Page 98 of His One True Wish

“I’ll be there in two hours,” I said to Mason. My body tense, I couldn’t talk fast enough, breathe fast enough, move fast enough. I needed to go.

“I’ll try,” he said, his voice full of concern. “Billie, drive safe. Is your mom there?”

“Yes, you want her? Mom?” I called, motioning her over.

“No, nope, nope, just tell her … ” His voice trailed off. “Just tell her I say hello. Actually, no. Forget it. Don’t say anything.”

“Oh, okay,” I said, waving Mom off. Since when did Mason avoid talking to my mom? I’d find out, but I had bigger problems right now. “I’m on my way. Stop Axl, please.”

I hung up the phone and looked at Mom. “I’m going back up the mountain. You going to tell me what’s going on with Mason?”

Mom’s face changed. Her lips moved into a tight line. “Nope,” she said, arms crossed. “Nothing to tell.”

“Right,” I said, not believing her.

Abby walked up the drive and handed me a King’s Burgers bag. My mouth watered as I inhaled the salty fries.

“You go,” she said, nodding at my mom. “I’ve got this. We’ll be fine until you come back.”

“Thanks, Abby,” I said, giving her arm a quick squeeze. “I appreciate — ”

“Would you shut up and get out of here?” she said. “I told you this morning you should go. He could be taking off any minute. Drive, girl, drive!”

“Drive the speed limit, please!” Mom added as I backed out into the street. She and Abby stood arm-in-arm as I turned and headed down Maple Lane. It was time to go back to Smoke River.

CHAPTER 29

BILLIE

Imade it to Smoke River in record time. When I reached the covered bridge that led to town, I stopped and called Mason.

He picked up right away. “He’s not here, honey,” he said. “I’m looking.”

“Did he take off?” My heart raced. I felt sick at the idea of missing him.

“Not yet. I’ve been calling, but I think his phone is turned off.”

“I’m going to the cabin,” I said, turning away from the airport. Piles of dirty gray snow framed both sides of the road.

Mud pelted the sides of the truck as I drove down our drive. I slowed as I approached the cabin, my heart pounding like a steel drum.

The porch light was on, but otherwise the house looked dark. I parked, jumped out, and slammed the door shut. I ran to the kitchen door. It was locked.

“Axl?” I pounded on the door and waited, hearing nothing inside. “Axl, are you there?”

He didn’t answer. Cam’s black-and-white nose was nowhere to be seen. My hands shook as I took out my key. I unlocked the door and went inside.

“Axl?” I called again, looking around the empty kitchen and great room. My voice echoed through the house. “Axl? Cam?” There was no answer.

The place where Cam’s dog bed sat was empty. The fireplace looked so forlorn without it. The fishing and flying magazines were gone from Gran’s antique depression bowl. A dust cover lay across the black-and-red couch.

Panic filled my body. My heart thundered as I ran into the back bedroom and the bathroom. Every drawer in the bathroom was empty. I felt sick. The closet doors were open. Axl’s stuff was gone. Where was he?

I bit my lip and ran back into the great room. His obnoxious, yellow Jeep wasn’t parked by the south field. I stared at that empty parking space, my chest shaking. Tears filled my eyes. Was Axl really gone?

I took my phone out to dial, finding no bars.

“Axl!” I shouted in the empty cabin. Blinking my tears back, I walked outside, slamming the kitchen door behind me. A plane buzzed overhead, and my stomach lurched wondering if it was Axl and Cam leaving Smoke River forever. My eyes shielded, I squinted at the plane overhead, fearing it was my last glimpse of him.

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