Page 56 of Harmony Island Gazette
Kate was behind the bakery counter, wiping down a mixer. I tapped on the metal counter, which drew her attention over.
“Hey, Boone,” she said as she set the rag down and headed over to me. “You okay?” she asked as she got closer and raked her gaze over my face.
“Juniper left for lunch, but I’m not sure if she got there. Her”— I swallowed at the acid that rose up in my throat when I thought about Kevin—“lunch date keeps texting her. And she left her phone at the register.” I pulled her phone from my back pocket and held it up for Kate to see.
Kate’s eyes widened as she nodded and started pulling her apron strings. “Of course. Yes, I can help,” she said as she slipped her apron over her head and set it down on the counter. “Go find Juniper.”
I left the register key with her and headed to the back room. I was grateful that Kate knew what to do and I wasn’t going to waste time walking her through how to run a register. I pushed through the back doors and over to my locker to grab my truck keys. I slammed the door shut and didn’t stop until I had yanked open my driver’s door and climbed inside. Juniper’s car was gone, which meant she’d driven. I was thankful for that. All I needed to do now was find her car and then I’d find her.
I didn’t know where to start looking, so I drove slowly around the neighboring buildings. When I came up empty-handed, I went further out. When I passed by Harmony Island Diner—now Sunny Side-Up Diner—I paused. Last time she went out with Kevin, it had been there. Maybe Kevin was a man of habit.
I flipped on my blinker and turned right into the parking lot. I found the nearest parking spot and pulled into it. I grabbed my keys from the ignition and climbed out of my truck.
The diner was quiet when I pulled open the door. The woman who ran this place was in the process of cleaning a table when I rounded the hostess stand in search of someone to talk to.
“Table for one?” she asked when her gaze met mine.
“I’m not here to eat.”
Her lips formed a “o” shape.
“I’m looking for Juniper Godwin…” I flicked my gaze down to her name tag. “Willow,” I added.
She nodded. “She left about fifteen minutes ago. Some guy came to meet her, and after he left she was in tears. Didn’t really want to talk to me and left.” She waved to the plate of half-eaten chicken strips and fries. “This is all that’s left of her lunch.”
I paused as I glanced toward the door and then back to Willow. “Did she tell you where she was going?”
Willow shook her head. “No. She just left in a hurry.”
I nodded, grateful that she’d at least gotten here safely. Now to figure out where she went. I thanked Willow and headed back out to the parking lot. Once I was in my truck, I threw it in reverse and pulled out of the parking spot. When I got to the road, I glanced left and then right before making the choice to turn right.
I’d drive through town quick, and if I didn’t see her car, I’d head to the Godwin’s house. I doubted she’d go home, so that was going to be the last place I checked.
Thirty minutes later I was cursing myself for not having to gone to the Godwin’s house first. Every place I drove, I came up empty, so I headed out of town to the Godwin’s place. Of course, her car parked in the driveway was the first thing I saw when I turned down their street.
Relief flooded my body as I pulled up alongside her car and turned off the engine. She was here and she was safe.
I was out of my truck and across the yard in record time. I’m sure I looked strange to all the neighbors with how fast I was moving. I pulled open the front door and kicked off my shoes before shutting the door behind me.
“Juniper?” I called out when I didn’t see her in the living room or the kitchen.
No answer.
I made my way down the hallway, glancing in all the rooms with open doors. She wasn’t in any of them. When I got to her room, I knocked on the door and waited. She had to be in here. Unless…
Unless Kevin picked her up and she really wasn’t home.
I closed my eyes, cursing myself for being so stupid. Just as I turned to leave, Juniper’s door opened, and suddenly, I was staring into Juniper’s bloodshot eyes. My gaze drifted down to her tear-stained cheeks and her downturned lips.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice coming out deeper than I’d intended. “Did he hurt you?” I was over this man. I was finished sitting on the sidelines while he hurt Juniper.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, fire burning in her gaze in a way I’d never seen before.
I frowned. “You didn’t come back to the store. I was worried about you.” I stepped closer to her as the desire to wrap my arms around her and pull her close washed through me. She was safe, and that was all I cared about.
“You shouldn’t have come.” She stepped back as if we were two magnets repelling each other.
“You left your phone.” I pulled it out of my back pocket and offered it to her.
