Chapter 83 Gayle
G AYLE
Mike and Gayle are too stressed about Noah to do much adventuring today, so they sit in their room with the TV on.
Mike’s initial bravado over Noah’s disappearance has evaporated now that another day has gone by and he’s not been heard from. Not ten minutes have passed all morning that Mike hasn’t asked her if there are any new updates from ‘Noah’s fellow’.
Although he hasn’t explicitly said so, she can feel Mike’s resentment towards Chris weakening. It’s clear in the messages Chris has sent Gayle today how much he loves their son, and she’s beginning to think that even Mike can see that too. ‘Can’t be easy on him,’ Mike conceded after a particularly panicked message from Chris.
She checks her phone now for what feels like the millionth time.
‘Nothing?’ Mike asks.
‘Nothing, hon.’
She stares at the TV screen, not paying attention to the game show that’s on. ‘Do you think Elena’s gone yet?’
She didn’t catch Elena at breakfast today which means she’ll never see her again.
Mike shrugs. ‘Who knows? I tell you what, for what was supposed to be a relaxing two weeks on vacation in Italy, there’s been a helluva lot of drama.’
‘You can say that again.’
He turns to her. ‘Are you still as desperate to leave?’
She thinks about it. ‘Not so much any more. I just want to hear that Noah’s okay. If we know he’s safe, then I think I’d actually be happy if we stayed for the Epiphany regatta.’
Even with the acqua alta , when they went out for a takeaway coffee this morning, the streets of San Marco were buzzing as new hanging decorations were spread around the town for La Regata della Befana. The new decorations are all of witches on broomsticks. There’s even a witch atop the giant Christmas tree in Piazza San Marco.
Mike read that on Epiphany Eve, la Befana, the witch, delivers presents to all the children in Venice, like Santa Claus. Gayle isn’t sure exactly how a witch became the central figure for a Christian feast day, but then again, there’s so little that actually does make sense to her these days.
‘The Epiphany is still two days away,’ Mike says. ‘Surely we’ll hear from Noah before then.’
Gayle nods. ‘Surely.’ She can’t bear to think of the alternative.