He gave us one last look, then turned and got back into his patrol car and left. The silence he left behind felt stifling.
Her worry flared quickly, the guilt following close behind. “Chase, I should’ve noticed he wasn’t here yesterday. I’ve been so caught up in this barn dance—getting everything ready, chasing down donations—I’m letting it get in the way of what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m so sorry.”
“Hey.” I reached out, brushing my fingers under her chin until she looked at me. “Don’t do that. Don’t turn this into something it’s not. You left food, you left a note—he’s a teenager, not a toddler. And the barn dance? It matters. To this town and the people it’s going to help.”
“But if I’d paid more attention, I would’ve realized?—”
“Anna.” My voice softened. “He’s not invisible to us anymore. We’re going to find him, okay?”
Her shoulders dropped a fraction, but I could still see the tension in her eyes.
I pulled her close, feeling that same tension inside of me.
Chapter 29
Anna
We spenthours in one of the UTVs and drove all over the farm, calling for Jordan. We drove up to the Christmas tree lots. We texted everyone we knew.
Nothing. No one had seen him.
We finally went to bed, but neither of us slept. We lay there, our fingers laced together, but saying nothing. Jordan had crept into our hearts, and neither of us would be okay until we found him.
By morning, my limbs felt sluggish, but my thoughts refused to slow down. Chase was on his third cup of coffee by the time the sun rose. We both kept peering out the window, hoping Jordan would stroll up in his casual way, even though it was Sunday. Jack paced restlessly, his nails clicking across the floor. Every now and then, he lifted his head and whined, soft and uneasy.
I bent to rub his ears. “I know, buddy. We miss him, too.”
Chase’s coffee cup banged on the table, startling me from my stare out of the large kitchen window. “I’m going todrive around again,” he said, already standing. “Maybe with more daylight, I’ll notice something.”
We both felt helpless and needed something to do. “Okay. I’m going to grab some things I left at the bunkhouse. Maybe make a few of his favorites to welcome him home. If he’s been out there not eating…” My throat tightened. I didn’t want to think about how miserable he might be.
I tried not to spiral. Maybe he was holed up at a friend’s house. I knew Reid was following through on that, but so far, no one had seen him. The fury that simmered beneath the surface flared. His mother had entrusted her family to take care of her son when she was gone. And while she wasn’t here to look out for Jordan, I was. Right then, I made a silent vow to a woman I didn’t know that I would do everything to make sure he was taken care of.
Chase must have seen the storm brewing in my eyes because he wrapped me in a reassuring hug. “He’ll enjoy that. Don’t worry, Blossom. We’ll find him.”
After Chase left, I slipped on my sneakers and stepped out into the early morning. The grass was damp with dew, and the sky was a dull wash of clouds that stretched across as far as I could see, even dulling the tops of the mountains in the near distance. It matched my mood. And like the sky, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to let loose and cry or hold it all in until we knew something for sure about Jordan.
I walked the short path to the bunkhouse, the damp grass soaking through my shoes. Jack followed, sticking close to my side instead of bounding ahead like he usually did. Even he sensed the uncertainty that filled the air.
Inside, the small building was quiet. I couldn’t stop myself from looking at the chair at one end of the long table where Jordan usually sat. Part of the group, but never in themiddle of it. Always on the edge. Toeing the line between being included and staying invisible. Something I understood a little too well.
I headed to the kitchen and opened the cabinets, taking stock of what I had. There were plenty of things I could make, but I wanted to be sure to have his favorites. Comfort foods. Sloppy Joe sandwiches would be easy, and the meat would keep well in the crockpot for people to have as they came and went. Maybe some coleslaw for a side. Jordan loved everything peanut butter, especially the cookies I made yesterday. Even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I smiled a little sadly as I remembered how I learned from his puckered face that he preferred strawberry jelly, not grape, on his sandwiches.
We’d need plenty of food as the search picked up today. Dozens of people said they’d come out today to help us look for the missing teen.
Everyone except his so-called family. The same ones who didn’t even bother to let anyone know he hadn’t come home on Thursday.
My hands gripped the countertop as a thousand awful thoughts rushed in. Bears. A stranger on the road. Being struck by a car. Lying sick or hurt somewhere.
No!I shook my head sharply.He’s smart. Resourceful. It was probably like Reid said. He’s pissed off at something and is cooling his jets somewhere.
I grabbed the jar of peanut butter from the pantry to make PB&J sandwiches, but paused when I twisted off the lid. Nearly half was gone—and I hadn’t used nearly that much for the batch of cookies I made yesterday.
A hum of awareness spread through me. I scanned the room. Everything seemed untouched from when I left yesterday, but someone had definitely been here.
Could Jordan have come for the food? Could he be here?
I stepped outside and called his name. “Jordan?”
