The Widow of Papina

by Katie Hamstead

  “I love you, Bray.”

  “I love you, too, Forrest.”

  He moved his lips up and nibbled on my ear. “Are you happy here?”

  “I am.” I smiled as his hands wandered over my skin. “Everyone in this town is so welcoming. We have a beautiful home, even if we are still fixing it up, you have your dream job, and I’m working mine while starting a family. What more could I ask for?”

  “I’m happy, too,” he said. “I was concerned you wouldn’t enjoy living away from the city in a small town like this, but as usual, you adapted like it was nothing.”

  I rolled over to look at him, and his eyes flashed to my chest before they returned to meet my gaze. His hands found my breasts instead, and I sighed at his touch, shutting my eyes. “Forrest?”

  “Yes, Bray?”

  “You know your ‘I married her because she’s my best friend’ speech?”

  He chuckled. “The one you hate?”

  I raised my eyebrow. “Yes, that one. Honestly, I don’t hate it that much.”

  “And, why’s that?”

  “Because, it’s exactly how I feel, too.” I ran my hand through his hair and he turned to kiss it. “I thought you were in it just for fun too, since that’s how we met; me throwing myself at you. So, I didn’t want you to know I was crazy about you. I thought there was no way someone as brave, and smart, and noble as you could ever love me back. But, you were the person I wanted to be with at every moment, and the one who I wanted to talk to about everything, and you still are.”

  He shuffled on top of me and softly kissed my chin and nose. “It’s great being married to your best friend, isn’t it?”

  I smiled as his lips wandered down my neck. “It’s great being in love with my best friend.”

  “We’re so sappy,” he whispered as he kissed the bottom of my throat.

  I giggled and pulled him up to kiss me.

  Chapter 5

  I glanced at the clock, 4:30 p.m. Forrest would be home soon. I finished my editing work and headed into the kitchen to start dinner. I hummed as I worked, and when I finished, I glanced at the clock again. Five p.m. Hmm, Forrest must have gotten caught up.

  I hurried upstairs and found Jackson babbling to himself in his crib. I plucked him up, changed him, and returned to the living room to nurse while I waited for Forrest to come home. When Jackson dozed off, I looked around at the dark room. Setting Jackson down on a blanket, I turned on the lights and saw the time was 6:30. A knot formed in my stomach, so I tried to call Forrest. No answer. I called again and again. No answer.

  I slipped my phone in my pocket and took Jackson into the dining room so I could eat. When I was done, I glanced at the clock again. 7:15. I chewed on my lip, concerned. It wasn’t like him to be this late.

  I pulled my phone out and called him again. Still no answer. I tossed the phone on the table, frustrated. Something must be wrong. I rushed to the front windows and looked out into the street, hoping to see headlights turn the corner at any moment. But, they didn’t come.

  Hurrying back to the dining room, I snatched up my phone.

  “Sheriff Davis.”

  “Sheriff,” I gasped, almost in tears. “It’s Braydon Miller. Forrest hasn’t come home. He’s never late like this. He should have been home hours ago.”

  “Mrs. Miller—”

  “There must be something wrong.” Tears burned in my eyes, but I forced them back. “I don’t—”

  “Mrs. Miller, don’t panic. He probably just got caught up with one of his kids. I’ll call the tribal offices and see where he’s at.”

  “I’ve tried calling him. He’s not answering.”

  “Mrs. Miller, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for this. Just sit tight and let me make some calls.”

  “Okay.”

  I sank onto the couch, then Jackson started fussing. For the next hour I paced the house, watching the minutes tick by on my phone which, despite how much I tried to will it, didn’t ring.

  Finally, I set Jackson down for the night and rushed back into the living room, phone in hand to call the sheriff’s office again. But, when I glanced out the front window, the sheriff’s car pulled in along with the Res’ sheriff. I rushed out, my stomach tied in knots. “Where’s Forrest?”

  The sheriff raised his hands. “Mrs. Miller . . . ”

  “Where is he?” I didn’t like the pained look in his eyes. “Where’s my husband?”

  “We found his car by the park,” he said.

  “His car?” I asked, my head spinning. “Where is he?”

  “We’re putting together a search party.”

  I grabbed his arms as my legs gave out on me. “No!”

  He wrapped his arms around my waist to hold me up. “Don’t panic. One of his students is missing, too. They’re probably together somewhere.”

  “But . . . ” I couldn’t let myself think the worst. He must be trying to help his teen.

  “I’ll have someone come stay with you until we find him.”

  I nodded.

  He guided me into the house and called Sarah. I sat on the couch and barely noticed when she arrived. My stomach ached from worry knots, my eyes stung from the suppressed tears.

  Hours passed, and Sarah guided me into my bedroom, telling me to get some sleep. But, I couldn’t. I’d doze off, sleep fitfully, and wake in tears when Forrest still wasn’t at my side.

  In the early hours of the morning, I returned to the kitchen and cleaned. I had to do something, anything. Sarah walked in rubbing her eyes. “Bray.”

  “I can’t sleep.”

  “Hon . . . ”

  “Please don’t say anything,” I whispered.

  “They’ll find him.”

