Page 8 of Before the Storm

“I don’t know how he found out about the baby!” Tara kept saying to Josie. “It’s like he just sensed it. It’s like his heart knew.”

Josie agreed and hugged her sister. She just wanted her to be happy.

Unfortunately for Josie, she found out tonight that her brand-new boyfriend was cheating on her with a server from Hyannis. Josie decided that figured. Of the two sisters, Tara was allowed love and joy. It was necessary for Josie to pick up the pieces. It was okay.

“When do I get to meet your boyfriend?” Tara asked later that night. She was drinking hot chocolate and resting her head on Donnie’s shoulder. “You were so excited about him when you picked me up last week. But it’s like he’s a ghost!”

“Probably soon!” Josie lied, although she’d just broken up with him and was on the edge of tears.

Tara looked at Donnie and blushed. “I can’t wait to tell Mom and Dad. They’re going to love you.”

Donnie beamed and kissed her. “Parents always love me.”

But Josie and Tara hadn’t heard from Bob or Cindy since the hospital.

After she left Donnie and Tara by the fire, Josie asked around at the Christmas Festival. “Have you seen my parents?” Nobody had.

Josie had a bad feeling, one she couldn’t fully understand.

“Your dad was taking it pretty hard,” Walter at the carousel told her as he took the children’s tickets. “You know how he is. He always wants everything to be perfect. But he’ll come around. He’s probably stewing at home, wondering how to repair his reputation.”

Josie was surprised anyone would speak so plainly about her father. But she squeezed Walter’s shoulder and thanked him.

“People are stubborn around here.” Walter shook his head. “But you’re one of the good ones, Josie. Never change.” He winked.

Josie returned to the bonfire to find Donnie and Tara talking about baby names, of all things.

“There you are!” Tara cried sweetly. “What do you think about Gwenievere for a girl?”

Josie laughed. “Is she a fifteenth-century princess?”

“Maybe she is,” Tara joked.

Josie did her best to maintain her smile. “I have to head out for an hour or so,” she said. “But I’ll be home soon.”

Tara laughed. “You’re going to meet your secret boyfriend, aren’t you?”

Josie made a face that meantI’ll never tell!

Tara laughed louder. “See, Donnie? She has a life I’ll never know about! Drive safe, Josie. We’ll see you back home?”

Josie already resented the fact that Donnie was going to spend the night in her apartment. Her beautiful dream of living with Tara for the next few years—dating and cooking and dreaming together—was already crushed.

But Josie had to focus.

On the drive to her parents’ place, Josie imagined what she’d say when she confronted them.Pull yourselves together. Tara needs us right now. She’s going to be a wife and mother. And she’s a good event planner, too! She didn’t make a “mistake.” Life is happening. It’s always happening. You need to forgive and move on.

But when Josie pulled into their parents’ place, she found it dark and locked.

This was a surprise. Where could they have gone? All their friends were at the Nantucket Christmas Festival. They didn’t have any family anymore. Everyone had passed away.

Josie crept to the garage door to peer in. Their car was gone, too.

Mystified, she checked for the spare key under the rock in the garden. It wasn’t there.

All the doors were locked.

Josie’s heart began to pound. She stood along the edge of the beach, scuffing the toes of her boots in the sand and gazing up at the moon.

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