Chapter 53
Benjamin sighed as he steered through the dark streets of River Falls. His flight had been delayed, and he couldn’t wait another minute to get home. It had been nice to catch up with Ian, and he had left with no doubt that the new Kalibre would be a success—but also no doubt that he had made the right choice in turning down the job. It was a flattering offer, and had Ian made it six months ago, he might have taken it. But what he wanted had changed so much since then. It had required an extraordinary effort to convince Ian that he was serious about not taking the position, and he knew his friend still thought he was crazy—but at least Ian had finally accepted Benjamin’s decision, and they’d parted as friends.
Just turning onto his own street made Benjamin’s spirits lift, and his eyes eagerly sought out his own house. He had missed Max and Summer every moment that he was gone, and he hoped maybe Summer would still be awake, so he could tell her how happy he was to be home. And even if she wasn’t, he could climb into bed with her and greet her first thing when she woke up in the morning.
But the house was completely dark, not even the porch light casting the welcoming glow that always filled his heart with joy when he came home from work. He brushed aside the sting of disappointment. Summer was probably exhausted from two days of taking care of Max on her own. But now that he was home, he was going to make sure she got all the rest she needed. At least after getting the results of the genetic tests, he didn’t have to worry anymore that the reason for her fatigue was that she was ill.
He jumped out of the car and grabbed his bag, the cool night air washing over him. He lifted his face to the starry sky and breathed out a prayer of thanksgiving for the way God had worked everything out. Then he bounded up the porch steps and slipped silently into the house. He headed straight for the bedrooms, pausing first to check on Max.
The room was completely dark, and Benjamin frowned, peering toward the spot where the night light should be glowing. Maybe the bulb had burnt out. He tiptoed closer to check it, but his eyes fell on the bed, and he realized it was empty.
Benjamin shook his head with a soft laugh. If he had to guess, Max had probably climbed into bed with Summer. Fortunately, once he was asleep, the boy rarely woke, so Benjamin could carry him back to his own bed and then take his place next to Summer.
The door to the master bedroom was open, and Benjamin nodded to himself—a sure sign that Max had come in.
But halfway to the bed, his heart stopped.
It was empty—still made up.
“Summer?” Benjamin fumbled for the light switch. “Max?”
Where were they? Had something happened to them?
The only answer was the quiet hum of the furnace.
Benjamin stumbled into the hallway, turning on the light and pushing into Summer’s former room. It was empty too. He made his way back to Max’s room and flipped on the light in there too. Was it messier than usual? Had the room been ransacked, or was that only Max’s usual clutter?
“Max?” he called again, pulling out his phone and checking for messages from Summer.
But there were none.
He tapped to call her number, but it went straight to voice mail.
He hung up, then realized he should have left a message, so he called again and left one he wasn’t sure made any sense. Hopefully she would get the gist and call him.
“Oh Lord, where are they? Please let them be safe,” he muttered as he dialed Zeb’s number next.
“Everything all right?” Zeb answered immediately, his voice somehow conveying calm and concern at the same time.
“I can’t find Summer and Max.” Benjamin scrubbed a fist against his chest. He couldn’t breathe.
“What do you mean you can’t find them?”
Benjamin looked around wildly, as if they had been playing a game of hide and seek and he had given up too soon. “I mean, I just got home from Atlanta, and they’re not here. The beds are empty. Max’s room is a mess, like maybe someone—”
“Let’s not jump to any conclusions.” Zeb’s voice was firm. “Did you check if Summer’s car is in the garage?”
Benjamin shook his head and bolted through the kitchen to the door that led to the garage. He yanked it open and stopped himself short.
“It’s not here.” He glanced around, as if they might have hidden it wherever they’d hidden themselves.
“That’s good.”
“That’s good?” Benjamin asked wildly.
“It means wherever they went, it was probably by their own choice.” Zeb’s matter-of-fact answer calmed Benjamin a little.
“Okay, yeah, that’s a good point. But Summer didn’t call, and she’s not answering her phone.”
“Maybe she had to take her mom to the hospital.” Again, Zeb sounded certain and reassuring, and Benjamin let out a breath.
Why hadn’t he thought of that?
He turned back toward the kitchen. “Yeah, maybe. Is there any way you could—” His eyes fell on a piece of paper on the counter, Summer’s loopy handwriting curving across it. “Oh, you know what? She left me a note.”
Zeb made a sound somewhere between exasperation and a chuckle.
“Sorry I over-re . . .” Benjamin trailed off as his eyes scanned the note. Queasiness rolled through his stomach, and he dropped the paper back to the counter.
“So, is it her mom?” Zeb asked.
“It’s . . .” Benjamin stared at the words of the note again. So we’ll stay at my mama’s for a little while until we find somewhere else. “Yeah. Sorry I woke you.”
“I wasn’t sleeping,” Zeb said easily. “Do you want me to give you a ride or anything?”
“No.” Benjamin’s throat was almost too dry to get the word out. “Thanks.”
He hung up, then reread the whole note. But the words refused to make sense.
He shoved it in his pocket, then strode toward the door and grabbed his keys.