Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“I’ve checked with my parents, but they haven’t heard from Deirdre all day. Does Gigi have any other friends whose houses they might’ve gone to?”
“I’ve already called everyone she could possibly be with,” Derek responded flatly. “I’m starting to regret not insisting she install one of those tracking apps on her phone.”
Feeling my stomach twist with unease, and also from the angry vibes simmering off him, I suggested, “Perhaps we should check the beach, just in case.”
He nodded gruffly, and we drove in silence for a few minutes before reaching the beach. Derek parked, and we both hopped out to check along the strand. It was completely deserted, and my twisting unease intensified. I searched my brain for anything I might’ve overheard the girls discussing, perhaps some plans to go somewhere, but drew a blank.
“They’re not here. Let’s get back to the car,” Derek said curtly.
“I’m worried, too, you know. You’re acting like this is my fault somehow.”
“Maybe it’s not your fault, but your daughter’s done this before,” he clipped.
“What are you talking about?”
“You told me how she and her friend snuck off without telling you when you lived in London. This seems like a very similar situation. Deirdre’s convinced Gigi to go off somewhere, and they could be stranded right now. What if they were mugged and don’t have their phones?”
“First of all, that was years ago, and Deirdre’s gotten a lot more responsible since then. And second, I can’t believe you’d throw something like that in my face. The only reason I told you was to console you when Gigi lied to you about the concert.”
His only response was a wordless grunt that incensed me further. Earlier tonight when we’d stood close in that storage room at the school, I’d felt a connection simmer. There’d been a warmth between us and a teasing flirtation from him, but now all that was gone. We were too worried about our daughters, and endless terrifying scenarios wouldn’t stop running through my head.
“Can you try both their numbers again?” Derek requested when we got back to the car. “I’m going to drive us through town and see if we can spot them.”
“Sure,” I replied, still sullen over how he’d spoken to me on the beach. Pulling out my phone, I tried Deirdre’s number again, but it went straight to voicemail just like it had earlier. I left another worried message for her to contact me as soon as possible before hanging up and trying Gigi’s phone. It rang several times, and when someone answered, “Hello?” my heart leapt. Immediately putting it on speaker, I replied, “Hello, Gigi?”
Derek glanced my way, looking just as hopeful as I felt.
“Sorry, this is Mina. I have Gigi’s phone,” a girl responded. “We met earlier tonight, but she left her mobile behind. I’ve been trying to call Deirdre to let her know, but I think her battery died.”
“Who is this, and how do you know my daughter?” Derek demanded.
The girl on the other end of the call—Mina—sounded nervous when she said, “Me and my friends met Gigi and Deirdre at the Purple Beatrice concert a couple nights ago. We arranged to meet up today at my house in Sutton, but they left over an hour ago.”
“Sutton?” I said, looking to Derek. “They should’ve been home by now if they got the train.”
“They did get the train. Are they not home yet?” Mina asked. “Maybe it was delayed.”
“Yes, maybe. We’ll check the station. Thank you, Mina. We’ll have Gigi contact you to collect her phone.”
Derek looked like he wanted to say more, but I hung up before he had the chance. Mina sounded around the same age as the girls, and I was certain Derek’s low, grumpy dad voice had her half terrified. I watched as he made a sharp U-turn then headed back in the direction of the train station. The drive was silent, and when we got there, the display told us the next train would be arriving in ten minutes.
“If they’re on this train, let’s just be glad they’re okay and not be too hard on them, yeah?” I ventured while Derek stood next to me on the platform, a flat scowl on his face as he quietly fumed.
“I’ll parent my daughter how I see fit,” he replied all surly, and even though I was mad at Deirdre for going off to Sutton without telling me, I didn’t appreciate how testy he was being. Maybe getting close to him the last few days was a mistake. I certainly didn’t need to be navigating his unpredictable moods.
We stood in silence until the train arrived, and when I spotted the girls emerge from a carriage, I felt such intense relief I could barely even be mad anymore.
“What the hell were the two of you thinking?” Derek demanded as he stomped forward.