“Are you looking for more witnesses?”
“I’m looking for … a best friend.”
“Isn’t that who tracked you down here the other night?” David asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“He’s my best friend,” Maddie said. “I’m looking for someone else’s best friend.”
David pointed to the food truck behind Maddie. “He’s the boy in the window,” he said. “I’ve been watching him all day. He’s in his own little world – and it’s a sad world.”
“He lost half of his heart.”
“I think he lost more than that,” David said. “Can I ask why you want to talk to him? If you think he’s guilty, I can tell you that I’m pretty sure he isn’t. He doesn’t have it in him. You can just tell that about some people.”
“I know he’s not guilty,” Maddie said. “I just have a message for him.”
“From who?”
“The rest of his heart.”
“I’m not sure what that means.”
“I’m not sure you have to,” Maddie said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Maddie was nervous as she approached the truck, her gaze bouncing here and there as she tried to figure out the best way to approach Michael. Up close the boy was … despondent. His skin was sallow and his eyes were red from hours of crying. He was stoic now, but Maddie could feel his heart silently breaking from five feet away.
“Can I help you?” Michael asked, his face blank.
“I … um … well … I’m here to help you.”
“Help me?”
“I’m … do you know who I am?”
“You’re the psychic,” Michael said. “You’re Maddie Graves.”
“Oh, good. You do know me.”
“Everyone knows you,” Michael said. “You’re smoking hot, and when you run behind your house you wear really tiny shorts.”
Maddie’s face reddened. “I see.”
“We all sit up on the ridge by the lake and share binoculars so we can watch you.”
“I thought you were … .”
“Gay?”
Shame flooded Maddie. “I’m sorry. That was a horrible thing to say.”
“I am gay,” Michael said. “My brother isn’t, though, and he’s a big fan of yours.”
“That’s possibly flattering,” Maddie said. “I guess I’m going to have to start wearing longer shorts.”
“Oh, don’t do that,” Michael said. “You’ll crush the entire track team.”
“I’ll consider it,” Maddie said. “That’s not why I’m here, though.”
“Are you here because you’re psychic?”
Maddie tilted her head to the side, considering. “Yes.” She was done feeling shame for what she was. She was bound and determined not to let it shape who she was.
Michael’s face brightened. “Have you talked to Hayley?”
“In a way,” Maddie said. “She’s crossed over, but she wanted me to give you a message.”
“What message?”
Maddie repeated Hayley’s beautiful words, fighting hard to hold back tears. She didn’t want to spook the boy or wound him deeper than he already was. When she was done, she couldn’t help but notice that he was weeping openly – and he didn’t appear to care who saw him wiping the tears away.
“She really said that?”
“She said you were the best friend she ever had.”
“She’s the best friend I’ll ever have,” Michael said. “What am I supposed to do without her?”
Maddie pursed her lips, an idea forming. “I know someone else who is hurting. He tried to protect Hayley the best way he knew how and failed. He could use a friend.”
“You’re talking about Trevor, aren’t you?”
“He’s upset, too.”
“He loved her for two weeks,” Michael said. “I loved her my whole life.”
“There are no time limits on love,” Maddie said. “You two can help each other. You can remember her together. You can love her as friends and still let her go. That’s what she wants. She wants you two to be happy.”
“What if I can never be happy without her?”
“Things will never be the same without her,” Maddie said. “She’ll always be with you, though.”
“How do you know that?”
“I know a little something about having a lifelong best friend.”
“THAT was a sweet thing you did for the boy.”
Maddie twirled her straw in her soda and shot David a rueful smile. “How do you know what I did?”
“I was eavesdropping.”
“That’s illegal.”
“It’s not illegal,” David scoffed. “It’s rude, but it’s not illegal.”
“What did you hear?”
“I heard you admit to being psychic and then I listened as you gave that boy the one thing he desperately needed.”
“Closure?”
“Forgiveness.”
Maddie shifted, lifting her eyes so she could study David. “What do you mean?”
“The hardest thing in this world is being the one left behind when someone dies,” David said. “What makes it worse is knowing that you said something mean to the person you love right before the unthinkable happened. You can never take that back.”
“Is that what happened with your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Is that why you’re always out here fishing?”
“I’m out here fishing because I don’t know what else to do,” David said. “We planned for my retirement for thirty years. We got thirty days of it before she died. I promised to catch fish and bring them home a few times during those thirty days, but I always got distracted by the guys at the bar … or on the golf course … or hunting.”
“Do you think you owe her fish?”
“I think I owe her … everything,” David said. “She was the love of my life, and I took it for granted.”
“I’m sure she knew you were sorry,” Maddie said. “Life doesn’t always end with death. Sometimes there’s … more. Sometimes there’s a lot more.”
“I know,” David said. “I’m looking forward to us sharing more together later. For now, though, I like to fish. It gives me a chance to think about her. She loved this lake.”
