Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Iris
Whatever fate had in store for her returning home, Iris was not prepared to see the man who’d occupied her mind for far too long standing in front of her. So affected by his presence, she said way more than she should and forgot herself.
Still, when he walked away, disappointment hummed in her system for two seconds before she came back to her senses.
Things had changed since he’d been home; Walter wasn’t behind the register anymore at the gas station, and the new pop-up farm stood as a nice change of pace.
“Guess Tyler decided it was finally time to try something different.” She smiled at that sentiment, hopping in the rental car.
“Either that or Rachel made him see the error of his ways.”
From the corner of her eye, she saw the rude man she’d been dealing with. He was approaching the exit too; rather than be kind, just to get even, she sped up to cut him off, smiling inside as she did. “That will teach you to cut people off in line.”
The drive through town was slow and easy, seeing all the old friends, neighbors, and people she’d practically grown up with. The locals blended easily with the tourists, creating a pleasing hub of people she knew Isaac would enjoy.
The Whispering Pines Book Store sat just off Main Street, in the historic section of town. Its humble, run-down facade was easy to find. Seeing the lights out and the sign up that they were closed, a huge disappointment; her heart sank as she pulled up out front.
“Something is definitely wrong.”
A quick peek in the windows to see if her brother was inside, and maybe the store was just closed, revealed nothing. Worry shook her insides as all lights were out, and it looked like it had been a few days since anyone had been around.
The mail in his mailbox revealed at least three days’ worth. The newspapers strewn across the straw welcome mat revealed the same. Shaking inside, Iris hopped back in her car, taking a few deep breaths to keep from falling off that cliff.
Before driving off, she called her brother’s phone again; it went straight to voicemail. Panic made her throat tight; the sick feeling in her stomach was a reminder that she needed to be more thoughtful of her brother, as a single father with a child to raise.
The memory of the rude man with the passionate lips faded to the recesses of her mind, in favor of panic. As the car started to move, she couldn’t focus on the beauty of her favorite season; autumn was quickly approaching.
The leaves of some trees tingled with the first sign of autumn in the air; had she been in a better frame of mind, she’d have noticed how lovely it looked. The crisp air that gently blew, a reminder of what was to come, the warmth of flower baskets dotting porches and walkways, beautiful and homey.
Now that she was in town, she couldn’t escape the sickening feeling that something was definitely wrong. Her instincts and the tightness of her chest guided her. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to continue to her brother's house, fearing the worst.
Instead, she stopped at a local farm stand, hoping to see her old friend Lily and her family. With no one around, the donations and offerings box beside the array of fresh fruits and veggies, a warm reminder of the trust people had in this town.
She could barely think, wanting someone to tell her it would be alright, whatever she discovered at her brother's house. “I guess some fruit and veggies would be a nice gift to give him and Wyatt since it’s been so long since I’ve been to town.”
She packed up the pretty basket Lily had for shoppers to use, paid her due, and climbed back in the driver's seat. There was no escaping it as she wound through the quiet roads of Elk Danner, praying to the heavens above that all this was a bad dream.
When she arrived at his house, his car in the driveway, the billowing autumn flowers blooming as they’d always done this time of year beside his walkway, she could breathe again.
His truck was missing, but she knew from experience that he'd often parked it around back to make his life easier when unloading things from inside. “Oh thank heavens. They are okay.”
She took a moment's breath as she studied the landscape, realizing how foolish she’d been. She had to call Claire and check on her; she’d avoided it for the last hour, but wanted to give her peace of mind so she could focus her energy on business.
The phone rang as Iris watched the windchimes dance in the gentle breeze. “Hey Claire, guess what?”
“What? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, all is just fine. His car is here; everything looks as it should. A bit quiet; maybe they have the flu or something, but they are both obviously home. I was being ridiculous. Obviously they lost the phone, or it broke. I need to have him get a landline.”
