeared in the doorway.
“Miss Bedford needs some pain medication, please,” Trisha said.
“I’ll get it right away,” the nurse said, stepping back through the door. “I’ll be right back.”
Trisha leaned over Jessica and pushed her sweaty hair back from her face. “You really scared your family.”
“What do you mean?” Jessica asked.
“You don’t remember what happened?”
A wave of pain surged through her foot and stole her breath for a moment. Once the pain subsided, she shook her head.
“You were hit by a pickup truck in front of Brian’s house.” Trisha rubbed Jessica’s arm.