“Fine.” Sophie stood. “If you won’t go get her back, I will. I told Garth to drop the kids with Grandma if I didn’t come back within an hour. I’m going to drive over to—”
“No, honey.” Leroy put a hand on her shoulder. “If anyone is going to look for her, it should be me.”
“You will?” Her eyes brightened.
“I’ll give it a shot.”
“You’re not just saying that? Not just trying to pacify me? You’ll really look for her and try to bring her back?”
“I’ll try.” He took a bite of toast, slowly chewing, wondering if it was possible to find her, and what he’d do if he did.
“Give me your phone.” Sophie stuck out her hand. “I’ll put Bree’s number in your contacts. I just tried calling again, and it’s still off. But you’ll have to keep trying.”
“Right.” He finished the last of his make-do meal then hugged Sophie. “I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise you it’ll work out. Even if I find her, she might refuse to come back.”
Sophie slowly nodded. “I can accept that. Just give her a chance. If she says no, I’ll understand.”
“And you won’t blame me?”
She shrugged. “Well, maybe a little. But I’ll forgive you.” She smiled.
He hugged her again and, promising to stay in touch with her during his search, he headed out. But as he turned onto the highway and drove toward town, he had no idea where to begin. For all he knew, Brynna could’ve taken the taxi straight to the municipal airport, gotten a flight to San Francisco International Airport, and flown standby back to Oregon. She could be home by now. But he hoped she wasn’t. As he drove, he actually prayed, asking God to help him find her. He told himself it was for Sophie’s sake, but he had a feeling it was more than that.
Chapter 26
As the afternoon grew hotter, Brynna grew weary of town and, after purchasing a book to distract her from her unsettling thoughts, she returned to the B and B. She asked for her phone, explaining to the owner that she was still waiting for friends to pick her up.
“Just make yourself at home in our sitting room.” The woman handed Brynna her phone. “It’s all charged. Sounded like you missed some phone calls.”
Brynna thanked her and took the phone to the other room to see the missed calls were from Sophie, as well as several from an unknown number. Probably a telemarketer or scammer. Seeing that Sophie had just left a message, Brynna listened. To her surprise it sounded as if Leroy was out looking for her. “Please, call him if you get this message,” Sophie pleaded. “Tell him you’re okay. We’re very worried about you.” And then Sophie left the number. It matched the unknown number.
Brynna was tempted to ignore it. Really, what good would it do to talk to him now? He’d made his feelings crystal clear yesterday. Her intrusion had rocked his world, but not in a good way. Despite her resolve to be strong and resilient about it, she wasn’t sure she could handle more humiliation from him. Not that she didn’t deserveit—she knew she did. But why not let sleeping dogs lie? She set her phone down and picked up her book, but before she’d read one page, her phone was chiming. The unknown number again. Knowing it must be Leroy, she let it ring a few times then thought she might as well get this over with. She answered, her tone stony.
“Brynna?” His voice sounded worried. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine.” She tried to insert some warmth, but knew it sounded phony.
“Oh ... that’s good.” There was a long pause. “Well, this is Leroy.”
She didn’t respond. She couldn’t think of anything to say.
“Sophie asked me to find you, Brynna. She’s sick with worry.”
“I’m sorry.” She felt bad imagining Sophie suffering. “I didn’t want to cause any more hurt, but I left her a note.”
“Yes, she got your note.” Another long pause. “We both did.”
Again, she could think of no response. Really, what more was there to say?
“Your note to me, well, it said you had more to tell me, if I was inclined to listen. And I guess I’m calling to say that I’m inclined.”
Her heart lurched slightly. “Oh?”
“Yes, and I want to apologize to you, Brynna. I know I overreacted yesterday. It’s just that I was so blindsided by—by everything. But I’m afraid I was pretty hard on you. I really am sorry.”
“I’m the one who should apologize. I tried to, but—”
“Yes, I know. Apology accepted. Now, unless you’re already back home in Oregon, can we arrange to get together and talk?”
