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The buzzing and excitement after a week of concerts keep me awake. Since Grace is in the guest room, I can’t play music, so I bake all night long. It’s seven when I decide to go out for a run and then take a shower. When I’m ready to prepare breakfast for us, I find my cousin in the kitchen.
“Morning,” I greet her.
“So… you raided a bakery, huh?” She doesn’t turn to look at me. “If you need help hiding the evidence, I’m your person.”
I laugh, opening the fridge and pulling out the orange juice. “That would’ve been a lot more fun than spending all night trying new recipes.”
“Are you practicing for the next season ofThe Great British Bake Off?”
“Obviously,” I answer, pointing at a batch I made for her. “Those cookies are special for you. Gluten-free, sugar-free, and all the love you deserve.”
She has type 1 diabetes. We all make sure that she eats well, but we can also prepare food that’s enjoyable.
“This is why you’re my favorite.” She smiles, giving me a hug. “I’m still unsure that baking was the way to go though. So what about the rest of the baked goods? What are we going to do with them?”
“I’ll probably take most of them to a shelter. Though I’m hoping you can take the cake to Seattle. Greyson’s birthday is coming up.”
She shakes her head in disapproval. “You’re not coming?”
I sigh and open the cupboard to fetch a glass for my juice. “I’m too tired after—”
“Pretending you’re a master baker.”
My hip rests against the counter as I drink my juice and stare at her for a moment before saying, “I don’t think that’s a thing.”
“So, when did you take to stress baking?”
“I only do it when I can’t sleep or play music.”
“Have you tried therapy?” Grace almost whispers the question.
“I’ve tried several therapists, does that help?”
“You can’t find one that works for you?”
I shake my head. “Nope. All of them want me to move on and deal with the loss. They can’t understand that he’s still alive.”
“Pipe, I wish I could bring him back to you, but—”
“You don’t believe he’s alive, do you?”
At this point, I’m almost sure everyone is humoring me, but no one believes me. I can shout it from the rooftop or the top of a mountain, and no one will agree with me. Still, everyone is teetering around the subject.
Grace presses her lips together and shakes her head. “I’m trying to believe, but it’s hard when I’ve been there sweeping the area searching for evidence.”
“If Beacon went missing—”
“Stop right there, Beac is just my best friend. You couldn’t compare our relationship with yours. Though, if something were to happen to him, I’d be devastated.”
Beacon and Grace have been best friends for years, but I know they’re meant for each other. It’s just a matter of time before they realize they’re soulmates. They might not be madly in love, but if I use him as an example, she’s going to understand me better. “But, if he went missing, would you look and wait for him?”
Her lips pinch together, and after a huff, she says, “It’s different, but yeah, I’d search until I found him.”
“Exactly. If I had the training, I’d be searching for Archer. It’s not that I don’t believe in the team that’s assigned to find him, but my guess is that it’d be easier for me than for others. My heart feels him, Grace. I know he’s out there.”
She swallows hard. “I see your point and probably understand better why a therapist isn’t going to work.”
“It’s not like I’m not living. I just refuse to believe that I have to let him go.”