  A sob wrenched itself from me. She rushed forward and caught me as my knees gave out. I couldn’t understand why he’d vanish and not say anything to me. He knew I’d be distressed by it, so it made no sense. Something must have gone terribly wrong.

  Sarah guided me onto the couch and held me as I cried and cried. My tears must have worn me out, because the next thing I knew she was shaking me awake. “Paul’s here.”

  I leapt to my feet and rushed out the door. He avoided meeting my eyes. “Mrs. Miller—”

  “Where is he?”

  “We still don’t know. But, we found this.” He lifted Forrest’s brown leather wallet for me. “It’s empty, so you might want to cancel your cards . . . ”

  I collapsed on the ground in tears. He bent over and touched my shoulder. “Bray, don’t give up hope yet.”

  “Please, just find him.”

  “We will. There’s a lot of land on the Res, and we’re going to cover every inch it until we do.”

  Sarah rushed out with a crying Jackson in her arms. “Bray, he needs you.”

  The sheriff helped me stand and led me into the house.

  “Take her to her bed,” Sarah said. “She’s hardly slept and it will be easy for her to nurse there.”

  She followed us up the stairs as he helped me to my room. I collapsed on my bed and buried my face in the pillows. I wanted Forrest to hold me, to take the pain away, but I had no idea where he was . . . which was why I hurt so much.

  Sarah rested Jackson beside me. “Bray, honey, come on.”

  I rolled onto my side. She rushed to shut the door, while I positioned myself for Jackson. He latched on, and she pulled the blankets over me. She wiped a tear from my cheek and brushed my hair back.

  “I’ll just be downstairs, okay? I’m going to make you something to eat.”

  I nodded, my throat aching so much I couldn’t speak.

  She slipped out, leaving me in the silence of my room. I stared at Jackson and stroked his smooth, light brown cheek. Forre
st couldn’t leave him, he loved him too much. He had to show up soon.

  Voices drifted up through the floor from the kitchen. I held my breath to listen.

  “What’s going on?” Sarah asked.

  “It looks pretty bad,” the sheriff answered.

  “What do you mean?”

  There was a pause, then, “We found the student’s bag not far from his wallet, and by the look of her school books, she was quite infatuated with him. There’s a possibility they ran off together.”

  Sarah gasped. “No! He wouldn’t. He loves Bray. You know him. You’ve been friends with him since they arrived. Do you really think he’d just leave her like that?”

  Again, there was a pause. “I didn’t think so before this. I thought they were as happy as any couple could be. But, the evidence is pointing that way.”

  I didn’t want to listen anymore, so I grabbed Forrest’s pillow and covered my head. It blocked out their voices, but his scent caused my emotions to swell up again and finally I cried. I cried hard, letting all the pain and tension pour out of me. By the time I stopped, my pillow was soaked and Jackson had finished and fallen back to sleep.

  I carefully sat up, almost knocking over a tray at the end of the bed. How hadn’t I noticed Sarah come in? I must have been completely consumed by my emotions. I reached over and picked up a piece of toast and just stared at it. I needed to eat to keep up my milk supply, but my stomach lurched as I moved the toast toward my lips. I wasn’t ready.

  I covered myself, shuffled out of the bedroom, and down the stairs.

  Sarah shot out of the living room. She grabbed my arm as I stepped down the last few steps. “Let’s clean you up and we can take Jackson for a walk. Some fresh air will do you good.”

  “Having Forrest home will do me good,” I muttered, pushing her off.

  “Bray.” The sympathetic tone in her voice irked me. “You can’t just sit around the house all day. Let’s do something to help get your mind off things for a while.”

  I glared at her. “My husband is missing. I can’t just forget that.”

  “I know. I just meant . . . ” She slumped. “They’re doing all they can.”

  “He didn’t run off with anyone,” I muttered, walking out onto the front porch.

  She followed right behind me. “I know.”

  “Especially one of his kids. He’s not like that. He loves me and Jackson.”

  “I know.”

  I folded my arms and leaned against the rail. “He’ll come back.”

  She brushed my hair from my face. “Let me clean you up, so when he does, he’ll be blown away by how pretty you are.”

  I looked into her eyes through her thick rimmed glasses. “Okay.”

  She coaxed me into sitting on one of the deck chairs, then rushed back inside. It took her a few minutes to return. She set a hairbrush and some makeup on the small table beside me, then handed me the baby monitor.

  “I moved it into your room for you,” she said.

  “Thank you.”

  As she brushed my hair, Megan rushed down the street, pushing her stroller. She waved and picked up her pace, and soon, she burst through the gate.

  “Bray.” She kissed my head and sat beside me. She didn’t speak, to my relief, but held my hand firmly in hers.

  When Sarah finished tiding me up, she sat in a chair on the other side of me. Hours passed in silence. They each took turns getting up to help in some way or another, to bring me Jackson, or a blanket, or some food, which I didn’t touch. Mid-afternoon, Clint pulled up in the sheriff’s truck.

  I stared at him, my sick feeling rising again at his solemn face.

  He climbed up the stairs and looped his thumbs through his belt. “Still nothing. Paul’s called the city and asked for dogs to be sent out. Even the native trackers are struggling to find anything. Whatever happened, they covered their trail well.”

