Alcohol was part of polite society, always there, and knowing I’d never have it again was a hard pill to swallow. No pun intended.
But I was also a realist. And the cold, hard truth was I could never drink again. The sooner I accepted it, the easier it would get.
At least I hoped it would be.
I headed for the checkout lanes before I could change my mind. After I paid in cash, I walked out into the warm spring morning and drew in a deep breath. I’d walked away from temptation. Maybe I’d cave next time, but this morning was a win.
One day at a time? More like one minute. Maybe even ten seconds.
After I loaded the bags into the backseat, I pulled out my phone, facing another temptation. Calling Louise could be risky, but she sounded concerned in her messages. I didn’t want to worry her, and considering she was a sheriff’s deputy, she might start digging into where I’d gone.
Leaning my butt against the trunk, I placed the call.
“Deputy Louise Brown,” she answered in her official deputy-sheriff voice, not that I was surprised. The number wouldn’t show as mine.
“Louise. It’s me.”
“Harper?” Her voice jumped an octave. “Why haven’t you answered my calls or texts?”
“Sorry. I’ve been on a tech detox.” It seemed as good an excuse as any.
“Your father is freaking out.”
My back stiffened. “What? How do you know?”
“He’s called me multiple times, telling me he thinks you’re in danger, but when I press him as to why, he won’t answer.” She paused. “Do you know what he’s talking about?”
I did, but I wasn’t about to admit it. “He’s probably just paranoid after my mother’s death. When I left for my grandparents’, he and I weren’t on great terms. I didn’t tell him where I’d gone. Did you tell him?”
“No, you told me to keep it a secret. But he told me you were supposed to meet him last week and you never showed.”
I pushed out a heavy sigh. “I already told him that I’d changed my mind. I called him the next day.”
“He’s about to file a missing person’s report on you, Harper.”
My father being persistent in tracking me down hadn’t been on my bingo card. “I didn’t tell him I was going to my grandparents’ place, but I told him not to worry. That I needed some space to process.”
“Funny thing, that,” she said, her voice tight. “I called your grandparents.”
I pressed my back into the car, panic swirling in my head.
“No response to that?” she prodded.
“Okay,” I said, “I didn’t go to my grandparents’ house. But I knew if I told you and my father that I needed time away, you’d worry.”
“So where are you?”
I hesitated. If there was anyone I trusted in law enforcement, it was Louise. But I couldn’t flat out tell her the truth.
Could I?
“Hot Springs,” I said. “I’m having a spa week.”
“You never struck me as a spa girl.” She didn’t bother hiding her skepticism.
“It’s beautiful here,” I said, my gaze scanning the Walmart parking lot. “I mostly spend time outdoors.”
“You know what’s also funny?” she asked, then didn’t wait for me to answer. “James Malcolm hasn’t been seen all week either.”
