Ari jumped out of the Jeep before I could open her door and rushed to her brother.He caught her in a hug, looking just as panicked as she did.As I got closer, I heard him whisper “I’m sorry” to her overandover.
An officer I didn’t recognize spoke up.“We’re gonna get more units out, and we’ll notify all the news and radio stations.If you have any other friends and family that can help search, callthemtoo.”
Ari’s expression crumpled.“It’s just us.We don’t have more family.Dad is all we have.”The pain in her voice jabbed me in thechest.
“It’s gonna be okay, Flounder.We’re gonna find him,” Heath promised.He finally looked up and noticed me.“Thanks for getting here soquick.”
The officers around the hood of the car glanced my way as well.Flashes of recognition streaked across their faces, but I wasn’t about to waste time withintroductions.
“Put me to work.Icanhelp.”
All business, the officer in charge handed out assignments and copies of the list Heath had made of all his dad’s favorite places, and wemovedout.
Ari was selected to stay at Heath’s house in case her father returned.Everyone had her cell phone number to notify her as soon as someonelocatedhim.
Before I jumped in my Jeep, I stopped in front of her and gripped the back of her neck, turning her face up to mine.I pressed a hard, quick kiss toherlips.
“We’llfindhim.”
“Thank you,” shewhispered.
“You don’t need tothankme.”
Tears filled her eyes, and I released my hold on her neck to wipe away one that tipped over her lid.“We got this.It’s gonnabeokay.”
“It’s just ...he’s all wehaveleft.”
“I know, Red.Hold ittogether.”
She swallowed and straightened her shoulders, visibly collecting herself as Heath and the units pulled away from the curb to start thesearch.
“I’m good.Go.Findhim.”
27
Ariel
It had beenan hour with no leads.I sat in my brother’s house on his beat-up leather sofa, staring at the wood-paneled wall as I waited for my phone to ring again.Each time someone called, my hopes soared.And each time, it had been the samestory.
“Nothing yet.We’re stilllooking.”
The TV flickered with a rerun I’d muted because I couldn’t focus on the banter.Instead, my gaze drifted to the few pictures Heath had on his entertainment center in dustyframes.
One of him and me as kids.His arm was wrapped around my shoulder, squeezing me tight to his side against his Saints T-shirt.I must have been about six years old.Dad had decided I was due to see my first game, and I still remembered how safe I felt between them in a wild stadium packed with people yellingWhodat?
I’d give anything to feel the press of both their shoulders against me again right now.Grabbing my phone off the table for the seventh time, I stared at the screen, checking for missedcalls.
Obviously, there weren’t any.The volume on my ringer was turned all thewayup.
I sent up another prayer to the man upstairs.Please help them find my daddy.Please let him be okay.He’s a good man.He doesn’t deserve this.Please.
Tears spilled onto my cheeks as I stood and paced the room, finally stopping in front of the only complete family picture my brother had.It was taken the day my parents had brought me home from the hospital.Mom held a pink, red-faced bundle down for Heath to see, and my dad beamedather.
She’d died less than three months later from cancer, sacrificing herself so I could live.If she’d terminated her pregnancy, she could have undergone treatments and might have survived.But on the rare occasion Dad would talk about it, he said that she wouldn’t evenconsiderit.
Tears flowed more freely as I reached out to trail a fingertip along her face behind the glass.“Watch over him, please.Keep him safe,angelmama.”
I was convinced she’d done just that on plenty of occasions before, or maybe it was just my way of dealing with the sense of loss that ached in mychest.