“Nobody uses those anymore, Iris. Well, I’m glad everything is alright. Call me if you need anything. I hope they aren’t sick. Is it possible they just took a vacation without telling you? The phone took a nose dive in the pool, and they couldn't talk?”
Anything was possible at this point, but soon enough she knew she’d have answers. “I guess. It doesn’t matter, I'm here now, and all will be well.”
“Good, don’t forget to bring back some goodies for me. Some of that apple butter you loved so much and a couple of those juicy romance novels from your brother’s bookshelves, you know how I like reading them.”
“I won’t forget anything. I guess while I’m here I can stay for a few days, maybe a week. I don’t know; it depends on how things are going for you. I don’t want to stress anyone, but once I determine what happened, I can call you; we’ll figure it out.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ve gotta go, keep me posted, send me some pictures. One day I’m coming out there with you.”
“Okay.”
Claire hung up before she did. She threw her phone back in her purse, and the man popped into her head again.
“No, you don’t. You were so rude, how do you get away with being so rude?
But that kiss, heaven help me, I don’t think anyone has kissed me like that.
What does that say about me? Wait until I tell Isaac. ”
She smiled, the memory of that kiss jumping back to the forefront of her mind.
Excitement raced through her, the sudden urge to find her brother and nephew and get out, do things.
“If they are healthy, we go hiking and horseback riding; I used to love that. I don’t think Wyatt has ever gone horseback riding.
I want to take him fishing, though Isaac probably did that a thousand times, and heaven help me, we are heading to the farm.
Nothing better than bringing in autumn in Elk Danner, then visiting the farm. ”
Joy swept through her, memories of flea markets and life bursting with adventure as her small hometown came to life before her eyes in memories. Suddenly the trip felt right, perfect and exactly as it should have been, had she heeded her own warnings, a vacation.
“Looks like I’m on holiday; work and Wilmington will just have to wait, as it has been far too long. I hope my brother doesn’t play diplomat, reminding me that Wyatt has school and he has work. I'm a stay-at-home brother, and I’m so happy to be back.”
In no hurry to go inside, Iris didn’t notice the fact that there were no signs of life coming from the house.
Not a peep was made, no scent of bacon or hot dogs cooking, not the sound of a child’s laughter or cartoons playing from a TV.
No sign of Wyatt’s mini ATV or a ball he forgot to put away.
The lack of life was missed on her as she soaked up the brightly colored sights of her family home.
When she reached the door, it was locked. Reaching for the key under the mat as she’d done so many times before, she realized it was eerily quiet. “Sleeping at this hour?”
She pushed it back, the panic that rose closing off her throat as she put the key in the lock. Once inside, she stood on the threshold, suddenly afraid to move. “Isaac, Wyatt. It's Iris, I’ve come for a visit!”
Silence surrounded her, the emptiness deafening. She moved, cautious as fear returned, replacing the hope and happiness she’d felt earlier. “Isaac… Wyatt.” From room to room she went, stopping to poke her head in and found nothing, no one.
Rounding the corner up the stairs to the bedrooms on the second floor, she could hear her heartbeat thumping in her chest. “Good heavens, maybe they went for a hike.” It made sense, but when Iris came downstairs after finding no one, she saw his truck wasn’t out back.
She waited a bit, admiring the pictures on Isaac's refrigerator that Wyatt made. A quick check in the refrigerator revealed milk ready to spoil, which seemed odd, and flies circling the bananas on the counter.
With nothing better to do, she made a list of things her brother needed to shop for when he got back. Then made a list of all the fun things she was going to do with her nephew while she was in town.
The list was long; she smiled at it, walking through the house admiring the pictures of Isaac, Wyatt, and her in any number of little adventures they’d taken since she’d become an auntie.
“Gosh, I love you so much. I might have promised my mother I’d one day ensure the family continues by having a child, but Isaac did me that favor.
I’m so glad, as I don’t think I’d know how to be a parent full time, not with my career.
