He looks at both of us. “She’s arrived, but her phone isn’t moving.” His eyes refocus on his phone screen.
I get up and walk over to him, looking over his shoulder at his screen. Sure enough, Hayleigh shows up at her parents' home, but she's stationary.
I whack his arm. “Chill out, she probably left her phone in her car.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t like this, Nate. Something isn’t right.”
Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “Stop being a worrywart, we’ll give her a couple of hours, and if she hasn’t checked in, like she said shewould,”I emphasise the word, “Then we’ll try and call her and see how she is.”
He places his phone on the side but doesn’t turn off the screen, and despite my telling him to relax, he doesn’t. I only hope that he’s wrong and everything is, in fact, okay.
**********
About an hour ago, I decided to leave Archie inside with my mum, and I came out to the garden with our dad to clean it up after Lacey's baby shower a few days ago. We work efficiently, and I’m glad for the manual labour because it’s keeping my mind occupied and free of panicked thoughts of Hayleigh.
Right as I bend down to grab a piece of rubbish from the floor, something hits me on the back. When I turn around, I find my dad laughing his head off.
He wipes his hands together. “Oh, hello there, Nate. Welcome to the land of the living.”
“Sorry, I zoned out there. Did you say something?”
“I was asking how the list is going with Hayleigh.”
He beckons me over to the bench and pulls from the side a thermos, pouring us two steaming cups of tea. He hands me one of the small plastic cups as the warmth seeps into my fingers.
I blow on the tea before taking a sip. “She’s almost done, the only thing left after today will be to go on a Safari.”
My dad chuckles. “A bit hard to do that in England.” He clicks his fingers. “Actually, there is a place, your mum picked up a brochure when we were on our break at the lakes. I’ll go and find it for you.” He sets his tea down before standing, then heading off towards the house.
Guess I’ll finish cleaning the garden on my own then.
I take out my phone and open it up, my anxiety spiking because Hayleigh hasn’t checked in. It’s been two hours since she arrived, and we’ve heard nothing. It’s hard not to panic, but with Archie’s voice floating through my head, I can’t help it.
**********
By the time the garden has cleared, the sun has set, and my mum's famous steak and ale pie is waiting for me when I walk through the patio doors. I look around the kitchen, but no one’s to be found, so I move to the living room.
Archie’s curled up as best he can on one of the sofas, his tall, bulky frame scrunched up in one corner. My parents sit on the opposite sofa, and I nod my head towards Archie. “When did he fall asleep?”
My mum puts her finger to her lips. “About half an hour ago, I think all the worrying has tired him out.”
My phone rings, and Archie startles awake, flailing his arms around while he tries to get up. I fish the phone out of my pocket and click answer.
“Hayleigh?”
Archie jumps up and hurries over, shoving his face right against mine while he listens in on the phone call.
“Hey, Nate. Sorry, it’s later than usual, but it’s been…difficult.” Hayleigh sighs, her voice laced with tiredness.
“Don’t worry–” I shove Archie away, but like a fucking leech, he smashes his face right against mine once more. “Archie, give me some space.” I grit out.
“What’s she saying? Is she okay? Where is she? What can–” He fires out the rapid questions without taking a breath.
Hayleigh laughs down the line. “Tell him I’m okay, just tired. I’m coming back tomorrow.”
I hold Archie at arm's length with one hand while I move around the room. “I wish you could come home now, but I’m glad you’re not driving in the dark.”
“What’s she saying?” Archie hops from one foot to another and dives under my hand, wrestling the phone from me. “Hayleigh? What’s our code word?”
