Chapter Two
I will never get used to the pick-up line at the school.
I mean there has to be a better way to get people in and out without all the backed-up traffic.
Maisie’s just up ahead, but she doesn’t see me.
I’ve been here for so long that I’m now late for my next appointment.
I lightly tap on the horn to try and get her attention.
The guy in front throws up his hands. His eyebrows are furrowed, and I can see his mouth moving through his rearview mirror.
I wave and smile because you never know if he could be my next client.
Plus, I wasn’t even honking at him. Can we say tight undies?
Moving as fast as a turtle trying to cross the street, I finally make it up to where all the kids are standing. Maisie jumps in. “Honey, why didn’t you get in sooner?”
Maisie shrugs. “I’m not allowed to walk past the cones anymore. I have to wait until you get closer, or I’ll get in trouble.”
I pull out onto the highway and head toward my last work stop. There isn’t enough time in the day lately. “Well, that’s just silly. There’s a sidewalk straight to my car.” I cross my eyes at Maisie, and she laughs. “We have to run by a house we just bought before going home.”
“Yay!” Maisie bounces in her seat. “Will Uncle Steven be there?”
I laugh. “He will.”
Maisie and Steven have been close since the day he showed up at her kindergarten graduation party with a miniature pony to give the little ones a ride. My sister squealed right along with Maisie. Annie loved to celebrate all their achievements. That was the type of mom she was.
As I pull up to the house, I see the construction crew loading up their tools, and a plumber walking around the side of the building with Danny.
“Don’t wander off when we get inside,” I tell Maisie as we exit the car. “There’s construction going on inside and I don’t know how safe it is.”
Steven is in the kitchen, talking on the phone. He holds up one finger to tell me to hold on. If I go by the crease in his forehead and his scowl, then it’s bad news.
We don’t know much about this four-bedroom brick house that we purchased at auction.
That’s how it goes sometimes with foreclosures—when the bank takes a house back and sells the property as is to recover its losses.
You don’t get any prior inspections, so we don’t always get the full story.
Surprises come with the territory. We’re looking for a fixer-upper with potential.
We tend to have good luck with these purchases, so when Steven called me, I told him to grab it.
“Well…” Steven sighs as he finally ends the call. “Want the good or bad news first?”
“Always start with the bad. You know this.” I look around, realizing how quiet it is, and don’t see Maisie anywhere. Panic takes over. “Maisie!” I call out, leaving Steven in the kitchen. “Maisie!” I call out again when there is no answer. I go into the first room down the hall. It’s empty.
“Maisie!” Steven follows me, then goes into the room across the hall.
“Maisie Banks, where are you?” I yell louder, feeling more frantic now as I see exposed wires, questionable floorboards and a few ladders left behind.
“Down here,” her little voice comes from the basement.
“Come here now, please.” I stand at the top of the stairs, my heart beats rapidly until I see her emerge from the poorly lit basement. I place my hands on her upper arms. “Didn’t I tell you to stay with me?” I try to keep my voice calm, but Maisie can tell I’m upset.
“Yes, ma’am.” She lowers her head.
I squat down so we’re face-to-face. Steven stands behind me, a steady presence at my back. “You aren’t in trouble, sweetheart. But this house isn’t safe for kids yet. You could have fallen down those stairs and there isn’t any railing yet. I need you to stay safe. Okay?” Maisie nods her head.
Steven holds out his arms. “Come here, you little explorer.” He lifts Maisie up in his arms and carries her to the kitchen.
I linger for a moment, breathing in the musty scent of old house, letting my nerves settle. Being responsible for someone other than myself is scary.
By the time I get back to them, Steve’s already cataloging the damage. I learn all about the disaster we just purchased and how much money it’s going to cost us. Our fixer-upper is looking to cost more than we planned for.
With Maisie’s small hand tucked in mine, we head for the car. The late-afternoon light filters through the dusty windows as we pull away, leaving the house in the rearview mirror. Hopefully, Kara will be home when we get there.
* * *
It’s fifteen minutes until Kara’s appointment with the therapist and she’s not home.
When I approached her about seeing someone, she didn’t seem upset.
She agreed without being persuaded as long as it was a virtual session.
Now it seems as though she’s deliberately trying to miss her first online appointment.
I wonder now if that was always her strategy.
I call her again for the umpteenth time with the same results.
Why she’s avoiding my call is beyond me.
