Page 63 of Sea La Vie
“No,” Henry says quietly. “It’s getting rough out there, too.”
We all turn toward the window, where rain is spattering against it, coming down harder and harder with each passing second. “This storm is unlike anything I’ve ever seen since…” Archer coughs then shakes his head. “We’ve got to find her fast.”
“What can I do?” I ask, grabbing the counter to steady myself. My best friend is missing in the biggest freak storm of the century.
“Stay here and call me if you see her,” Archer responds. “I’m going to call the Coast Guard.” He runs back out the door and Henry and I turn to each other.
“Where’s Tate?” he asks.
“He left this morning to go back to Charlotte and get his stuff,” I say. “He stopped in when I first opened for a latte to go.”
“And Lainey wasn’t with him?”
“No,” I say. “He was by himself.”
“When did you last talk to her?” He asks.
“Yesterday. She wanted to do something with Tate later in the day, but he had a meeting with his contractor and couldn’t,” I explain. Then, a thought strikes me. I pull out my phone and pray for enough cell service to reach Tate. He answers on the second ring, some pop song playing in the background, before turning it down to answer.
“Have you talked to Lainey today?” I ask.
“No…” he answers, skeptically. “Why?”
I lick my lips then grimace. “She’s missing. The boat is gone, and no one can get ahold of her.”
I hear the rumble of Tate’s car slow, then a blinker. “You don’t think she’s out there, do you?” he asks.
“I do,” I reply. “What happened when you told her you had to meet your contractor yesterday?”
“She left,” he says. “But I didn’t actually meet with my contractor. I went to her garden to finish it.”
“Hmm,” I murmur. “She seemed a little off yesterday when she came in here after leaving your house. Do you think she knew you were lying?”
“I don’t think so? I mean, I was lying, but only because I wanted to surprise her. Why?”
“Think about it Tate. She woke up at your house and you practically kicked her out and said you didn’t want to see her later,” I explain. Henry grimaces and I roll my eyes.
“You think she took that as I’m not interested in her anymore? We made plans to go visit my Grandpa, though.”
“She could’ve,” I say. “If I know Lainey, I’d bet she second-guessed herself all the way to the boat and took off to clear her head.”
“Oh no,” Tate says. “Oh no, oh no, oh no.”
Archer walks back in, his face even whiter than before. “They’re sending out the Coast Guard now. They tried to radio her and it’s not going through.” Thunder booms in the distanceand the power flickers. “I haven’t seen it this bad in a while,” he mutters.
“I’ll go out there myself and try to find her,” Tate says. “I’m on my way back now. This is all my fault.”
“It’s not your fault. That might not even be why she left. I’m just looking to blame someone,” I admit. “I’m scared and worried. And there’s no way you’re taking a boat out when you get here. The water’s nearly even with the docks and pretty choppy, even for the bay.”
“Oh man,” Tate says. He blows out a frustrated breath. “I’m on my way.”
An hour and a half passes before Tate’s car pulls up in front of the shop. He bursts through the door a moment later, his shirt soaked from the seconds of being out in the weather.
“Any news?” he asks.
I shake my head then glance toward some of the members of the Coast Guard taking up residence in the corner of the shop. They’re nursing hot coffees while they check for updates on their laptops, and every time they pick up their phones, my heart stills.
Tate follows my eyes to the one on the phone and hope begins to bubble deep in my belly that they’ve finally found her. When he hangs up, he lowers his head and speaks so quietly, I’m unable to hear him. The other Coast Guardsmen nod, and he excuses himself from the table.
