Page 45 of Sudden Summer

Everything okay?

Haven’t heard from Birdie since last night. She should be on her way out here now, but I thought maybe she got caught up at the hospital.

Alright. Well, all’s calm so far on the roads. Doesn’t mean she didn’t go off somewhere, though. I’ll drive into Bell Ridge before I come home. Got turnover in thirty, and then I’ll head out.

Okay. Thanks. I’ll drive from the ranch out to her place. She was going to stop there before she came here anyway.

Jesus. I’d need to drop Juniper off with my sister, or my parents.

My phone lit up. Please let it be her! Balancing the baby in my left arm, I scooped my phone off the night stand.

But it wasn’t Birdie.

It was just some coupon for a baby website I’d visited. Great.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t wait another goddamn minute when I knew something in my gut was telling me she was in trouble. I clicked through to my contacts and scrolled until my sister’s name appeared.

“Jess.” I could hear the tiredness in my voice, even with Juniper crying over top of me.

“Oh man. I know that sound.” She laughed. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

“Not a wink. Look, Birdie should be back from work by now, but she’s not and I was going to stay home because Juniper’s in a mood. But something isn’t right. Birdie’s not answering her phone; she’s never done that before.”

“Do you think she went to her house? Maybe she was exhausted and just needed to crash closer to the hospital.”

“Maybe. But she still should have answered one of my messages. Or my calls. She always tells me when she leaves the hospital, too, and when she gets home. Calls me a worrywart…but what if⁠—”

Jessie sighed. “Bring Juniper over here, okay? I’m getting up right now. I’ll take her so you can run into town first to make sure she’s okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Beau. Birdie is the single most responsible and considerate person I know. You’re right. She wouldn’t just not answer your call. Bring me the baby, and go check on her. I’m sure there’s a simple enough explanation.”

Ring…Ring…Ring…

Hi, you’ve reached Birdie! Please leave your name⁠—

Goddamn it! Why the fuck wasn’t she answering her phone? I never felt this way…my nerves were fried. What if she decided she didn’t want to stay at the ranch? If she was icing me out because she was scared of everything that happened on her day off?

No. That wasn’t Birdie. She’d never once flaked on me. That wasn’t what was happening now.

My truck stopped right in front of her house. The street was quiet. That made sense—the sky was bright orange and pink, more light blue settling in as time crept closer to when most people in town would be waking. But was the cold air of an early spring morning the reason why I felt a shiver rolling through my body?

Something didn’t feel right.

Relief flooded my veins when I saw Birdie’s car in her driveway. She was home. I jogged up the sidewalk, not wasting any time getting up to her porch.

Oh fuck. The second I went to knock on her door, I saw it was open. Just a sliver. But Birdie knew better than that. The door banged against the wall as I barreled inside.

“Birdie?!” I called out frantic as I took in the scene in front of me. Her living room was a mess. The table by the door was knocked over, and a hole in the drywall that looked like someone had their head smashed against it made my stomach revolt. I moved as quickly as I could through the house.

“Birdie?! Answer me!”

There was nothing. Not a single peep as I stormed through her house like a bull in a china shop.

I made it to the back of her house where the kitchen was, and stopped dead in my tracks.

She was there, lying on the floor, holding her throat as tears streamed down her face. I dropped to my knees, my hands frantically trying to check her over.