All the Missing Girls(39)

“There’s nothing in the house, Dad. I promise.”

“There’s plenty,” he said. “I need to . . . I keep memories. A record, to help my mind, a—”

The nurse opened the door. “Mrs. Addelson wants him evaluated by the doctor. Come on, Patrick,” she said to him without making eye contact with me.

He stood and leaned down as he passed, his heavy hand resting on my shoulder. “With the skeletons,” he whispered. “Get it. Get it first.”



* * *



I SPENT THE RIDE home calling people who didn’t pick up the phone. Daniel was at work, on site somewhere. Tyler was probably busy at work, too. Everett didn’t pick up but sent me a text after saying he was stuck in a meeting and would call later.

When I pulled into the driveway, Laura was waiting on the front porch, leaning back on her elbows, shifting uncomfortably on the wooden steps.

Something was wrong. We didn’t have a random-drop-in relationship. We hadn’t spoken since the baby shower. And what kind of news couldn’t she give over the phone? I held my breath as I walked toward the steps, my heart pounding, before I saw the pots and containers of soil spread out on the porch.

“Hey,” she said, slightly unsure herself. “Dan said you guys could use some stuff for the garden. And I’m in full-on nesting mode, but I’ve run out of things to nest with. I’d do it myself, but I topple over when I try to garden now. It’s embarrassing.”

“Thank you. You didn’t have to do this. But thank you.”

“And,” she said. “I wanted to apologize for Saturday. For my friends.”

I shook my head fast. “Don’t. It’s fine.”

“It’s not,” she said. “They sometimes don’t think. They’re good people, really. But that doesn’t excuse it.”

“Okay,” I said, just to get her to stop. I sat down on the step beside her. “I’d invite you in to cool down, but I think it’s probably worse in there. Do you want a drink?”

“No, I’m fine,” she said. “Are you busy? Or do you have time for me to walk you through some of this?”

Her voice was so hopeful, I couldn’t send her away. Not like this. Not right now. Not when everyone else was unreachable and all I had left were my dad’s words for company. With the skeletons, he said. I felt my mind wanting to dive down the rabbit hole after him. “Yes,” I said. “I have time.”

Laura had a scent to her, the fragrance from the garden catching, clinging, taking root in her. Like she herself was blooming or thriving. Her skin had gone transparent, or her veins had darkened as blood rushed under her skin, and I could see the fine map running through her. Life, I thought.

“These are full-shade,” she said, gesturing to a pot, “so I thought they’d be perfect for the side garden.” She paused, frowned. “Some animal really made a mess of it.”

I pushed off the steps and reached my hand down to help her stand. She smoothed the fabric of her dress, stretching her neck to look up at the house.

“The place has good bones,” she said. “It just needs a little work. Dan’s glad you’re here.”

“He has a funny way of showing it.”

She brushed the comment aside with a swipe of her hand. “He’s got a lot on his plate, between work, your dad, the property, and the baby. He’s just stressed.” She grinned. “I’m planning to ask him to put an addition on our house, but figure I should probably wait until all this has passed.” She waved her hand around her head, and I wasn’t sure whether she was talking about the property or everything.

“Good thinking.” I picked up the larger flower pots, started walking toward the side of the house. Laura carried a few of the smaller ones, trailing behind.

“I know he’s not perfect,” she said. “I know you’ve had your differences. But he takes care of your dad, and he takes care of us. He’s going to be a good father—you can see that, right?”

“Of course,” I said automatically. It was the expected response, the right thing to say.

Laura frowned, as if she could see right through me. “He was just a kid back then, Nic. Same as you.”

As if this was something they had discussed. As if Daniel had drawn her into our family with all of our history—not just as an extension, but something more. A part of our past, as much as our future. She was leaning against the siding, watching me.

I sighed, nodded. “Okay, Laura,” I said, brushing my hands on the sides of my pants. “Where do we start?”



* * *



MY CELL PHONE RANG when I was in the shower, as the soil clumped and swirled down the drain. I reached my hand through the curtain and hit the speaker so I wouldn’t get the phone wet. “Hello?” I said, expecting Daniel or Everett.

But the voice. The voice was every bit as sharp as my memory. Tight and quick. Soft and unsure. “It’s Bailey,” she said.

“Hi,” I said, like an idiot. I turned off the water and stood naked, my hair dripping and goose bumps forming across my skin.

“They’re bringing your dad down to the station tomorrow for questioning.” She let out a slow breath. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”