Chapter 6
Unable to even punch the button for her parents’ number, Lainie raced to their house, praying that what she’d just heard wasn’t true.
Between sobs, Stan had told her an impossible story.
He and Evie had been snorkeling in a beautiful bay.
He’d thought he saw a shark but wasn’t sure.
They got separated. Evie loved to snorkel.
She could spend all day in the water, and Hawaii was her happy place.
Lainie blinked back tears and pondered Stan’s last few words. “Evie’s body hasn’t been recovered.”
They stung like salty, cold water on an exposed nerve.
Lainie couldn’t believe it.
She didn’t want to believe it.
All the way to her mom and dad’s house, she kept praying.
Though she couldn’t remember the last time she’d offered up heartfelt, fervent prayers and petitions, she kept at it.
Asking that when she arrived, she’d be told that it was all a stupid mistake.
Evie was fine. She’d just gotten taken along by a riptide and was okay farther down the beach.
Her father’s expression when he opened the door told her there’d been no mistake. They hugged and Lainie fought desperately to keep her voice steady. “Dad, it’s true? Is it true?”
“I’m afraid so. Stan called me early this morning.” His voice wavered. “They started searching for Evie again, as soon as it got light; they’re still searching. So far, no luck.”
“We have to go there.”
“I agree.” He led her into the house.
“What about Archie? Where are Mom and the boys?”
Her parents were babysitting Evie’s twin seven-year-old boys, Evan and Owen, while Evie and Stan were gone. Her mom had called last week, gushing that Stan and Evie were so happy about the anniversary that they had dropped the boys off a few days early so they’d be able to celebrate a bit longer.
“Mom and the boys are at the pool right now. We haven’t said anything to them yet. I called Archie. He’s in Texas at a conference.”
Lainie fell onto the couch and held her head in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening. Not Evie.”
Her father’s phone rang. He answered right away on speaker. “Stan, any news?”
“No.” He sounded somewhat better than the few minutes ago when Lainie had spoken to him.
“They had to call off the search early. The wind just kicked up, and the surf is up.”
Lainie looked at the clock. It was now almost 2:00 p.m. here so it was two hours earlier in Hawaii. Evie disappeared yesterday.
“Still no sign of her?” Dad asked, and Lainie held her breath.
“N-n-n-no. I don’t know what to do.”
“Lainie and I are coming. We’ll take the first flight we can. Hang in there, Stan. We’ll be there soon.”
Lainie said nothing as Stan and her father talked about the kids. She got up and paced. Why hadn’t she called Evie back immediately? What had her sister wanted and why hadn’t she left a message?
Lainie’s thoughts wandered back to the last time she’d seen her sister.
Christmas, about five months ago. Christmas was Evie’s favorite time of year, and she had hosted the whole family at her home.
Archie had a girlfriend, but Lainie came alone.
She didn’t like to think about how long it had been since she’d had a steady guy—a steady guy she could introduce to her family. Glen was never that sort of guy.
Being single at any kind of gathering often made Lainie feel uncomfortable and just plain odd.
Like a third wheel kind of described the feeling, but it wasn’t nearly strong enough.
The unspoken questions peppered her: What’s wrong with you?
Why can’t you find somebody? They always echoed even if no one asked them.
She never felt like that with Evie. Her sister had welcomed her with a tight hug. “So good to see you. Why do I have to wait so long between your visits?”
Lainie relished the hug and took a minute to answer. “Ah, you know, work is crazy.”
Evie pushed back and held Lainie’s gaze. “We need to do a weekend or something, get back in touch.”
“Good idea,” Lainie had said, not really meaning it.
She loved her sister, but Evie would frown on some of Lainie’s recent life choices.
She had just started flirting with Glen, a married colleague.
She winced as she recalled the last conversation she’d had with the guy.
Glen was a notorious philanderer, and she’d openly encouraged him.
That Christmas Day, Stan had been Stan. Lainie never knew what Evie saw in the man.
He was boastful, opinionated, and a lot of the time offensive.
The only positive thing she could see was that he was a good father.
And she could grudgingly admit that he did try to be a good provider.
The boys adored him. Still, Lainie prayed that they didn’t grow up like him.
As usual, that day Evie did all the work while Stan sat in front of the TV watching football. Evie even set him up with a TV tray so he could eat while he watched. Everyone else sat at the table.
Evie was a saint. Why on earth was she gone and Stan still here?
Dad finished the phone call. His voice was thick with emotion when he faced Lainie. “It’s not good.”
“We need to book a flight.”
Her father nodded, then reached out to wrap Lainie in a hug. “We need to pray.”
Lainie said nothing, struggling inside. She’d prayed on the way over, but did it really do any good?
The look on her father’s face pierced her. “Dad, I, ah, I just don’t know if I believe in that anymore. It’s . . .” She couldn’t finish as emptiness was ready to swallow her.
“I do believe in it so I’m praying.” He bowed his head and prayed that Evie would be found safe and sound. After he said amen, he pulled Lainie close. “No matter what, I love you, baby,” her father whispered.
Lainie’s voice thickened. “I love you too, Dad.”