As soon as Holly landed in Chattanooga, she took out her phone to text Max.
Anything?
He’s not at the cabin, Holly. And I didn’t see anything suspicious.
Okay. Thanks for looking. I appreciate it.
Are you still coming out here?
Yes, of course. There might be something you’re not seeing. I’m his sister, after all. And he’s still missing..
Holly had lost so much this past year, first her parents, then Daniel. How could she ever bear losing Lucas too? She sniffed back the tears and told herself it was much too soon to think that way. Her brother was out there somewhere—he had to be.
As Holly merged onto the interstate that would bring her back to her hometown, things started to look familiar. Her chest tightened up and she forced herself to take a deep breath. It was strange to not be in New York. She had tried so hard to shake the sweet-Georgia-girl persona that she’d acquired growing up here. It certainly would not serve her in her career as a journalist. And yet, she had to admit she missed this place. She missed the landscape, the fresh air, and the food. Her mother’s cooking had been incomparable—turnip greens, pulled pork and peach pie. But Holly? She’d never deigned to learn, though she felt deep regret about that now. There were so many things she had taken for granted, wishing instead for sushi bars, authentic New York pizza, and glamorous parties with important people.
Her mind drifted back just then to the butterflies she had felt upon hearing Max’s voice over the phone. That had been unexpected. She had come so far in pushing the memory of him way, deep down. It wasn’t until the day of her parents’ funeral that everything she had ever felt for him came rushing back in an instant. It seemed Daniel had noticed too because grabbed her elbow to steady her.
She had reached for Max as soon as he was close enough. And though she couldn’t recall what she’d said to him, she knew it was the truth. It had been from the heart. But it had made him uncomfortable. A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she recalled how he had pulled back, thanked her and went on his way. Holly knew she couldn’t do that to him again. So, whatever these butterflies meant, she would have to get a hold of herself.
Looking up, she saw a sign for the Meeks Motor Inn and briefly considered sleeping there for the night but then quickly shook off the notion. No matter how difficult it might be, she needed to stay at the hunting cabin. That’s where Lucas would show up if (and when!) he did.
Just then, her phone rang. She scrambled to connect it to the Bluetooth of her rental. Why hadn’t she done that back at the airport?! Pushing buttons, plugging cords, she nearly veered off the side of the road in a frantic state. What if it was Lucas?! Finally, she heard it connect.
“Lucas? Is that you?”
The caller cleared his throat. “It’s Max, Holly.”
She was panicked. “What is it? Did you find him? Just give it to me straight.”
Max made a shushing noise and kept his tone even. “No, Holly. Nothing yet. I would have texted but I knew you were driving and figured you probably hadn’t set the Bluetooth up to read your texts.”
Holly winced a little at being so easily known.
“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’m still here at the hunting cabin and I’ll stay here as long as you need—on the couch that is. I wanted to give you a heads-up so you didn’t freak out when you saw the sheriff’s truck in the laneway.”
She was speechless. Max was going to sleep there? He didn’t ask her. He was telling her. And just like that, she was twenty-three again, feeling stifled and claustrophobic because of an overbearing boyfriend.
“Holly?”
She took a deep breath. “I’m here,” she said.
His voice was wary. “Okay, and do you have a response?”
“We’ll talk when I get there,” she managed to say. “I’m about twenty miles away.”