“I’ll bet you were a good husband.”
“She was a better wife,” David said. “Don’t make the same mistake I did. Make sure that boy knows how much you love him every day of your life.”
“I tell him every chance I get.”
“Does he tell you, too?”
“Every chance he gets.”
“Good,” David said. “I think you two are going to have a happy life.”
“I certainly hope so,” Maddie said, smiling. “We started picking out paint for our bedroom last night.”
“You’re getting married?” David brightened. “That’s a blessing.”
“Not yet,” Maddie said. “We’ve only been dating for two weeks.”
“And you’re already moving in together?” David was trying to refrain from frowning.
“We’ve loved each other as long as we’ve known each other,” Maddie said. “We were Michael and Hayley when we were kids. We were the very best of friends.”
“He’s not … you know … is he?”
Maddie made a face. “No. That doesn’t matter, though. Just because Michael is gay that doesn’t mean he loved Hayley any less than she deserved.”
“I didn’t say it did,” David said. “I just don’t want anyone as pretty as you wasted on a man who can’t love you with his whole heart … and body. That would be a downright shame.”
Maddie’s cheeks colored. “That’s … sweet.”
“I try,” David said. “Why else are you down here?”
“What makes you think I’m down here for any other reason than Michael?”
“You’ve got a look about you,” David said. “Your mind is always busy. My wife had that look. You remind me of her … except you’re tall, blonde,
and about sixty pounds lighter. What else is going on?”
“Actually, I do need some more information,” Maddie said. “I’m looking for a boat.”
“What kind of boat?”
Maddie shrugged. “I’m not good with identifying them. I just know that the one I’m looking for is probably about twenty-five feet long. It’s white and it has black markings.”
David waited. When Maddie didn’t continue he sent her an incredulous look. “You just described every boat on the lake.”
Maddie scowled. “That’s what I figured. She kept telling me to look at the boat. Look at me. Look at the boat. What do you think she meant by that?”
“Who?”
“Hayley.”
“You’re talking to Hayley? Isn’t she dead?”
“Yes.”
“She still talks to you?”
“Just the one time.”
“And she told you to look at the boat?”
Maddie nodded. “Do you think that means anything?”
“It clearly means something to you,” David said. He rubbed his hand across his chin thoughtfully. “You know, there is a boat out here with an odd name.”
“Don’t they all have odd names?”
“Most men name their boats after a woman,” David said. “It could be a nice name, and it could be a nasty name. It all depends on how the big relationship in their life treated them. I once saw a boat named True Love.”
“That’s sweet.”
“I also once saw a boat named Bitter Shrew.”
Maddie snickered. “Nice. I didn’t know that thing about naming your boat after a woman, though.”
“It’s just one of those little traditions that stuck,” David said. “There is one exception on this lake. I don’t know who owns it, but I do remember seeing the name and thinking only a complete and total jackass could’ve named it.”
“What was the name?”
“Look at Me.”
Maddie waited.
“No, that’s the name of the boat,” David said. “Look at Me.”
“Oh,” Maddie said, getting to her feet as realization dawned. “Oh.”
“Oh,” David agreed. “Do you think that’s what she meant?”
“I guess we’ll have to see,” Maddie said, glancing around. “ I need to make a call.”
Twenty
“Just so I understand what we’re doing here, I want to go over it again. We’re borrowing Dad’s boat so we can drive around the lake because Maddie had a dream about Hayley being on a boat. That’s it, right?” John asked, shoving Nick out of his spot behind the wheel. “I’m driving.”
“On what planet?” Nick asked, jockeying with his older brother to regain his previous position. “You know darned well I’m a better driver than you.”
“Only in your mind.”
“You suck,” Nick said.
“I thought you’d want a chance to snuggle with your blonde,” John said, feigning innocence. “How often do you two get a chauffeured boat ride?”
Nick opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. He mock saluted John and then made his way over to the seat Maddie was settled on. “I do want to snuggle with my blonde.”
Maddie smiled and patted the spot next to her. “That’s good. When I was having my … dream … last night I made a mental note to tell you that I wanted to go on a boat ride. I used to love going out on the lake with you when I was a kid. That’s something we haven’t done since I came back.”
“Well, this doesn’t count,” Nick said. “When we go on a boat ride we’re going to be alone, and you’re going to be wearing … far less than you are now.”
“You’re a smooth talker,” John said, winking.
“Shut up,” Nick said, making a face as he watched his brother maneuver out of the slip with precision. “You drive like a woman.”
“You’re prettier than a woman.”
“You have hands like a woman.”
“You know there’s an actual woman on this boat, right?” Maddie asked. “It’s kind of insulting for you two to degrade each other by using the word ‘woman’ as a dig.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Nick said, kissing Maddie’s cheek. “I happen to love women.”
“I’ve heard.”
Nick grinned. “I just love one woman now.”