And I get to be the best auntie possible to the most wonderful nephew ever! ”
Iris ran her finger from the framed picture above the mantel, a young boy, bright smile shining with pure happiness after tragedy.
He’d come into their lives as a surprise gift after Isaac discovered he was a father, and the awful way Wyatt’s mother had treated him after they parted ways.
She’d been a miserable excuse for a mother, and Iris could still hear the passion in her brother’s eyes that he would wash away and neglect what she'd even done to harm their son. He’d make sure that his son lived his best life possible if it meant sacrificing everything.
She was proud of her brother, proud of the man he’d become, proud of the father he was. At times, she wished for him love and happiness, a completeness that Isaac and Wyatt both needed that often took another parent to juggle it all.
Her heart ached with it as she looked into his empty bedroom, void of a woman’s touch. “You're being ridiculous. You’ve been alone for so long; he has too; you're both fine. Wyatt is fine, no worse for the wear that he doesn’t have a mother; he’s got me, Auntie Iris.”
She sat on her nephew's bed, admiring the crazy toys and art, gadgets he knew for a fact Isaac ensured he had. Any number of experiments and usual science creations. The scent of boy sweat, rotting sneakers, and a leftover piece of food lingered in the air.
Iris walked the house one more time, growing bored waiting. She looked at the pictures again, of their family, of the life they’d grown up to live and appreciate in Elk Danner. The trip down the mountain in a two-person inner tube at sixteen, twins sharing fun adventures.
She waited like this for a good couple hours, then could take no more. “Wyatt can’t hike too long; maybe they went on some adventure.” Again she tried her brother’s phone, which went to voicemail again.
Disgruntled and unsettled, she locked up and hopped back in her car. Ready to pull out of the driveway, she stopped as a police car pulled up behind her. She didn’t recognize the man, but knew without a doubt something was wrong.
“Good afternoon, officer.” Iris’s voice shook as she walked toward him, fear near crippling her. “Something wrong?”
“Yes, ma'am. Are you related to Isaac Jennings?” The caution in his voice worried her as Iris stopped right in front of him.
“Yes, I’m his sister, Iris. What’s going on?” Her hands shook at her sides as she saw the pained look in his eyes. Her heart stopped beating, the blood draining from her brain. “Officer?”
“Maybe we should go down to the station, where we can talk.” His eyes scanned the areas around her, warning bells going off in her head.
“I’d rather you tell me whatever it is you're about to tell me right here, please.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Hold on, let me call back up.”
Confused, suddenly worried something bad was happening, she held her ground, shaking inside. Her worst nightmare came true; she watched as he called on the radio. “Officer Miller here, I’m at the Jennings house, I need backup. I got the sister here.”
The voice on the other side answered back cautiously. “Understood, sending out Officer Tyler.”
Iris let out her shaky breath. “Officer Tyler went to school with him; they were good friends. Whatever this is about, I’m sure my brother didn’t do it. He’s not home right now, but if we wait, I’m sure he will be back.”
She forced her mind to the rational, the crazy ex and her family. “If this is about his ex, she’s not in the picture anymore, awful woman I know.” Worry that someone might have returned for Wyatt forced the strong side of her to rise.
“If anyone plans to take Wyatt from Isaac, I can vouch he has full custody. That woman–”
The younger man stepped closer again, his eyes searching hers.
“It's not about Wyatt's mother, ma'am. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, Iris, but your brother Isaac passed away. We need you to identify his body at the morgue before we can say for sure, but dental records and another officer have positively identified him already.”
“Oh, my God, where is Wyatt!” Iris choked out the words as her world came crumbling down around her.
“That’s the problem, and why I’m here. He’s gone missing. It was a truck accident; he was inside and disappeared from the scene while we were there. We’ve not been able to locate him since.”
Everything made sense: the phone call from Wyatt, his heavy breathing but nothing else, then the phone going to voicemail. She swallowed the pain and sorrow that rose to blur her eyes. “Oh heaven above, we have to find him. He could be hurt, my poor Wyatt.”