Someone Else’s Life(76)

Nothing.

She stood still, her mind turning. But she was too tired to try and figure it out. She walked into the living room and curled up next to Brody on the couch. Laying her head on his shoulder, she sighed when he put an arm around her. They stayed like that for a long time, neither of them moving or speaking, as they gazed at their son, safe and asleep across the room.



The next morning, Annie opened her eyes to find Brody gone from the bed. Marley lifted his head off his bed on the floor by Annie’s side and got up when she did. She hadn’t slept much, but was wide awake. She walked out of the bedroom with Marley following with a slight limp, and checked on Finn, relieved that he was sleeping peacefully. It was too early to call the vet, but she would as soon as they opened.

She grabbed her phone off the breakfast bar, where it was charging, and then paused when she saw Serena’s phone next to hers. Someone must have found it on the couch, where Annie remembered seeing it last. She picked it up and looked at the picture on the lock screen. And now, knowing what she knew, she realized it was the lake in New York. That was why it had looked familiar. She dropped Serena’s phone back on the counter. She’d have to give it to the police.

Marley followed her as she went to the hook by the door and took down the towel that she’d hung there yesterday. She stopped when she caught sight of Serena’s windbreaker. The woman was gone, but she’d left pieces of herself all over the Ohana. With a sigh, Annie opened the front door and slipped out quietly with Marley. She used the towel to dry one of the chairs on the lanai, then sat down, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them. It was so peaceful this morning, the first hints of sunlight highlighting the damage the storm had done last night. Fallen palm leaves were everywhere, debris and dirt washed up against buildings and the street and driveway littered with branches and leaves. Their lawn and driveway were still flooded, but the water had receded a lot, only about ankle deep. The air was calm and the chickens roamed about again, the roosters crowing as they chased the hens.

How was it only yesterday that Serena had knocked on her door? How had she not known the woman even twenty-four hours ago, yet now, she knew so much about her and her life? They were still searching for her, and Annie wondered at the optimism. She didn’t believe Serena was still alive. She was almost sure she was gone.

Annie picked up her phone and scrolled to the selfie she’d taken of herself and Serena yesterday. She studied it, noting how happy they’d looked, how she’d been so sure they were going to be fast friends. She sighed and closed out the picture, putting the phone down on the table next to the chair.

She looked up when Brody’s car rolled through the water into the driveway. Where had he gone so early in the morning?

Brody got out of the car holding several small white paper bags. She knew what they were: croissants from Haole Girl Island Sweets, her favorite pastry shop. When he reached her, he held one out.

“Is this the Havarti-and-mushroom croissant?” Annie asked, her voice shaky.

“You know it.” He pointed at the bag. “And there’s a passionfruit curd with cream cheese in there too.”

Her heart swelled with love for her husband. He’d gotten up early and bought her two favorite croissants. He remembered how much she loved them. How had he put up with her all these years? She stood and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close. She hoped she could convey what getting these treats meant to her, especially this morning. Because right now, she couldn’t find the words to express to him how much he meant to her.

“I got the ham-and-cheese one for me and Finn, whenever he wakes up.”

Annie pulled away and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“You want to stay out here? You look like you could use some alone time to have an orgy with them.” He smirked at her, and she reached out and slapped his butt.

“Yeah. Leave me to my love affair.”

He pulled her close and, after a deep kiss, went into the Ohana.

Annie looked at Marley. “You know I have the best husband, right? I’ve been such an idiot. I almost lost him.”

Marley dipped his head down as if nodding in agreement.

Annie laughed. “Don’t agree with me, Marley. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

She sat back down and took out a croissant. Taking a bite, she savored the tang of the cheese and the deep mushroom flavor in her mouth. She broke off a piece of the croissant and gave it to Marley, who took it politely.

Grief welled inside her, catching her by surprise as she flashed on the moment when Serena fell into the river. She’d been ready to come back; Annie was sure of it. But now she was missing, and Annie couldn’t shake the feeling she’d failed her somehow. At the same time, she was having a hard time reconciling the woman who’d tried to bash her over the head with a wine bottle with the woman she’d genuinely liked and thought would become a good friend. She wished Serena’s car had never broken down on the street, that Serena had never knocked on her door.

Thinking of the car, Annie jolted up, putting the pastry down on the small table next to the chairs. In the chaos last night, she’d never told the police why Serena had been at her house. She hadn’t told them about Serena’s dead car. It must still be stuck on their cul-de-sac. She slipped her feet into flip-flops and told Marley to stay. She splashed down the driveway, wading through the water, but Marley followed her anyway. Great, now he’d be all dirty again, after the bath Sam had given him last night. She stopped, uncertain what to do. She wanted to go back and put Marley in the house, but he was all wet and she’d have to stop and wipe him off. Her urgency to get to Serena’s car won out.