Page 93 of The Edge of Summer
“Have you heard from her since?”
“She texted me when she first got there.” His breath hitches. “Her phone is probably just dead, but I don’t know… I feel like something might be wrong. It’s, um… It’s the anniversary.”
Fuck. Of course, the one year anniversary of your parents’ deaths isn’t going to be an easy thing to handle onyour own. Knowing Delilah, though, that’s exactly what she’s trying to do. She is religious about checking in on her siblings. Especially Parker, who, more often than not, is doing his own thing. For her to go an unusual amount of hours without responding to him is worrying, to say the least.
“Are you at home?” I ask.
“Yeah, I am. I’ve got Soph.”
“Okay, sit tight, Parker. I’m going to head to the gallery and see if she’s there.”
“What if she’s not?” His voice has grown quiet.
“Let’s take this one step at a time. I’ll call you when I find her, yeah?”
He reluctantly agrees, and after I promise again to keep him updated, I hang up. Then I try Delilah’s number. It rings through until I get to her voicemail. I hang up and dial again, getting the same result. Deep down, I know it’s futile, but I try texting her anyway.
I know you’re upset with me, but I just need to know that you’re okay.
Please.
Minutes tick by without a response. I don’t bother waiting any longer. I pocket my phone and grab my keys. I try not to rush out of the station—try not to make a scene—but Jodi sees right through me. She falls into step with me as I head for the front of the building.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
I tighten my palm around my car keys. “Parker hasn’theard from Delilah in a few hours. Could be nothing. Dead phone battery.”
Jodi’s eyes sweep my face. “But you don’t think it’s nothing.”
There’s no use lying to the woman. “No, I don’t.”
Jodi claps me on the back. “Let’s go.”
I scowl. “You’re supposed to be going home.”
“I was, but my favourite boss just extended my shift. Approved the overtime and everything. Real nice guy, that one.”
I shake my head. “Vera isn’t going to think so when you’re late again.”
“I’ll make it up to her, don’t you worry. Now let’s go find your girl.”
The gallery is dark when we arrive. The front door is locked up tight, but the one in the back is still unlocked. That alone has alarm bells ringing in my head. Although Carole isn’t always the most organized, she would never be so careless as to leave the place only half secured.
Jodi and I make our way through the back rooms. There aren’t very many windows in this part of the building, making it hard to see. Jodi manages to find a light switch on one of the walls, and the overhead bulbs flicker on. I scan the room, looking for any sign of Delilah. Sitting on the ground, a pile of shattered glass around it, is a picture frame.
And then I see her. She’s on the floor, her knees tucked up to her chest. Her back is against the wall,as if she slid down it when she couldn’t hold herself up anymore. Her eyes are closed, but I can see the evidence of tears still on her ashen cheeks.
“Delilah,” I say gently, not wanting to startle her. She doesn’t look up.
Jodi clears her throat. “I’ll give you two some space,” she says. “And I’ll let Parker know what’s going on so he doesn’t keep worrying.”
I nod my thanks, and she slips out of the room. After she’s gone, I don’t hesitate to lower myself to the floor and take Delilah into my arms. She pushes at my chest, trying to resist.
“Delilah,” I plead, “let me hold you. Please.”
Her body goes slack and she slumps against me, burying her face in my chest. Her fist bunches the back of my shirt, and it isn’t long before I hear the sound of her sobs. My heart breaks then, even worse than the day she walked out on me.
“Shutterbug,” I croak, “look at me.” She shakes her head. “C’mon, baby. Let me see those pretty blue eyes.”