  My face fell into my hands and I cried again. Both Sarah and Megan wrapped their arms around me and held me tightly between them.

  Clint sighed. “I’m so sorry, Bray.”

  He walked down the stairs.

  “Babe?” Megan said.

  “Yes?” he answered.

  “I’m going to stay with Bray.”

  “Okay. They’re expecting snow tonight, so you three should get back inside.”

  My head shot up. “Snow? Forrest needs his jacket. He didn’t take his heavy jacket.”

  They all stared at me with pained expressions.

  I rushed into the house and plucked his jacket out of the closet by the front door, and took it to Clint. “You need to give it to him.”

  “Oh my . . . ” Sarah said breathlessly from behind me.

  Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Take it! He needs it.”

  Clint pulled it from my hands. “Okay, Bray.”

  “Find him before it gets too cold.”

  He nodded. “We’ll do everything we can.”

  Megan and Sarah took me inside after he left. They made me tomato soup and forced me to eat it. As much as I struggled to swallow, it did sooth the pit in my stomach and gave me some strength.

  Finally, I noticed Megan and Sarah’s dark bags under their eyes, and Sarah’s hair tied back in a messy ponytail. She mustn’t have slept the night before, either. I needed to pull myself out of my pit of despair and do something useful. Wallowing never made anything better. So, I finished the soup and cleared my throat. Their stares shot to me with anticipation.

  “I want . . . ” Their eyes widened as they leaned forward. “I . . .” I bit my lip. “I need a distraction.”

  Sarah shot up. “I can set up the projector in town hall and we can watch a movie, a comedy.”

  I nodded. “That would be nice.”

  “Okay.” She snatched up her phone and rushed out the door.

  Megan grabbed my hand. “Let’s get you changed. You’ve been wearing those clothes since yesterday.”

  My neighbor came over to watch Jackson while I went to town hall. Inside, women bustled about, and the smell of popcorn filled the air. I smiled as tears ran down my cheeks, feeling so grateful for the support the town so freely gave me.

  Chapter 6

  A week passed, and although my heart ached, I forced myself to go on. I needed to take care of Jackson. I couldn’t just give up.

  Sarah stayed with me, and when the sheriff came knocking at 8:30 at night, she answered it while I was elbow deep in dishwater. She led him through as I dried my hands. I held resentment toward him for what he’d said about Forrest running off with some teenager, but I fought to keep it hidden. “What’s going on?”

  He met my gaze with a grim expression. “We’ve found the girl.”

  “What? Is she alive or is she . . .?” I couldn’t finish the sentence, as if she was dead, it meant Forrest probably was, too.

  “She’s alive.”

  My heart skipped a beat as hope filled me.

  “But, she’s not talking.”

  “She won’t tell you what happened?”

  “I mean at all.”

  I let out a long breath. “I want to see her.”

  He scowled. “Mrs. Miller, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I just came to keep you up to date.”

  “I want to see her.” I tossed the towel on the floor, marched out to his truck, and climbed in. With Jackson asleep, Sarah could keep an eye on him for a few minutes.

  He hurried out after me and pulled open the door. “You can’t just climb into my truck!”

  “I just did.”

  He clenched his teeth. “Mrs. Miller, I understand that you’re going through a rough spot right now, but you can’t run around like you own the place.”

  I met his gaze
. “Take me to the girl.”

  “No. I think it will do more harm than good.”

  “I’ll be the judge of that.”

  His hand tightened on the door. “He wasn’t kidding when he said you were stubborn.”

  He slammed the door in my face and marched around into the driver’s seat. “He probably just needed a break from you.”

  I slapped his shoulder hard. “How dare you!”

  He took a sharp breath and looked at me. “That was a bit too far. I’m sorry.”

  I folded my arms and scowled as tears burst free. “I can’t believe you would even think it in the first place.”

  He rubbed his eyes. “I know. It was horrible of me. You just reminded me of someone for a moment and it made me really mad. But, you have every right to be upset. I’ll take you to the girl if you promise me you won’t attack her or anything.”

  “Of course, I won’t.”

  He started the engine. “All right.”

  He drove us to the sheriff’s office, then guided me out the back to the holding cells. There were only two cells, divided by a concrete wall, with vertical bars on the front so I could see right in.

  “There she is.” He gestured toward the back wall.

  She sat with her knees pulled up. Her arms wrapped around her legs as she pressed her head against her knees. Her long dark hair draped down around her, covering her dirty jeans and worn sneakers.

  I knew who she was. Forrest introduced me to her when I visited; Nova.

  I turned to the sheriff. “She wouldn’t have done anything to Forrest.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Her pack was found near his empty wallet. She’s been missing since Forrest disappeared, and now she refuses to say a word.”

  “She’s been abused her whole life,” I said softly. “Of course, she’s scared to talk.”

  “Braydon,” he said in a low voice. “I need to ask you something.”

  I turned to meet his gaze.

  He took a deep breath. “We pulled up Forrest’s criminal records and found he’s had charges for kidnapping and assault. Is there a chance he did something to her and he’s now disappeared to cover his tracks?”