Page 26 of Love Me Fearless

“Something tells me you’re not here for barn chores,” Hutch says to our friend Zach Hayes, who has parked his Finn River Sheriff Deputy SUV next to my car.

When I step into the light, Zach arches an eyebrow, like he’s surprised to see me here. He’s quick to refocus on Hutch. “Is Beth home?”

Hutch curses. “What’d she do?”

I glance from Zach to Hutch, trying to read him. Why would he assume Beth is in trouble?

Zach steps out of his rig. “Marin Lambert hasn’t been seen since yesterday morning. She was supposed to be with Beth and a few others last night. Any chance she’s here?”

The girl’s name pingpongs through my brain. It’s familiar, yet I can’t place it.

“I don’t think so.” Hutch replies. “You want to talk to Beth?”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“Of course,” Hutch replies, heading for the house.

This seems like a good time to leave, so I wait for Zach to follow Hutch then walk to my car.

Back home, I decide to treat myself to a bath, so add my favorite vanilla bath beads and get the water running while I pack a quick lunch. When I climb into the tub, I can practically feel the tightness in my muscles melting away. I settle in and close my eyes, my thoughts drifting like clouds in a summer sky. Why does the name Marin ring a bell? And why did Hutch seem immediately ready to blame Beth for Zach’s visit? Yesterday, Louisa said that Beth is angry. Has she been acting out?

After I pry myself from the water, I hurry to get dressed and make a final cup of coffee to take with me. I’m just loading up my things to carry out to my car when my phone lights up with a text from Jeremy.

Cutback is playing at the Limelight Friday. Want to go?

I stare at it, trying to formulate the right kind of reply. When I first moved home, Jeremy had recently moved back to Finn River too, and we went out a few times—just as friends. Or at least that’s where I was coming from. Then he tried to kiss me. It caught me off guard. Once I finally found my words, he apologized, but I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not done trying.

I pick up my phone to type a short reply when it rings. It’s Hutch.

My fingers hover over the screen, which is lit up by my favorite picture of him. I thought about changing it, but Hutch stopped calling, so I didn’t have to. Seeing it now brings so many memories flooding into my heart, awakening an acute, tight ache.

“Hey,” I say, lifting the phone to my ear.

“I hate to ask you this,” he says, his voice firm. “I’m going to help out with the search for Marin. Beth is working a double today. Would you be willing to check on Mom? They’re not releasing her until tomorrow.”

“Of course,” I reply. “I have an early lunch today, will that work?”

“Yeah,” he says. “I’ll let her know.”

“No problem.”

There’s a hint of a pause before he thanks me and hangs up. I shouldn’t be irritated, but it’s like my skin has grown prickles.

The sense that I’m missing something mixed with my pent-up frustrations haunts me throughout my morning. Finally, while I’m waiting in my office for a call back from a specialist, I check my database for Marin Lambert. To my surprise, she’s there, though she hasn’t been seen since I took over Dr. Boone’s practice. I stare at her file, stumped. Then I read the notes that she suffers from pollen-induced asthma, and the memory fires.

She was the girl that Hutch and I helped at Sofie and Zach’s wedding. For an instant, I’m back in that bridal cabin, coaching a scared girl to breathe. “Proud of you, Greely,” Hutch had said.

And now, that same girl is missing. A sense of unease spreads through my chest. Where could she be?

My last morning patient is Sofie’s older brother, Jesse, with his five-year-old daughter, Skye, for a checkup. When I step into the room, Skye glances up from where she’s sitting on Jesse’s lap with one of the picture books from the basket open in front of her.

“Hi guys,” I say, and set down my tablet.

“Hey doc,” Jesse says. He leans to the side so he can see his daughter’s face, while still balancing her on his lap and the book he’s holding. “Remember Ava from Sofie’s party?”

Skye’s curious blue eyes widen. “You’re a doctor?”

I smile. “I am. Lucky me I get to beyourdoctor.”

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