“I told you to put them in your pocket,” Dot said. “You never listen to me.”
“I did put them in my pocket. But there’s a hole in my pocket that you haven’t gotten around to sewing yet.”
“Well, maybe I would’ve done that this morning if you hadn’t insisted on dragging me out here to waste hours on the water.”
“I’m sorry you consider time spent with me a waste.”
“Not to worry.” Connor broke in before the argument could go any further. “Happens all the time.” He stripped off his shirt. “And I was just thinking it was a great day for a swim.”
Chapter 5
Maddy rubbed her temples where the beginnings of a headache throbbed as Nora pulled her Mercedes into the cottage’s drive.
After trying to reach Gram’s friends they’d decided to visit some of her favorite places to see if there was any trace of her. They’d stopped at the sheriff’s office for an update, but there was nothing to report yet.
Nora had insisted on driving, so Maddy took the passenger seat. Emma sat behind her, as far away from Nora as she could get, Pippy curled on her lap. It had been a tense morning, laden with passive-aggressive comments between the two of them. Maddy found herself once again in the position of mediator, a role she did not embrace. She’d rather avoid conflict altogether, but her sisters didn’t seem to be of the same mind.
Nora shut off the engine, and the sisters quietly exited the vehicle, Pippy trailing on a leash. They’d agreed to stop back home for a quick lunch and to check Gram’s voicemail. After lunch they’d make up fliers to post around town, then take the ferry to Bald Head Island. It was possible Gram had gone there and been unable to return for some reason.
Maddy was going to suggest they split up and conquer both jobs at once. They’d get through the tasks more efficiently, and besides, it was exhausting having Nora and Emma together.
Emma took Pippy to do her business while Maddy and Nora checked the phone—no messages. Maddy fought the tide of hopelessness that threatened to swallow her. What in the world had happened to their grandmother? It was as if she’d simply dropped off the planet. Despair rolled in like fog off the harbor.
She walked over to the bank of windows at the back of the house, where bright sunlight streamed into the kitchen. Beyond the deck the rolling dunes stretched out, leveling to a wide strip of sandy beach. Waves frothed at the shoreline, and beyond it the water grew darker as it extended toward the horizon, a sharp line against the pale blue sky. On many days she’d stood and appreciated this very view, but today even such beauty failed to lift her spirits.
She thought of Nick back home and wondered what he was doing. He hadn’t so much as called since she walked out of Pirouette. That said it all, she supposed. An ache opened up in her middle. Hard to believe it had only been two days. She hoped time and geographical distance would bring perspective.
Clearly she hadn’t known Nick the way she thought she had. The betrayal had only reinforced her distrust in love and her distaste for secrets. She wanted to stay as far away from both as possible.
She determined to push all thoughts of Nick from her mind. There were enough worries here.
She turned to find Nora rooting through the pantry. Even when her sister was out of her element she appeared put together, with her styled hair and flawless makeup. Her ivory pants and sleeveless blouse were more suited to lunch at the club than a search-and-rescue party.
“Why don’t you let me do that?” Maddy said.
“I need to stay busy. You know, as long as we’re here we may as well start sorting through things upstairs. Gram’s been after us to clean this place out forever.”
Guilt pinched Maddy hard. Their grandmother had been wanting to put the house on the market for a couple years. The upkeep was getting to be too much for her—as was obvious by the weathered shingles and overgrown flower beds. But Maddy had been too busy to take the time. They’d all been too busy for Gram.
“We should definitely do that,” Maddy said. It would help pass the long evening hours, and doing something nice for Gram might assuage her guilt.
“Actually...” Nora finished opening a can of soup and began scraping it into a pan. “There’s really no reason for all of us to stay. I can handle things here with Gram and keep in touch with the two of you.”
Maddy turned. “Don’t be silly. I’d only be worried senseless.”
“I know your job’s important to you. You’ve worked very hard to get where you are. There’s no reason to jeopardize your position.”
Maddy bit her lip as she pulled bowls from the old white cabinets. She should tell her sister the truth, but the words got caught in her throat. She didn’twantto rush home, she realized. What was waiting for her? An empty apartment? The unemployment line? Disappointments and heartache?
She set the bowls beside the stove and went for napkins and spoons. “There’s nothing more important than Gram. Besides, as you said, this would be a great time to clean out the house.”
“I can handle all that. I’ll box up your things and send them on to you and Emma.”
“You shouldn’t have to do it alone. There’s a lot that needs done around here. Gram obviously hasn’t been able to keep up the place. There’s at least a month’s worth of work, even if we all pitch in. Besides, going through all the stuff stored here might not be very... easy.”
Emma appeared on the kitchen threshold, cradling Pippy, her brown eyes toggling between Maddy and Nora. “What won’t be easy?”
“Nora and I were thinking we should start cleaning out the house tonight, since we’re here anyway. The house needs some work too.”