She has no right to make me worry like this.
We’re all going through hell. It’s selfish to make me wonder if she’s hurt or kidnapped.
The disrespect is getting old. Now I’ve officially reached the edge of my patience with her.
“Come on, Maisie.” I grab my keys from the console table. “We’re going to find your sister.” Maisie jumps to her feet from the spot she occupies at the coffee table. She’s been coloring since we got home.
Once we’re safely buckled into the car, I drive over to where Kara’s best friend lives. “Do you remember which house is Olivia’s?”
Maisie sits up a little straighter to look out the window. “It’s the house with the orange basketball goal.” She points.
I park in the driveway. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
It’s a small two-story home about half the size of Annie and Bill’s, but with quaint charm.
As I walk up onto the covered front porch, I see two rocking chairs with a table between them.
Just as I am about to ring the doorbell, the front door swings open.
A woman appearing close to my age jumps back, startled.
Her hand finds the area over her heart and her hazel eyes widen in shock.
“Oh my,” she says. “You scared me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m looking for my niece Kara Banks.”
“She’s with Olivia and my mom at the mall. They should be back any minute now.”
I nod my head slowly, trying not to let the frustration show. Kara lied to me. Again.
“I take it you didn’t know?” The woman steps a little closer into the doorframe.
“No.” I sigh. “She was supposed to be home by five thirty. All my calls are going to her voice mail.”
“I’m sorry. She told me she had permission.” The woman frowns. “I’m Samantha Carter. Everyone calls me Sam.” She sticks out her hand. “Olivia’s mom.” Her lips lift up into a slight smile. She’s trying to lighten the situation. I appreciate the effort.
I take her hand. “Allie Tatum. Kara’s aunt.”
“I’m so sorry about your sister and Bill. I remember seeing you at the service, but you probably don’t remember me there.”
I give a small nod, the memory of that dreadful day surfacing. “Thank you.” I glance toward the street. “I’m just trying to track Kara down.”
“Please come in and wait.” Sam looks at her watch. “It shouldn’t be too much longer.”
I glance toward the driveway where Maisie occupies the passenger seat. “I’ll wait in the car if that’s okay. Kara’s sister is with me.”
Sam follows my eyes toward the driveway. “Maisie can wait with us. I have snacks.” She smiles, exposing perfect white teeth. “Come,” she says, motioning me inside. “They’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” It’s the best option to make sure Kara doesn’t stay out even longer. “Let me grab Maisie.”
“Sure thing. Just come on in. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
I keep my eyes on Sam as she turns to walk away.
Her long brown hair falls to the middle of her back.
Her black yoga pants fit perfectly, hugging her amazing curves.
I pull my eyes back up from where they had wandered and send a quick email to the therapist apologizing for cancelling without notice.
I know there will be a charge, but what can I do at this point?
When I reach the vehicle, Maisie’s engrossed in a video on her phone of a Barbie doll talking. I turn off the engine and take the key from the console. “Come on, honey. We’re going inside to wait for Kara.”
“Yay!” Maisie unbuckles her seat belt and hops out.
“Stay where I can see you.”
Maisie climbs the front steps. “Okay,” she says, disappearing through the open door.
I walk in and close the door behind me. The foyer has a coatrack on the left and a bench on the right with a wooden sign above it that says “welcome.” I follow the path down the hall to Maisie and Sam in the kitchen. She’s giving Maisie some sliced apples and green grapes.
Sam meets my eyes. “I have wine.” She lifts a bottle of pinot noir and begins to pour half a glass. “It looks like you could use it,” she says, offering it to me.
I chuckle. “That obvious, huh?” I take the glass and lift it to my lips.
“Maybe a little.” Sam’s perfect teeth peek beneath her full lips again. I watch as she pours herself the same amount. Her petite tan fingers, with nicely manicured nails, cork the rest of the wine.
Maisie’s playing on her phone, eating her fruit, and totally oblivious to our conversation.
“Thanks for feeding her. She seems to be starved after school, like she hasn’t eaten all day.”
“Exactly! Olivia and Kara come in and raid the fridge first thing.”
“I’m glad she’s eating somewhere.” I lower my eyes to my drink and take another sip. I’m not going to say that it didn’t sting because it did. No matter how hard I’ve tried lately, Kara keeps me at a distance.
“She’s not eating at home?” Sam asks, her voice softer.