Page 114 of Nothing But It All
“No.”
“Huh.” She sets the glasses on the counter. “Well, he was in here just before lunchtime. I’d say around ten thirty or so. He seemed fine—just ornery like usual.”
I smile.That’s Dad.
“You know what?” she asks. “He did mention going berry picking today.”
My stomach sours.
“I only remember because he asked me if I’d be up for making him another cobbler this evening,” she says. “He promised to help me fry fish tomorrow night if I’d make him another dessert.”
I tap the counter. “That’s really helpful, Mrs. Shaw. Thank you.”
“Can I do anything to help find him?”
“No,” I say, walking backward toward the door. “Just have him check in with me or Lauren if he happens to come in, okay? I don’t care if he gets pissy.I’m pissy.”
She grins. “The apple doth not fall far from the tree.”
I stop at the doorway and look at her. Her smile grows as if she’s just bestowed the greatest compliment on me.
“The apple doth not fall far from the tree.”
I don’t know how I feel about that, but I’ll have to sort it out later.
Right after I give him a piece of my mind.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LAUREN
Jack bursts through the door. “Hey.”
I whirl around, my heart in my throat.
I’ve paced the length of the kitchen since he tore out of here twenty minutes ago. Maddie’s been sitting quietly at the table, the puppy at her feet, watching me like I’m two steps away from snapping.
The kitchen is full of shadows from the early-evening sun. The majority of the rays are blocked by the lingering storm clouds from this afternoon. A chill ripples through the room from the breeze coming through the open front door.
“Jack . . .”
He sighs. “Dad’s not home, and no one has seen him. His truck’s gone too.”
“Where do you think he went?” I ask.
“Maybe he’s with Mrs. Shaw,” Maddie says.
He shakes his head. “I just talked to her. She hasn’t seen him since this morning.”
My heart drops to the floor.
Harvey doesn’t go missing. He doesn’t leave without one of us, usually, but definitely not without telling someone.
But our day has been chaos. Maybe he decided to stay out of it and go on with his day.
“Oh,” Maddie says, frowning.
Jack walks to the tiny closet by the door and takes out his boots. “Where would he have gone? Did he say anything to you, Mads?”
