Page 54 of Between Two Shores

“I’m sure it will.” She felt better already. “Which building and what time?”

“Library Connection. Ten o’clock.”

“Wonderful.”

Beth continued to meander around the store. Self-serve dried fruit, nuts, and snacks lined one wall, and she couldn’t resist her sweet tooth for chocolate-coated almonds. In the meat section, she scanned the options; salmon fillet, lamb liver—yuck, Red-Trout, Quail? In a corner store? Fancy-pansy. She picked up the salmon and placed it into her overflowing basket. Oh, she needed to get back to the apartment. Nick would’ve settled for cereal by now. She’d taken much longer than she’d intended.

Beth paid for the goods and thanked Sally once again for her friendship.

When Beth returned to the unit, the door remained slightly ajar. That suited her, with arms aching from the two shopping bags full of groceries. After using her hip to bump the door, she entered.

“Honey, I’m home.” She’d always wanted to say that. Beth grinned as she placed the food on the counter.

She called out again, “Nick, do you want to see what I bought? So many yummy options down there. Sorry, I took so long.”

He must’ve fallen asleep. He’d only had a few hours last night. She continued to unpack the groceries, humming a tune that played in her head.

Before she started on the fruit salad, she would check on Nick, in case he’d woken from her calling out and wanted to join her for breakfast.

She slowly creaked open the bedroom door. The covers were pulled aside—no Nick. Had he gone out again? Not even a text? She slid out her phone from her back pocket and checked to see if he’d called. Nothing.

Beth called his number, frustration building inside her. In their counseling session, they needed to address the topic of communication. The call rang out. Maybe he was driving. He’d call back soon.

BETH

By ten in the evening, Beth was a wreck. She sat rocking on the bed with her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Why wouldn’t he answer her calls? Had he had a car accident? No one would know to call her. Was he still angry with her because she’d questioned him about his decision to give the homeless guy two hundred dollars? If so, it was unfair to punish her like this and avoid her calls. She didn’t know anyone here. He had the only door key, and if she left the apartment, their things could get stolen.

Beth picked up her cell and checked the time for Perth.

10:15 p.m. Los Angeles, 1:15 p.m. for Perth. She dialed Cassie’s number.

“I’ve been thinking about you. How did Nick take the news?”

“He’s not here. I don’t know where he is. I walked to the corner store in the morning, came back, and he was gone. Nick won’t answer my calls.”

“How long since you last saw him?”

“Thirteen hours.” She was about to burst into tears. But she’d already cried most of the day and her emotions were spent.

“How could he do this to you? Oh, Beth. I’m so sorry this has happened.” Cassie growled. “I should’ve spoken up more. I didn’t want to come across too strong, but I worried that the engagement had happened too fast.”

“I didn’t even get to tell him that we needed to slow it down.”

“So why did he leave?”

“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of his. He’s been a bit out of character. Nick is usually caring and loving. But he was annoyed this morning. He wouldn’t even sit next to me on the sofa.”

“Let’s back up. Tell me everything you said to each other before you left for the store.”

Beth recalled word for word, which wasn’t hard as they hadn’t spoken long.

“So, who’s Malachi?”

“Nick’s contact in Israel.”

“So, he hasn’t slept much for days, and he urgently needs to get to Jerusalem. Beth, has he taken any of his clothes?”

“Do you think he’s left me for good?” Her voice shrilled.

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