Page 4 of Missing

Chase and I are blessed to have them in our lives.

Chapter 4

Doug

Ihadn’t meant to stare at Beth as she watched John and Meg interact with Chase, but I couldn’t help it. Her sunglasses were pushed back on her head, holding her curly brown hair off her face and she practically glowed with her love for them.

She and Meg hadn’t known each other long, only about a year, and were close despite the age gap. I wasn’t sure how old Beth was, but I guessed she was in her mid-to-late thirties, while Meg was twenty-four.

Have I only been at SSI a year?When I started Meg was new to Weatherford and had just started working at Grannie’s,the coffee shop Mary Sheppard owned. Jack and Meg had just started dating when I accepted the position and agreed to start a week earlier than originally planned because Meg was in some sort of danger.

I learned later she’d been a victim of trafficking and had testified against the Boston mob boss who’d trafficked her. After getting paroled, he’d come to Weatherford and kidnapped Meg so he could exact his revenge. We’d tracked him down and put a bullet in his head.

Hell of a way to start a new job.

Not exactly what I’d expected when I became a PI, but I loved every minute of it.

Beth’s hand on my arm brought me back to the present. “Doug?”

From the look in her eyes, she’d probably called my name at least once before. “I’m going to Grannie’s to grab coffee. Want one?”

“I was just headed there myself. Want me to come with you and help?” I hadn’t intended to invite myself but couldn’t take it back now.

“Sure, thanks.” She smiled before asking Meg if Chase could stay with her. Chase clapped his hands and answered yes, and luckily for him, Meg agreed.

This would be the first time I’d be alone with Beth, and I was a little nervous. I’d noticed her the first time I’d walked into Grannie’s. Her quiet beauty and kind, caramel tinted eyes had captured my attention, and I always looked forward to seeing her on my daily trips to Grannie’s.

New guy picks up the coffee was the SSI version of hazing. I didn’t mind because it meant I got to see Beth, and the coffee was good too. I didn’t get to see her as often because we brewed Grannie’s Blend here at the new office. It made perfect sense,given the quantities we drank, but that didn’t mean I had to be happy about it.

“Want me to drive?” I asked as I held the door open for her.

“Mommy!”

Beth turned around and asked, “What, Baby?”

“Can you bring me a cookie?” I choked back a laugh when I saw Beth look from Chase to the plate of cookies on the counter then back to Chase.

“There are cookies here.” She pointed to the counter.

Chase scrunched up his nose. “Aunt Mary has gooder cookies.”

He wasn’t wrong. The cookies in the SSI office were from the grocery store deli and were good, but not nearly as good as the giant fresh-baked cookies sold at Grannie’s.

“Better,” Meg gently corrected him, “she has better cookies.” Meg turned to Beth and said, “Actually, can you make that two? I want one too,” Meg smiled down at Chase and said, “because they’re better.”

“I’ll take a peanut butter, if she has any left,” Jack added to the order.

“I’ll grab a dozen,” I said, knowing if we didn’t bring back enough for everyone, there’d be chaos. I smiled at Beth. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m coming along.” I tilted my head towards the parking lot. “Now let’s get out of here before they add to the list.”

I trusted she’d know I was kidding, since I didn’t care how much they added. If they wanted me to lug the entire store back, I would, though John might balk when I handed in my expense report at the end of the week.

“Thanks for offering to help. I don’t know what came over me, offering to pick up coffee for the office.” She rolled her eyes and laughed as she asked, “How’d you do it every day?”

“I have big hands.” I wiggled my fingers in front of me to drive home my point before opening my passenger door and helping her up.

At first, awkward silence filled the truck on the drive to Grannie’s. Beth and I usually shared pleasantries at the counter, so this was new, and we didn’t really know what to say to each other.Being shy sucks.

“I bet you’re happy you don’t have to do this every day now that Meg brews Grannie’s in the office.” Beth broke the silence.

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