by Andrea Hurst
“Done,” Kyla said. She held the phone up and showed them pictures of a house on Orcas Island. It had tall, wood beam ceilings and large picture windows facing the water. “And look at this kitchen, we can make a feast.”
“And this bathtub,” Lily said pointing. “Let’s get it.”
“For two nights?” Kyla asked.
Both women shook their heads and spoke at the same time. “Yes!”
Jude could already feel her stress starting to melt away. At least for two days, Jude would be safe and hopefully find some peace and clarity.
Jude sat down at a small table by the window and put her feet up on the chair across from her. The dinner rush seemed like it would never end, and by the time she finished counting the day’s receipts it was after ten o’clock. Ryan had already gone upstairs, and probably to bed, but Jude always did the closing after dinner. Bed was all she could think about, but the thought of standing seemed like too much effort. She dozed a bit and then woke with a start. There was an eerie quality to the café late at night when it was empty of customers.
Finally she woke and switched off the lights and headed upstairs. When Jude entered her apartment, it was completely dark. She flipped the lights on, laid her purse on the counter, and looked around. Usually Lindsey left some lights on for her. Perhaps her daughter had gone out earlier, but if so, why wasn’t Lindsey home yet? Jude felt a wave of panic as she hurried to Lindsey’s room and flipped on the light, only to see it was completely empty, the bed made. It looked just like it had in the morning when she’d left for work.
Jude walked back to the kitchen and looked on the wall where she kept her keys. The ones to the SUV were missing. Her heart pounded hard against her chest as her mind played out multiple scenarios, none of which ended well. Why hadn’t her daughter left a note? Then she thought of Ryan. Maybe Lindsey had told him where she was going.
She hurried over to his place. Hands shaking, she pounded on his door.
Ryan answered in jeans and no shirt looking a little sleepy. “What’s wrong,” he said.
“Do you know where Lindsey is?” Jude asked.
“She’s not back yet?” he asked.
“Back from where?” Jude demanded. Ryan ran his fingers through his long hair hanging loose over his shoulders. “Let me get a shirt and some shoes on and I’ll be right over.”
Jude paced her living room floor as she waited for him, her mind running over all the possibilities of where Lindsey might be. She felt like an idiot. Why hadn’t she tried Lindsey’s cell? She dialed, but there was no answer. She hit redial again just as Ryan walked in, cell phone in his hand.
“I texted her,” he said, “just in case she didn’t have good reception, but no reply.”
Jude took a deep breath. “How far away did she go?”
“After you left today, she was banging around in the kitchen. She said you and I were both pathetic with all this Twitter stuff and everything.”
“So she was angry. What else did she say?” Jude asked.
“Lindsey said she’d had enough of all of our drama, and this island, and she needed the afternoon off. She told me you said she could take the car anytime to go to the Bluff Park, so I let her go. You know, to blow off some steam.”
Jude put her hands on her hips. “You let her go?”
“I’m sorry, Jude, I was trying to help.”
Jude calmed her thoughts. This was no time for blame. She needed a clear head. “I don’t blame you, Ryan. I know how she gets and would probably have told her to do the same thing.”
Ryan sighed with obvious relief. “Let’s find her.”
“What time did she leave?” Jude asked.
“About four or five. I thought she’d be right back.”
Panic welled, making Jude dizzy. “What should we do? It’s going on 11:00.”
“I’m sorry. I was writing in my room and didn’t notice the time. Do you think we should call 911?”
Jude’s legs were shaky. She sat down on the couch and Ryan joined her. “I’m here,” he said. “Do you want to make the call and then drive out to the Bluff Park and look for her?”
In his worried face she saw love and true concern there, more than she’d ever felt from Lindsey’s own father, Mitchell. “Just wait here, Ryan, with me for now, please, and then we can go together.”
He took her hand, “Whatever you need.” Jude stared at the phone. Before they called 911 she wanted to be sure she wasn’t overreacting. Lindsey had not made any friends here. She thought about calling Marco or Becca, but it was so late.
Reluctantly, she dialed 911. “Hello. My 20-year-old daughter is missing. We think she went off to Bluff Park area around 5 o’clock today.” Jude went on to give a description of Lindsey, her long blonde hair, 5’7” tall.
“Ryan do you remember what she was wearing?”
He shrugged. “I think dark shorts and a light shirt.
Jude gave the 911 operator the information and the license number to her SUV. They told her they would send someone to the park to check on it. She laid the phone on the coffee table.
Ryan looked at her expectantly. “Should we go?”
“No. They’re contacting the onsite ranger and sending an officer. She suggested we wait here by the phone in case Lindsey calls or comes home.”
“That’s probably a good idea in case she gets our messages.”
Jude’s stomach twisted. “Do you think she would drive to Seattle?”
“She’s a smart girl,” Ryan said. “A bit headstrong, but not reckless.”
She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled in close. The warmth of his skin radiating through his shirt comforted her. Having Ryan here for her meant so much. She’d handled everything alone for so long, she’d almost forgotten the relief another caring soul could bring.
They waited in silence, the steady beat of his heart her anchor amidst the chaos.
