Page 16 of Holiday Grief

With that, he set her on her feet and walked back to his car, driving off, leaving her staring open-mouthed after him.

Did that really just happen?

Had her admission led to her brother offering an olive branch?

A smile filled her face as she turned to head back inside, but it slid away when goosebumps broke out across her skin.

It felt like someone was watching her.

Quickly, she turned back around, expecting to find that Jett had come back for something.

But no one was there.

Carefully, she scanned the woods surrounding her cottage, but she couldn’t see anyone, and nothing moved indicating a presence.

Nerves.

It was probably just leftover anxiety from Jett’s visit.

Her cell phone rang, and she turned, forgetting the odd sensation as she closed and locked her door and hurried to get the phone. In the kitchen, Fauna looked up from where she was busy playing with a squeaky beaver toy as though she, too, knew who would be on the other end of the phone.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Adam said as soon as she answered.

“Happy Thanksgiving to you, too. Are you guys having fun?”

“We are, but it would be better if you were here.”

Adam had invited her to spend Thanksgiving with him, Claire, and their family, but she wasn’t ready for that yet. Maybe if it was just the three of them but not with all of his family. She’d met them all, and they were very nice, but a child’s birthday party where everyone was running about, busy keeping the kids happy and entertained, was different. Thanksgiving dinner would involve talking, and she couldn’t do that yet, nor could she ask him to not see his family and spend the day with her.

“Next year you will be though,” Adam continued, the utter confidence in his tone making her mouth drop open for the second time in almost as many minutes.

For years she had spent the holiday—every holiday—alone, and now she’d had two people insist she would celebrate with them next year. It was surreal but also scary.

Because if they knew the truth, those offers would be rescinded and she’d be alone, not just for the holidays but forever.

* * * * *

December 4th

4:47 P.M.

“Why are we so sure she’s not a runaway?” Jessica asked.

Adam couldn’t give a great answer to that question. It was more of a gut feeling than specifically based on fact.

More often than not his gut proved to be correct. Besides, this wasn’t something worth risking.

“You want to do nothing when we know that she might not have left home by choice?” he asked his partner.

Jessica immediately shook her head. “Nope. I'd rather know we did everything we could, and if she did just run away then at least she knows someone cared enough to look for her.”

“Exactly. Besides, it’s what I'd want someone to do if it was Claire.” Not that he could ever imagine his sweet little daughter running away, but who knows what teenage Claire would be like. Just because his life was pretty perfect at the moment, didn't mean that something awful couldn’t happen.

“Ditto. If Freddie ever ran away, I'd want to know the cops took it seriously. And you're right, Karen Hopman doesn’t have a history of running, nor does it look like she has a bad homelife or problems at school. If she did run of her own accord, there has to be a reason and that bears looking into anyway.”

“Agreed.” Adam glanced at his watch and winced. “I’m going to have to organize someone to watch Claire. The sitter has to leave at five thirty sharp, and my parents left on their cruise last night.” It was one of the hardest things about working a job like his with unpredictable hours and being a single father. A late night wasn’t as easy as just calling or texting to let his wife know he’d be late and to give their kids extra goodnight kisses if he wasn’t home by bedtime.

“My parents took Freddie on an overnight impromptu camping trip or they’d watch her,” Jessica said. “Who are you going to call?”

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