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I couldn’t help the lump forming in my throat. They passed me the box, tears forming at the corner of my eyes.
“I... I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t need to say anything. Your generosity and help to those families shine through. We must be going, it’s time for us to get up and start searching that mountain again. We want to bring these guys home. Be strong, we’ll find them.”
I nodded my head, choking back the tears and sobs I knew were coming. My throat burned, it was so tight, I could barely swallow.
I got both a hot coffee and a couple of cookies before they left. I went back into the kitchen with the box they had brought and set it on the counter, opening it. Inside sat close to a thousand dollars. I couldn’t help the tears that started to fall, not because of the amount, but because Brody had done all of this without a single word to me. I was sure, at this moment, I had possibly received my sign.
Chapter Thirty
Cass
Main Street was quiet asI drove home. Big snowflakes had started to fall, and the Christmas displays in the store windows sparkled against the snow. I headed up the hill toward home, grateful things had turned out well for the book drive, but it was hard to be happy without having someone to celebrate with. I turned the radio on and listened to Christmas carols all the way home. I had hoped to catch the news to see if they had been found yet and was disappointed to hear they were still looking.
I drove into the driveway and pulled the car into the garage. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve—if they hadn't found them by then, they were calling off the search, and another Christmas would surely be ruined. My heart was heavy despite all the good I had accomplished today.
I headed inside and was greeted by Missy circling my feet. I filled her now empty bowl and headed to get changed before starting a fire. As soon as that was done, I warmed up a bowl of soup and ate while glued to the news. I grew even more discouraged when they had a live update that they were still searching.
I plugged the tree in, letting the light from it fill the room and curled up on the couch under a warm blanket to watch TV, hoping that being warm would allow me to relax enough to sleep.
As I laid there, my mind constantly ran to the fact time was running out. Another wave of sadness and heaviness came over me. My heart ached, and as much as I could try to deny the fact I didn't want to fall in love, I knew deep down, I was already there. Already there and very much invested and couldn't stand the thought of a possibility I would never get to be held by those arms again or feel his lips against mine.You've got to come home to me Brody, you can't leave me alone.
I drifted off, mainly from pure exhaustion once Missy had crawled up on the couch and laid against my chest, the vibration from her purring comforting me enough to fall asleep.
I was awoken by a heavy thudding. I looked around the room, the TV droning in the background, the lights from the tree still softly flashing.
THUD THUD THUD.
Someone was at the front door. Disoriented and half awake, I made my way over to the door. I had no idea what time it was.
THUD THUD THUD.
“Coming,” I called out weakly. I pulled the door open to be greeted by two men from the police department.
At the sight of them, I was suddenly very awake, my stomach churning. I swallowed hard, deathly afraid of the news they were going to deliver to me.
“Can, can I help you?”
“Cass Reilly?”
“Yes,” I whispered. My eyes starting to burn, the ache in my stomach becoming greater with every passing second.
“We were instructed to stop in and let you know Brody Thompson has been found along with the two other men who were missing up at Prickly Peaks.”
I put my hand up to my mouth, the tears starting to pour.
“Are you sure? Is he okay?”
“Yes, miss. Do you want to come with us down to the hospital or do you want to drive yourself?”
I couldn't stop shaking, and suddenly, felt extremely light headed.
“Um, I...”
“Miss, are you alright?” One of the officers stepped forward and grabbed hold of my arm, bracing his other arm around my back as I fell back. He walked inside and took me to the couch where he sat me down.
I heard one of them ask the other to get a glass of water, and soon, I felt a cool cloth pressed to my forehead. I must have been in shock, the room continued spinning out of control.
