Page 24 of Stand By You
“Yes. They’re searching and have leads,” Jillian assured her. “They’re doing everything they can to bring him home.”
“I-I can’t talk anymore,” Geneva said, sniffing. “Thank you for letting me know.”
The call ended before Jillian could respond and she pulled her phone away from her ear and to stare at the screen for a few moments unsure what to do next.
“How did she take the news?” Nick asked.
“How do you imagine a mother would?” Jillian asked. “She was distraught and then when she came to herself, she had to go. She couldn’t talk further. But I got this weird feeling from her reaction. She was hysterical one moment and totally calm the next.”
Nick nodded. “Yep. Let’s get you in the car, out of the sun or you’re going to need reviving.”
“I already told you I’m not an invalid,” Jillian protested.
“If you overdo it today, you could be so exhausted tomorrow, you won’t be good for anything,”
“Okay. But only because we didn’t tell Mrs. Hudson we were leaving. She’s probably worried that we’ve been gone so long.” She hobbled back to her side of the car, and he opened the door for her to get in.
He waited for her to be safely inside the car before he got in on his side and then he drove them back across town to the gated community. Jillian was quiet on the ride, and he let her be. He knew he’d let her down by losing track of the guys they were following.
“I’msorry about the delay in calling, Jillian, but a storm last night knocked out the phone service at our resort and was only restored for a bit when you called,.” frustration had laced her boss’s voice.
“That’s okay, Mr. McGinty, you can’t control the weather.”
“We’re doing our best to get the first flight out of Auckland, but they don’t happen on a daily basis. I’ll try calling or texting you just before we leave. I can’t thank you enough for all your doing and for staying so calm.”
Jillian settled back against the headrest recalling her conversation with Mr. McGinty.
She hated that they had to cut their honeymoon short. But what else could they do? How sad that such a thing should happen when this should be the happiest of times for him and Abby. And she couldn’t let go of the idea that the two were related.
Despite her resolve not to cry a lone tear slowly slid down her cheek, and her heart began to ache as if someone was reaching into her chest, squeezing it in their fist, making breathing difficult. She gasped, desperate for air.
“Are you okay?” Nick asked.
She shook her head, unable to respond.
“Can you take deep breaths?” he asked, grabbing her hand for reassurance as he turned into the gates to the community.
Jillian mustered enough strength to fill her lungs and slowly let it out as the guard waved them through. She took another breath, and her panic subsided; Nick drove quickly to the house.
He parked in the circle drive, and they got out, going inside. Mrs. Hudson met them in the foyer, with a concerned look on her face.
“What is it?” Jillian asked. “Has something else happened?”
“I was worried when I couldn’t find either of you. Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”
“We’re sorry,” Nick said. “We had a lead and had to follow it, but it went nowhere.”
The housekeeper nodded. “As long as you’re safe. Come. I prepared lunch for you.”
They followed her into the kitchen and sat at the barstools while Mrs. Hudson brought out the plates of food she’d prepared and sat it down before them. Then she brought over glasses of iced tea. A newspaper was in the middle of the island.
“Is this the morning paper?” Jillian asked.
“Yes,” Mrs. Hudson said. “There isn’t a word about Travis going missing in there I haven’t seen it on the news either.”
“That’s because Mr. McGinty requested it not be broadcasted,” Nick explained.
“He did?” Mrs. Hudson said. “Why?”
