Page 88 of The Pumpkin Pie Book Nook

She didn’t answer.

If she picked up right now, she’d snap. She’d say something sarcastic and regret it. She’d hurt him back just because she was hurting.

She let it ring out, telling herself she’d call him in five minutes. Ten. Enough time to cool down.

But that plan didn’t even make it to the next breath.

A text lit up her screen.

Emma’s not here. I can’t find her.

Robyn’s stomach dropped so fast she went cold.

Two short sentences that were enough to drain every last ounce of anger right out of her body and replace it with pure panic.

“What?” she whispered, already hitting call.

Tyler answered immediately, his voice ragged. “She didn’t run home. I don’t know where she went.”

Robyn could hear movement: doors opening and shutting, footsteps, Tyler calling her name like he was trying to pull Emma out of thin air.

“Emma!” he shouted in the background. “Emma, baby, come on—where are you?”

Robyn’s heart slammed against her ribs. “Okay,” she said, forcing calm into her voice even though her hands were shaking. “Okay, listen to me. We’re going to find her.”

“Robyn—” His voice cracked. “I checked her room. The bathroom. The backyard. She’s not here.”

“I’m going to start looking right now,” Robyn said. “And I’m going to get the word out. Don’t… don’t spiral, Tyler. We’ll find her.”

She hung up before she could hear him break.

Robyn was already moving.

She shoved her feet into boots, grabbed her coat, and snatched her phone off the counter. On her way out, she almost tripped over the forgotten dinner like the universe was trying to remind her how quickly a normal night could turn into something else entirely.

Outside, the air was cold enough to sting.

Robyn’s breath puffed white as she jogged down the stairs and onto Oak Way, eyes scanning the sidewalk, the corners, the shadows.

Then she opened the Maple Falls Book Club group chat with trembling fingers and typed.

Emma is missing. Last seen on Oak Way near Anita’s. Please keep an eye out—check your shops and the street.

She hit send.

The chat lit up immediately.

Mrs. C.: On my way. I’m calling Mrs. Bishop too. We’ll canvass the neighborhood by Tyler’s house.

Emily: I’ll grab my flashlight and check the park. Maybe she went back to the haunted house?

Zoe: I’m at the flower shop. I’ll look around the block and keep the door open in case she wanders in.

Cassidy: Liam and I are heading out now. We’ll check Winding Creek and the road between.

Liam: I’ll check the barns + fields too.

Kit: I’m closing up early and walking Oak Way. Text me if you find her.