“I’m sure that will thrill Mom,” John said. “Oh, and Grandma … and our sister … and Aunt Tanya.”
“Seriously,” Nick said. “Shut up.”
“I’m glad I’m an only child,” Maddie said. “I’ve never understood why siblings always have to be fighting.”
“It’s because we know all the horrible buttons to push on one another,” Nick said. “We can’t help ourselves.”
“He’s right about that,” John said. “For example, I know that teasing Nick about his feelings for you in high school made him cry.”
“I did not cry.”
“You did,” John said. “You were desperate for her to love you back, and when she didn’t, you curled up in your bed with a stuffed animal and cried.”
“He’s making that up.”
Maddie was amused by their banter. “I’m not sure that works since I did love him back then.”
“You still left him,” John said.
Maddie stilled, and the look Nick shot John was murderous as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, Mad. Don’t let him get to you.”
“I’m sorry,” John said, instantly contrite. “I’m guessing that’s still a sore spot between the two of you. Do you want me to get you a tissue, Nick?”
“Don’t bring that up again,” Nick snapped, deathly serious. “We’ve been over it. We’ve talked it out. I don’t want you to make her feel guilty.”
“It’s too late for that,” Maddie said. “I feel guilty without him saying a thing.”
“Thanks.”
John held up his hand by way of apology. “That wasn’t fair. I was trying to bug Nick. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Maddie.”
“I’m not sure that’s true.”
John glanced at her, confused. “What do you mean?”
“I think you want me out of Nick’s life.”
“What?” Nick was furious. “Did he say something like that to you?”
“No,” John said. “I would never say something like that. I told you the other night I was jealous about what the two of you have. I would never want you to lose her, not again. I like you a lot better when you’re happy rather than sad.”
“Why do you think that, Mad?” Nick asked, worried
Maddie broke into a wide grin. “I don’t,” she said. “I just thought it might be funny if John got a taste of his own medicine.”
Nick smirked, relaxing back on the seat and pulling Maddie closer to him as he shot a triumphant look in John’s direction. For his part, the eldest Winters brother was incensed.
“That was a very mean thing to say, Maddie Graves,” John said.
“No meaner than what you said to me.”
“What I said to you was an accident.”
“It was not,” Maddie scoffed. “You just didn’t think you’d really upset me.”
“I … how did this conversation get away from me?”
“It’s because you’re a moron,” Nick said.
“I can’t take much more of this abuse,” John said.
“Do you want me to get you a tissue?” Maddie asked, her eyes sparkling.
“You’re so much meaner than I remember you,” John said.
“She’s not mean,” Nick said, kissing her cheek. “She’s an angel. She’s my angel.”
“Oh, you two are just sick,” John said. “Every time I turn around you’re kissing each other. It’s gross.”
“Then don’t look,” Nick said. “We’re never going to stop.”
“I’m starting to get that,” John said.
Nick pointed toward the east side of the lake. “Let’s start at the hunting cabin and work our w
ay around from there,” he said. “We need a beginning point. If we’re lucky, Maddie will remember something from her vision and be able to guide us where we’re going.”
Now it was John’s turn to mock salute. “Yes, sir.”
Nick rolled his eyes.
“Hold on, kids,” John said, winking. “It’s going to be a fast and furious ride.”
“Don’t hit anything,” Nick said. “Dad said we had to pay for any damage we did.”
“You just suck the fun out of everything,” John complained. “You’re a different person since you’ve gotten everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“Just drive.”
“OKAY,” Nick said, narrowing his eyes as he studied the area surrounding the cabin. “Let’s go through this. Are we sure that whoever killed Hayley approached from the lake?”
“Hayley said she would’ve heard a car on the dirt road in front of the cabin,” Maddie said, shielding her eyes. “She said she heard so many boats on the water it never even occurred to her to worry about someone approaching from the lake.”
“She told you all that and yet she couldn’t tell you who killed her?” John was dubious. “I’m not sure how helpful this gift of yours is.”
“I never said it was a gift.”
“Oh, it’s a gift,” Nick said, rubbing the back of Maddie’s neck. “It helped make you the best person I know, and you’re a gift.”
John mimed puking over the side of the boat.
“Don’t make me throw you in,” Nick warned.
“Let’s focus,” Maddie said, trying to get things back on track. “I think there’s an easy answer here. It has to be her father. Have you checked to see if he has a boat?”
“I have,” Nick said carefully. “There’s nothing registered in his name.”
“But … .” Maddie broke off, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “What about her mother?”
“There’s nothing listed under her name either,” Nick said. “I … .”
“You think I imagined it,” Maddie said, resigned.
“No, Mad,” Nick said, reaching for her. “I don’t think that at all. I know you saw something important last night. I just don’t think we know what it is yet.”
“I think you might have imagined it,” John offered. “What? Don’t look at me that way, Nick. This is all new to me. I’ve never seen Maddie in action, and so far I’m not impressed.”
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