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CHAPTER 20
Avery was beginningto think Addisyn had simply disappeared.
There was no other explanation. Slumped at her desk, Avery dropped her head into her hands. The rough fist of failure slammed into her soul.
As soon as she’d arrived home from work on Monday evening, she’d assumed her best James Bond persona. Snuggled in the comfy chair in her cabin while Laz’s predicted storm rolled through and thunder cracked the sky, she’d begun an Internet search for her little sister.
First she’d Googled Addisyn’s name, hoping to find her Facebook page. She couldn’t go to Facebook directly—she’d never had an account—but she’d hoped Addisyn’s page would appear in the search results.
However, nothing had risen to the surface besides news articles and videos—some recent, some older. As the storm growled away beyond the horizon, Avery had read each post, studied each photograph, watched each video.
She hadn’t unearthed any clues that would help her now, but she had filled in the blanks in her sister’s career—how she’d secured sponsorship, climbed the ranks faster than anyone could have guessed, and then watched her dream unravel.
The search had broken Avery’s heart all over again. Every photo she saw, every video she watched, every news article she read only made her more aware of how much she ached to have Addisyn back. Memories she’d shoved beneath the surface had tapped gently on the door of her heart the whole evening—the joy of feeding the ducks together in Central Park, Addisyn’s delight with the pair of suede boots Avery had once given her for a Christmas present, the times they went window-shopping on Fifth Avenue pretending they were going to buy all the prettiest dresses.
Avery rubbed her eyes. She was tired—exhausted from an evening fraught with the tidal tug of the past, exhausted from the sleepless night that followed, exhausted from remembering how her sister once was.
Before Brian came.
Brian.There was a thought. Avery lifted her laptop screen again and Googled Brian’s name, coupled with “figure skating coach.” This time, one of the first results was his Facebook page.
Between her lack of an account and his privacy settings, she wouldn’t be able to see most of his information, but it was worth a glance anyway. She scrolled past photos of him and Addisyn together—none more recent than some Valentine’s Day party, over five months ago. However, his bio details clearly proclaimed he was “in a relationship” with Addisyn Miles.
Nothing more there. Avery clicked back to the search results and tried the next link. And the next. And the next. An hour later, she rested her head on her desk and closed her eyes. Tuesday afternoon, and she had no ideas—not even any clues. And somewhere out there, her sister was dying.
She fought to swallow the panicky urgency. Didn’t she know that El Shaddai held all the threads of time in His hands? Wasn’t she willing to trust that when the way was clear, she’d be shown what to do?
But the urge to go, do, act squeezed her soul in a grip that grew more relentless each hour. If only she could find her sister. The lectures and warnings were over. Now she would simply wrap Addisyn in her arms and beg to be allowed into her life once more.
Oh, El Shaddai. I have sinned. I did not reflect Your love, Your grace. And now it’s too late.A crushing load of guilt settled onto Avery’s soul. She who had tried so hard to toe the line and mind her p’s and q’s. When had she forgotten the power of grace? Why had she tried to make Addisyn believe that perfection was mandatory?
But if she could just find Addisyn, she’d change all of that. It wouldn’t matter what Addisyn had done or how far she’d lost her way. She only wanted her back—flaws and scars and all.
El Shaddai, please give me the chance to correct my mistake. Give me the chance to show Ads Your love. Give me one more opportunity. Please, Lord.
My mercies are new every morning.
The gentle words stilled Avery’s spirit and calmed her soul. Yes, El Shaddai was merciful. He was as full of power and compassion as the mountains were full of snow. She breathed in deeply, soaking in His presence. He would show her grace. She knew it.
Now if only she could show that grace to Addisyn—before it was too late.
Avery opened her eyes and gazed at her laptop with renewed determination. She wasn’t giving up. There had to be another way, another option, another—
Suddenly a moment of pure inspiration flashed inside her mind. Brian!
Brian was tenacious. Brian was rich. Brian had friends—or at least what he referred to as such—all over the country.
And Brian was looking for Addisyn.
Avery grinned with the sheer brilliance of her plan. Of course! Why not take a good opportunity when she saw one?
She chuckled wryly. So Brian was looking for Addisyn? Perfect. She’d piggyback on his efforts. Maybe his Facebook page hadn’t yielded any hints, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t still be useful.
A plan was taking shape in her mind. She lay back in the big chair and let it come—watched it softly materialize, growing in power and feasibility. So it was crazy, yes. Radical? Certainly. Expensive and difficult? Who cared! This was about finding Addisyn. No matter how thorny the road there.
Avery was suddenly aware of a dim thumping noise. She sat up to see Mercy walking by the big chair, slapping it with her wagging tail as she looked hopefully at her owner. Avery laughed and sat up. “Whatcha doing, Mercy? Would you mind staying with Laz for a few days?” Still sweet-talking the dog, she rose and headed for her bedroom.
She had a bag to pack and a flight to catch.
