"Has she ever given you any indication that she might be having second thoughts?About your relationship?"
"No, but maybe I'm just not seeing it.”Jay paused.“Maybe it’s too much, too soon.I’m pushing things too fast."
"What was her reaction when you showed up early at the hotel?"
"She seemed really happy."
"And when you gave her the thing… you know, the key thing?"
"The necklace?"Jay asked.
"Yeah."
"She fell in love with it.First thing she put on this morning."
"Have you thought about calling the police?"Rob asked, changing the direction of the conversation.
"It's only been a few hours.I doubt there's anything they'd do at this point."
"Might not hurt to call.The sooner she's in the system, the closer you'll be to finding her."
"I’d hate for her to walk through the door to find that I'd called the police just because she got tied up somewhere.I mean, she's a savvy woman who's traveled the world for years without my help.She doesn't need me keeping tabs on her, you know."
"Worrying about someone you love is not the same as keeping tabs, Jay.You keep tabs when there's no trust.And you trust her, don't you?And love her enough to want to spend the rest of your life with her, right?"
"Yes."
"And the fact that she didn't show is completely out of character for her, as far as you know?"
"Yes, Rob," Jay answered, his tone laced with fear and frustration.
"Then if I were you, I'd make the call because it just doesn't add up."
Jay agreed.He hung up and placed his phone on the coffee table.He sat still for several moments, head in his hands, trying to mentally reconstruct Claire's day.His gaze cruised the perimeter of the room in search of additional clues.Everything appeared to be in order, just as he'd left it.Just as she’d left it.
He picked up his phone and dialed 911 with a shaking hand.An operator answered, asking for his name, location, and the nature of his emergency.He opened his mouth to respond—to give Claire’s description, to explain what he feared—but stopped when he heard the sound of a key card.The door began to open.
"She's here now, ma’am,” Jay said.“Everything is fine."
He practically ran to the door.When their eyes met, his heart dropped into his gut.A wet, wrinkled coat draped her frame and strands of wet hair stuck to her face.She looked up at him, her expression filled with confusion.Relief crashed through him.He didn’t speak but pulled her into his arms, holding her tight against the cold that still clung to her skin.
"Are you hurt?"he asked.
"No,” she whispered.“But don’t let go, okay?”
He held her tightly, running his fingers through her damp hair."I promise I won’t."
As desperately as he wanted every detail of her delay, he held his tongue.She needed warmth and reassurance, not an onslaught of questions.
"Jay, I'm so sorry.I didn't know.I swear I didn't know,” she sobbed.
He let her cry for a minute, whispering words of reassurance.When he finally pulled back, he wiped tears from her cheeks.
"Didn't know what?"he asked, he searched her eyes.
“I can’t even say it out loud," she said, bottom lip quivering.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT
