“Aw, so that’s how it’s gonna be from now on? Make fun of the engaged guy?” Adam chuckles.
“Nothing to get riled up about, man. It’s good to know your balls have taken up residence in Sara’s purse, though.”
“Don’t you give two seconds thought to where my balls are, fucker.”
At that, I bust out laughing.
“So, big plans tonight?” he asks with a laugh. Now it’s my turn to take the ribbing.
Adam’s quick mention of my date tonight has gravel settling in my gut. Kimberly planned the “perfect” date for us. Candlelit dinner at The Lamplight Inn with the honeymoon suite rented for the night. The message is clear: Sex tonight, at all costs.
Fuck me … literally. I don’t even remember agreeing—I swear she drugged me.
“Yeah, big plans—” I mutter. Before I can finish my sentence, my phone beeps, alerting me to an incoming call. I pull the phone away from my ear and see it’s Granny. “Look, I have to take this, man. Talk later?”
“Yeah, later.”
I hang up and switch to the new call, and adrenaline rushes through me as the speaker fills with hysterical sobs.
“Granny?”
“Oh, thank God, Cain. It’s Sarge—you need to get here now. Hurry.” Granny’s frantic voice sends chills down my spine.
I tag my keys off the counter and race out the door before she finishes her sentence. “What happened, Granny? Is he all right?”
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” she sobs. “He left early this afternoon in the truck. He said he needed to pick up a few tools at the hardware store. It’s been hours, and he’s still not back. I knew he shouldn’t drive anymore, but I was afraid of how he’d react if I took away his keys. And n-n-now he’s m-m-missing.”
“Stop, Granny, you don’t know that. He probably stopped by the Melancon Farm to shoot the breeze with Mr. Larry or something. I’m gonna swing by there on my way to the house. I’m headed there now,” I say with the calmest tone I can muster as I fire up my truck.
“Yes, he could be there. That’s a good idea, Cain.” She releases a pent up breath.
“I’ll see you in a few. We’re gonna find him, Granny. He’s fine, I know it.”
“The Space Between” by Dave Matthews Band
Present Day
I TURN INTO the driveway after coming up empty at the Melancon’s, feeling dread deep in my bones. I’m gonna find him, no matter what.
I throw the truck in park and notice a familiar Buick pulling up behind me. I don’t give it a second thought as I race up the stairs and find my mom and grandmother clutching to each other at the kitchen table.
“No luck at the Melancon farm. Any word?” I ask, shifting from one foot to the other, way too much nervous energy pulsing through my body to sit down.
“Not yet,” my mom offers. “Will and Mo split up to hit as many places as possible. We’ve searched everywhere … we’re running out of ideas.”
Celia races past me, and Granny immediately wraps her in a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry, Granny. What can I do? How can I help?”
“I’m so scared, Celia.” Granny’s voice cracks with the admission. “What if he’s lost and confused somewhere? What if he’s afraid? This is all my fault for letting him drive.”
“Oh no, you don’t. This is not your fault. No one is to blame here,” Mom says in a stern voice.
“We’ve looked everywhere I can think of. I’m not sure where to go from here.” Granny’s slumped shoulders and hanging head scream defeat, but I won’t give up.
“I can’t just stay here. I have to help,” I say as I head for the door. “I’ll call Mo and Will and see where they’ve already checked. The more people looking for him, the better.”
“Wait,” Mom calls out before I close the door. “Take Celia with you. Two heads are better than one.”
Great.
The last thing I need right now is Celia Lemaire anywhere in my vicinity, but it won’t do any good to argue with a distraught woman. So I give a quick nod and head out the door. If Celia plans on coming, she better follow me.
She catches up quickly and hops into the passenger seat of the truck. That works for me, because I don’t have the time to worry about her right now. All I can think about is Sarge.
I barrel down the country road as I dial Mo.
“Where to next?” I bark when Mo answers my call.
I take a sharp turn right at her response. Today, I plan on leaving no stone unturned.
The afternoon flies by in a blur, and dusk looms with still no sign of Sarge. I scrub my hands over my face, and my forehead hits the steering wheel.
“Where the hell could he be?”
Celia brushes a hand up my back and squeezes my shoulder. “We’ll keep looking.”
I huff in frustration and face her. “I’m all out of ideas, Celia. I don’t know where else to turn.”
Her eyes soften, and her lips turn down just as my phone rings. When I see Kimberly’s name on the screen, I groan.
“Fuuuuuuuck,” I growl, and then hit the TALK key. “Hey, there’s a little change of plans tonight. I won’t be able to make dinner.”
Celia stiffens and shifts to the far end of the truck. As crazy as it sounds, I feel like I’m betraying Celia by picking up the phone and talking to Kimberly.
“Oh, no you don’t, Cain Bennett. Tonight is our night. You aren’t backing out on me.” Kimberly skipped whiny today and moved on to downright hostile.
“My grandfather took off this afternoon, and we can’t find him. We’ve torn the town apart with no luck. I don’t know what else to do … or where else to go.” It stings to say the words out loud, but the truth is, I’m beginning to lose hope. After hours with no sign of him, I’m starting to believe the worst.
Kimberly expels a loud huff. “Look, he’s gonna turn up, and everything will be fine. Old people do things like this, Cain. And didn’t you mention he has Alzheimer’s? He’ll snap out of it and show up at home like nothing happened.” Just when I think her version of a pep talk is over she starts up again. “He’ll turn up, and our night will be ruined for nothing. We made these plans over a week ago, and I’m not canceling them.”
What. The. Fuck?
I fling open the truck door and slam it with enough force to shake the cab. I pace the length of the truck in an attempt to rein in my temper, which is dangerously close to boiling over. Kimberly’s selfishness and complete lack of concern floors me.
“I’m pretty damn sure my night is already ruined, Kimberly, since my grandfather is fucking missing!” I roar into the phone. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t dismiss my feelings and my family crisis and get back to it. I’ll be sure to phone you when we find him. It’s fucking obvious how concerned you are for him and for me.”
I hang up before she responds. It’s for the best. No words will make up for her callousness. I spend a few extra moments outside to calm down. When I open the truck door and see Celia’s wide eyes, it’s obvious she heard every word I said.