Finally, after several minutes, Jude’s phone rang. She answered it immediately.
“Thank you,” she said. “I see. We’ll meet you there.”
Jude sprang from the couch. “They found her. They’re taking her to the emergency room at Island Hospital.”
“I’ll drive,” Ryan said. “Is she okay?”
Jude wiped a tear of relief from her cheek. “She is. They said she was a little scratched up when the found her at the bottom of a steep trail. She’d fallen but should be fine.”
“Let’s go.” Ryan took Jude’s hand and they dashed out the door to his car.
The hospital was only five minutes away. Ryan sped into the emergency parking area and they raced toward the front door. An ambulance was out front and two young paramedics were closing the back doors. Jude approached them. “Did you just bring in a young blonde woman from Bluff Park?”
They stared at her a minute, looking uncertain. “She’s my daughter,” Jude said.
The tall good-looking young man smiled. “Feisty girl. She’s fine. Right inside.”
“A little embarrassed maybe, but nothing permanent,” the other one said, grinning.
“Thank you both,” Ryan said before escorting Jude into the reception room where they waited for permission to enter the treatment area. The head nurse greeted them minutes later and took them back where they found Lindsey lying on a bed surrounded by nurses cleaning her scratches and putting small bandages around her hands and face. Lindsey was obviously flirting with the male nurse who had tattoos running down his arm.
“She’s enjoying being the center of attention,” Jude said to Ryan with a wink.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t intrude?”
Jude rolled her eyes and proceeded into the room. A doctor looked up from his computer tablet where he had been typing in notes and greeted them. “I’m Dr. Stuart,” he said. “You must be her mother and father.”
“I
’m her mom,” Jude said. “How is she doing?”
“Just fine,” he said. “Nothing we can’t patch up.”
Lindsey met her mother’s eyes. She waved weakly and looked guilty. Jude walked over to the bed.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Lindsey said.
Relief and anger balanced precariously in Jude’s heart. “How are you feeling?”
Lindsey visibly relaxed and leaned back in the bed. “Not too bad at this point. They gave me something for the pain.”
Ryan joined them. “Some hike, huh?”
Lindsey broke a smile. “It was, until I got too close to the edge. There was this sign that showed someone falling off the cliff. It said, ‘warning,’ so of course I had to go stand right by it to take a selfie.”
Ryan laughed. “You are certainly no coward. I have a few battle scars myself. Let’s see the picture.”
“Don’t encourage her,” Jude said.
Lindsey introduced her nurses. “This is Lisa, and this is Steve. They’re putting me back together.”
Jude thanked them. She held her breath as she watched the doctor put a few stitches into Lindsey’s badly scraped upper arm.
“Good as new,” Steve said, smiling awkwardly at Lindsey. Her daughter’s charm had obviously had an effect.
Dr. Stuart gave Jude a prescription. “You can fill this if she needs pain relief for a few days,” he said. “But she should be up and around in day or so.”
Ryan shook his hand. “Thanks for taking such good care of her.”
“Our pleasure,” he said.
Jude noticed the smile that passed between Lindsey and the doctor before he left the room. She was making the most of this male attention.
“Out,” Lindsey said to Ryan. “I’m going to get dressed.”
Jude stayed behind to help Lindsey navigate getting dressed.
“Thanks for coming to get me,” Lindsey said.
Jude hugged her gently trying not to touch any bruised areas. “I’ll always be there for you. I love you, Lindsey.”
Lindsey had tears in her eyes. “I love you too, Mom.”
Jude soaked in her daughter’s words. “Let’s get you home.”
They walked down the hall and found Ryan waiting by door.
“So Lindsey,” he said as they walked to the car, “how did it feel to be surrounded by all the good looking young men in town?”
“Good, I guess,” Lindsey said. “That was one hot doctor.”
“And the male nurse wasn’t bad either,” Jude said.
“That’s true,” Lindsey said. “Perhaps I’ll start hanging out at the hospital coffee shop in the future.”
Ryan gingerly helped Lindsey into the back and buckled her seatbelt for her before getting in the drivers seat. “Do we need a late night ice cream run on the way home?”
Lindsey moaned. “Just bed, please.”
Jude leaned over and kissed Ryan on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he said.
Lindsey leaned forward. “You two sure look a lot happier than you did this morning.”
“It’ll take more than media lies to tear us apart,” Jude said.
Lindsey settled back into the seat with a sigh. “Glad to hear it.”
Jude tucked Lindsey into bed while Ryan waited in her living room. She turned off the bedroom light and was ready to fall into bed herself. Instead, she joined Ryan.
“She’s resting for now,” Jude said, falling into an armchair. “She says she’ll still be able to help in the kitchen, she just may have to wear gloves.”
Ryan laughed. “You know, she’s very talented. Her photos are exceptional.”
Jude folded her legs beneath her. She let her gaze rest on Ryan. He had been true to his word and actions.”
“Thank you, for everything, tonight and . . .”
He shook his head. “No need to thank me, I was happy to help.”
“I know I haven’t been the easiest to get along with lately.”
“Totally understandable,” he said.
