Page 49 of Last Seen
Things start to click. I know exactly who this is. The youngest Brockton. The outlier.
I soften my voice, make it friendlier. He could be an asset. “I assume I have you to thank for the ridiculously luscious basket of muffins at my door this morning?”
“You do. I mean, not me, my pâtissier made everything. I’m just the boss. I run the restaurants for Brockville.”
“You’re the farm-to-table guru?”
“That’s my brother. I just cook what he provides. And if you’re not going to join me, I will sadly have to see you along the river path another time.” He shakes the fish, and their scales glisten in the sun. “These guys need to get prepped.”
“It was nice meeting you, Noah.”
He looks so deep into my eyes that I nearly have a panic attack. We’ve talked for less than five minutes, but it’s like he knows my soul, knows my thoughts, and wants me to speak them aloud. And that would be dangerous. For both of us.
“Likewise, Cat.”
With a final heart-melting smile, he’s off, whistling as he saunters back the way I came. I almost turn and run after him, but that won’t do. I need to focus. I have goals, important goals, and getting involved with cute chefs is definitely not part of the program.
I’m impressed,the voice says.He’s just your type, isn’t he? He looks so much like that wonderful young man you used to know. Imagine all the fun we could—
“Stop!” My shriek startles a blue jay, which flaps past my head with a squawk.
Why are you pretending? Why are you lying to yourself?
“Leave. Me. Alone!”
I dive off the main path into a side gravel entrance that leads into woods, swiping at my face, at my eyes, which have traitorously begun to leak in an approximation of crying that is simply my frustration having a laugh. I don’t cry like you do. And I don’t want to think about him. Never again.
I’m making so much noise it takes me a moment to realize someone is following me.
Someone is following me into the forest.
Thursday
Chapter Nineteen
Halley
Halley’s dad is happy to see her. His room is fragrant, filled with get-well balloons and cards and flowers, and he’s sitting up in the bed, fresh from a shower and shave. His face is pink from exertion. “Ave, filia. The docs were just in. They’re going to spring me on Monday.”
“Salve, Pater. So soon? Aren’t you the star pupil!” She gives him a hug. She needs that comforting touch regardless of how upset she is. And if he’s greeting her in Latin, he really is getting better.
“Yeah. They said it’s healing great, and they started me on some crutches at PT this morning, which were a piece of cake, so I’m going to be able to come home instead of going to an inpatient rehab facility.” He gestures to the corner, where his shiny new crutches lean against the wheelchair he’s been bound to since the accident.
“Oh, Dad, that’s great news. Everyone heals better at home. But the stairs might be a challenge.”
“Definitely. I’ll probably sleep on the foldout in the living room for the first little bit. Anne can make it all cozy.”
“My rugged ‘let’s sleep on the ground instead of a tent so we can see the stars’ father, looking forcozy. Lord, what has happened?”
“Ha ha. They’ve dialed back the drugs, too. I’m telling you, Hals, I was dreaming some really weird stuff.” He is effervescent this morning; the happy professor is back. She’s glad to see it, though she knows she’s about to upset him. She approaches with caution.
“Since you’re doing so great, I’m going to head out of town for a day or two.”
He sighs. “Yeah, I suppose you need to get back to work. Anne can handle things. She and that beast of mine are best friends, he won’t mind her taking care of him. It was great of you to come, jellybean. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m not going back to DC just yet. Listen. I’ve been doing some research about Cat.”
His eyes narrow and his lips compress, as if the word causes him pain.
