I fished twenty bucks out of the front pocket of my overalls and handed it to him.“Find your sister and buy her some too.”
“Thank you.”
“If I really wanted to milk this, I’d make you kiss my cheek and profess your love for me with the megaphone.”
“I will,” he said, though I could tell that would cause him immense embarrassment.
“If you forget next year, that’s what will happen.”
“Deal.”
I ran and grabbed the car keys from Gabrielle, told her what was up, then jogged down to the beach where we’d parked.Hopefully, that spot would be available when I got back.Otherwise, where the hell would I park?
The roads were emptier than normal as I drove back to the vineyard.Everyone on the island was at the funfair.Everyone except two moody teenagers who would rather watch dinosaurs eat people.
I pulled onto the property and headed straight for my perfect little shake-sided shack.While I was home, I might as well use the bathroom.The porta-potties at the funfair weren’t bad, but proper plumbing always won.I gave my pits a quick sniff and swiped on more orange blossom deodorant—no need to hand the islanders fresh material to gossip about.
With an empty bladder and a can of sparkling water, I grabbed the fabric bag of Austin’s extra clothes from the shoe rack, double-checked both shoes were actually in there—because that would absolutely be my child, tossing in one and calling it a day—and pulled open the front door.
Birdsong.Bright, cheerful—
And a woman I didn’t recognize with murder in her eyes.
I didn’t even get a single word out before a sharp crack split the air and two prongs hit my chest.
Pain exploded through me—violent, all-consuming.My muscles seized, locked tight, and my body jerked out of my control from the taser.My jaw snapped shut, the breath punched from my lungs as the current tore through me in brutal waves.
Then nothing held me up.
I went down hard—shoulder, then my head, cracked against the doorframe.
A burst of white.
Ringing.Then darkness swallowed everything.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Lennox
Whatanamazingeventto be a part of.
The school spirit, the joy, the community—it was all overwhelming and wonderful in the best possible ways.My heart swelled each time I walked past a group of kids giggling, or dancing, or playing with bubbles.A gaggle of seventh graders cajoled me into a pool noodle duel, but somehow my teammates were lured onto the other side, and five pre-teens were beating me with pool noodles as I cried for mercy in between fits of laughter.
I kept scanning the field in search of Naomi, but couldn’t find her.Finally, after excusing myself from yetanothergroup of parents who wanted to talk my ear off, I found Gabrielle.“Do you know where Naomi went?”I asked.
She glanced at her smartwatch.“She ran home to get dry clothes and shoes for Austin, but she should have been back by now.That was over an hour ago.I’m sure she’s around here somewhere.”
As if summoned by the mere mention of his name, a wet-looking Austin came jogging up to us.I could hear the water in his shoes seconds before he reached us.“Have you seen my mom?”
“She’s not back yet?”Gabrielle asked, concern creasing the space between her brows.She wore brown-lensed aviator sunglasses, and I could see her eyes shifting across the field.
Pulling out my phone, I didn’t bother ing her, but called her instead.It went to voicemail.
Gabrielle did the same.Same result.
Unease slithered through me like a serpent, coiling and suffocating.
Raina ran up.“You guys seen Nay?Honor was looking for her.Apparently, she’s got a bit of an upset tummy.Too much sugar, I assume.”