“I’ve been so focused on my own stuff,” she said, “I haven’t asked you how you are doing or how the book is coming along.”
“With everything else going on, I forgot to tell you. A Seattle agent I met where I previously worked, requested the proposal. I mailed it out yesterday.”
“Something to be happy about, at least.”
“Hey,” he said, “with a little luck we can be signing Island Time Café Cookbooks here next summer, and Lindsey can come back and sign too. She’ll definitely be in the credits.”
Next summer, Jude thought. Ryan had plans to stay with her, here, together. And Lindsey might return, too. It was time to tell Lindsey the news, that if all went well, Lindsey would have a sibling soon. She wanted her daughter to know first before she told Ryan. It was important that Lindsey felt loved, trusted, and involved in what was coming.
Chapter Nineteen
“Hey, sleepy head,” Jude said. “How are you feeling this morning?”
Lindsey moaned a little as she got out of bed. Her still unbrushed hair looked like she’d been in a storm. Some leaf and twig remnants peeked out of the tumbled mess. Gratitude rushed through Jude again. Her daughter was safe and cozy in her pink pajama shorts and tank top.
Lindsey trudged down the hall to the kitchen. She slid carefully onto a stool. “Coffee,” she said. “I smell coffee.”
Jude went over to the coffee maker and grabbed a couple of mugs from the cupboard. “Cream?” she asked.
“Lots,” Lindsey said.
Jude placed her cup of tea down on the counter and the coffee in front of Lindsey, along with a fresh-baked apple spice muffin.” She sank into the stool next to her daughter.
Lindsey stared at her. “Since when do you drink tea?”
Jude shrugged. “Sometimes I do.” Lindsey had a few bruises from the fall, along with some cuts still covered in white bandages. Otherwise, she looked pretty good. “Any headache?” Jude asked.
“No, just a little shaky.”
“I think you’d better rest today. You don’t need to go into work. Just lie around and get your bearings back.”
“Sweet, a break.” Lindsey said. “I don’t think I’d be much help in the kitchen, anyway.”
When Lindsey held her mug up, Jude noticed her daughter’s nails were now neatly trimmed and without polish. Working in the kitchen was giving her a different perspective than her usual fashionista lifestyle.
Jude took her cup to the sink and rinsed it out. “Can I get you anything else?” she asked. “It shouldn’t be too busy. We’re open for lunch only today. I’ll run down and help Ryan, and then come back and check on you, bring you some lunch.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry, again, about running off and acting like that.”
“Don’t be,” Jude said. “I’m sorry that I didn’t sit down and talk to you in the first place. I just haven’t been feeling well, myself.”
Lindsey’s forehead furrowed. “Are you okay, Mom?”
“Yes, and no,” Jude said. She weighed her options.
Lindsey laid her coffee cup down. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s really wrong,” Jude said, “But . . .”
“What, Mom?” Lindsey placed her hand over Jude’s. “Tell me what it is. I really want to know.”
Jude hesitated. “It’s not that easy. I, I mean, I just found out a couple days ago that I’m pregnant.”
Lindsey’s jaw literally dropped. “You’re pregnant? At your age?”
Jude laughed and the knots in her shoulders finally released. “I’m only 39 years
old. Lots of people have babies at my age.”
Lindsey still looked rather shocked. “You mean, I’ll have a brother or sister?”
“That’s right,”
Jude said. “Might be nice.”
“Don’t expect me to do any babysitting.” Her frown made that quite clear.
“No,” Jude said. “There won’t be anything that you’ll have to do, but you can visit and play with the baby.”
Jude watched the wheels of Lindsey’s mind turning, her mouth twisting one way and then another, until it softened into a grin. “Might be nice, actually. I always wanted a sibling.”
Her heart leapt. Jude could imagine Lindsey playing with the baby, especially when he or she was a toddler. There would be quite an age gap, but they would still grow to love each other, and as time went on, the age difference wouldn’t mean so much. And Lindsey would not be an only child like Jude had been.
“Oh . . . wow. Does Ryan know?” Lindsey asked.
“No. No, he doesn’t.” She took a deep breath as panic crept into her chest.
“When are you going to tell him?”
“I wanted to tell you first. I want you to know, Lindsey, you will always be my first-born and my first love. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Oh, Mom, I didn’t know. I mean I thought when you let me go live with Dad, you were glad to have your space alone.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“My baby,” Jude said as she wrapped her arms around Lindsey, careful not to put pressure anywhere. “Not in a million years. Letting you go live with your father was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But I wanted you to be happy and have the life you were dreaming of. And to know your father.”
Lindsey sniffed. “I guess I knew that deep down, but thanks for telling me. It means a lot.”
“I’ll always be here for you,” Jude said. Her daughter’s smile was all the medicine she would ever need.
“What about Ryan?” Lindsey asked. “How do you think he will react?”
“I don’t know,” Jude said. “What do you think?”
Lindsey smiled. “I think he’ll be happy. I really do think he loves you, Mom.”
Jude felt her heart swell. Ryan loved her, and she was sure she loved him, too. There was no reason to think things would be different with Ryan when she told him. He was not, and never would be, Mitchell.
