Page 44 of Eye of Her Storm

He stopped and smiled kindly at her, no doubt taking in her shell-shocked expression. “This is happening, Ms. Szuzman. You’re going to have a bright, long future if I have anything to say about it.”

With that, he left, and she sank into her chair, uttering the most heartfelt prayer of thanks she’d ever spoken.

* * * *

“River?” Seth called as he entered the house. “Hey, love, where are you?”

She didn’t answer, and with brow furrowed, he headed into the kitchen. Sometimes, she liked to write in her journal in the breakfast nook, the sun beating in on her and her headphones on. The kitchen was empty, without a sign she’d been there recently. Getting worried, he sprinted upstairs, calling for her. Nothing. No River. She wasn’t here.

He headed outside and caught Tai as he exited the barn. “Hey, did Riv say she was going somewhere today?”

“No. She’s not in the house?”

Seth shook his head. “No, I looked everywhere.”

“Call her sister. She and Paisley are supposed to be doing a lot of wedding stuff this week.”

“Right. I’ll give her a call.” Still, a knot had formed in Seth’s gut, and it didn’t release, even at the thought Riv might be at her sister’s. Knowing he’d get a better connection from the house phone than his cell, he headed for the desk then hit the speed dial for his cousin’s home. Tired from the long day, he sank into the chair.

“Hey, Riv. Change your mind?” Paisley answered.

“Uh…not River,” he said. “I was calling to see if she was there.”

There was a long pause. “No. She canceled on me. Said she was…doing something for you guys…?”

“Not that I know of.” He took a deep breath, his confusion growing. What the fuck, River? What are you doing? He swiveled the chair, thinking, and his eyes fell on the scratch pad that had been pushed off to the side of the desk.

California.

Delta Connection through Salt Lake.

“I’ve got to go,” he exclaimed, in the middle of Paisley talking—he had no idea what she was even saying. His mind had blanked with horror as he’d read the words. River had left. She’d gone to California. Her words from the other day repeated in his head: Did you know California has medically assisted suicide? That it’s legal there?

Suicide.

Suicide?

No…

No!

Was that why she’d been so happy yesterday? Why she’d wanted to make memories?

“Did you find her?” Tai asked. He rushed over dropping to his knees in front of Seth when he saw Seth’s face. Seth knew he must be ashen with shock. Dread. “What’s wrong?” Tai demanded, his hands digging into Seth’s thighs.

“She’s gone.”

“What?”

Seth handed him the notepad. “I think she went to California. She canceled on Paisley today. Told her she was doing something with us.”

Tai looked down at the paper then back up at him, confusion clear on his face. Of course, he hadn’t been there for the conversation, and Seth hadn’t told him, writing it off as nothing important.

“The other day…when we were in bed and you were downstairs, she mentioned an article she’d read about assisted suicide in California. She was worried because the side-effects from her tumor were getting worse. But I thought—”

“No!” Tai yelled and jumped to his feet. He flung the notepad to the floor and fisted his hands in his hair. “No! No, she wouldn’t do that. She won’t…she couldn’t just…leave us…do that.” His fist punched into the back of the couch. “God damn it! We have to stop her.”

Seth stood, his conviction weakened by worry that they’d be too late. They had no idea where in California she was or what she’d planned. They’d been gone all day. She could have left hours ago.

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