Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“That sounds really nice. I’d probably be doing the same.” I laughed.
“See.” He tipped his mug my way. “You get it.”
I looked up as a bird squawked. “Have you ever met the owner of the rental? Alex, I think.”
“Haven’t met him, no,” Eddie answered. “But I hear he’s civilized enough. His uncle is the sheriff. James Reed. I see his face plastered all over the town. The people love him.”
“Mmm. Yeah, I’ve met the sheriff. Twice, actually. He pulled me over when I was on the way here.”
“Seriously?” Eddie scoffed. “My wife got pulled over by him about a month ago. He claimed she was speeding but she swears up and down she wasn’t.”
“I can imagine the cops here are extremely bored.”
“Oh yeah. No doubt about that.” He took a brief pause, then switched gears. “So, what’s all this about your friend?”
“Well, she booked Alex’s cottage a few days ago but I haven’t heard from her since she checked out. When I call, her phone goes straight to voicemail. I figured I’d come to Sage Hill and check things out, but I haven’t had much luck.”
“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that. Did you ask them if they’d seen her?” he asked, gesturing across the lake.
“Not yet. I don’t want to alarm too many people.” I swallowed hard while shaking my head. “The thing is, Eve is the kind of friend who is spontaneous. I don’t want to assume she’s missing or anything if she’s just booked a trip to Hawaii or something.” I laughed.
Eddie laughed too. “Hawaii sounds like a dream right about now.”
“Right? So . . . who knows, you know? Only thing is it’s not like her to not be in touch.”
His brows dipped. “No?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what.” Eddie placed his coffee down on the nearest surface and leaned back, folding his arms. “I wouldn’t put anything past those boys. I’d go and ask them if they have seen her. Wouldn’t even beat around the bush.”
“Daddy?” a small voice came from the left and I craned my neck to see a little girl standing on the dock with a pink dress on. Her coily dark hair was unruly and her feet bare. She had beautiful beige skin and eyes just like her father’s. Couldn’t have been any older than four.
“Oh, baby girl!” Eddie stood and walked off the boat to scoop her up. “I’ve told you about coming down here all by yourself.”
“Sowwy,” she said in a soft voice.
“That’s alright.” He bounced her on his hip. “How was your nap?”
“Good.” The little girl laughed.
I took that as my sign to get up and stop interrupting this man’s day.
“What’s her name?” I asked, joining them on the dock.
“Go on, baby. Tell her your name,” Eddie encouraged.
“Emily,” she replied bashfully, placing her head on her dad’s shoulder.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Emily,” I cooed. “Well, I’m going to get going. Thank you for the water and for taking time to speak with me, Eddie. I really appreciate it.”
“ ’Course. No problem.”
“I’m thirsty, Daddy.”
Eddie smiled at Emily, then gave me an apologetic look. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be much help, but I hope you figure things out. If you need anything else, I’m only a knock away.”
“Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I walked away as Eddie started asking Emily if she was hungry too.
I thought about going back to the cottage, but I gave another glance at the house in the trees. The Abbots. Though I doubted they’d be of more help than Eddie was, I walked in the direction of their home anyway.
Eve Castillo journal entry
I’ve been having weird dreams.
Last night, I dreamt I was under water. For some reason, I’m not in my own body. I can see myself . . . all of me. I’m under water and my leg is caught on something and I can’t free myself from it. I look up where the sun is shining. I see people splashing around. I hear them having so much fun. Someone leans over a platform and looks right at me, pointing. I open my mouth and bubbles come out as I try to call for help.
I try to swim up but whatever is wrapped around my ankle is holding on tighter and dragging me down. Then I panic because I can’t breathe. I flap my arms, wanting to reach the surface but I never do.
I’ve had this dream two nights in a row. I can’t help wondering if it means my life has become too much—or that I’ve become too much. I ask myself if it’s because I feel like I’m drowning now. Could this mean that when people see me struggling, they don’t care enough to save me?
I don’t blame them.
I can’t even save myself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The Abbots had a lovely home made of wood with cream shutters and a metal roof. It was hard not to notice how well-kept it was. Their house appeared nearly as old as Twilight Oaks, and it too seemed to have gone through a few renovations over the years. A maroon Buick was parked in the driveaway to my left. Another car was beside it, concealed with a gray covering.