Chapter 79 Gayle
G AYLE
Gayle’s proofreading Mike’s latest blog post when her phone pings with a message from her daughter Susan.
Mom, did you and Pop get a message from Chris?
We all got the same message on Messenger.
We’re worried!
Feeling as if the air has been sucked out of her, Gayle opens her Messenger app. Sure enough, there’s a message request from a Chris Mullins.
Hello, I’m Noah’s partner. Sorry to disturb you but it’s about Noah.
I came home from work to a note from Noah saying that he ‘can’t live like this anymore’. His car’s still here but he’s taken a suitcase. He’s not answering his phone or replying to any messages.
Noah’s never done anything like this before and I’m very worried. I know he’s recently been back in touch with his family, so I thought I’d see if any of you have heard from him. If not, I’m sorry to alarm you in this way.
Please contact me if you hear anything.
Gayle covers her mouth with her hand and lets out a whimper.
‘What is it?’ Mike asks.
She shows him the message. ‘We have to do something!’
‘What can we do from here?’
She bites her lip. ‘I don’t know. Let’s see what else the others know.’ She messages the group chat with Susan, Lizzie and Justin.
‘What are you telling them?’ Mike looks over her shoulder.
She repositions herself so he can get a better view of her screen.
I saw Chris’s message.
Have any of you heard anything else?
Justin replies.
Hi Mom.
I’ve had a few messages with Chris. Noah’s been missing since yesterday.
Chris went to the police station but because Noah left a note and packed a case, there’s nothing the police can do.
We’ve tried calling and messaging Noah, but there’s no response.
Gayle’s breath catches. Gone for a day. Nobody has heard from Noah or known where he is for a whole day. Oh Lord, she prays, please help my boy be found .
‘It’s us,’ she cries to Mike. ‘It’s because of us.’
‘Now, now, hon. Don’t get yourself all worked up. That boy’s always been impulsive, hasn’t he? For all we know, he might have had an argument with this Chris fellow. Maybe Noah’s come to his senses and walked out. He might be making his way back to Arkansas right now.’
Gayle turns to look at him. ‘If anything happens to our son’—she points a shaky finger at him—‘I will never forgive you, Michael James Dawson!’
His mouth hangs open, but he doesn’t reply.
She throws on her robe and slippers and, without turning to look at him, marches out of the room with her phone in her hand. She stomps down all the stairs and walks into the empty restaurant. The ceiling lights are off but the room glows with the thousands of fairy lights draped around the trees.
She heads to the buffet and cuts herself a big slice of cake, before sitting at one of the vacant tables where she cries into her hands.
She tries calling Noah but there’s no answer. Her heart skips a beat at the sound of his voice on the voicemail recording. She hangs up and sends Chris a message.
Hello Chris,
It’s nice to make your acquaintance. I only wish it was under better circumstances.
I’m sorry but I haven’t heard from Noah. Please let me know if you hear anything.
Bless you, Gayle Dawson.
Then she sends Noah a message.
Sugar, you deserve so much better than the way we treated you.
I’ll do everything I can to fix it. I promise to help your dad change his ways.
All of us are so worried about you.
Please let us know you’re okay. I love you.
And then Gayle prays harder than she’s ever prayed before.