Linc held on tight, tears of gratitude burning his eyes. “Looks like you were meant for me, kid.”
They stood, hugging, under the light of the lamppost, until Linc thought his heart couldn’t grow any larger.Thank you. The prayer came naturally, and with it, the faith to believe for more.
For their entire family.
He stiffened. Now, if only he could find Zoey. Convince her he was a jerk, convince her he didn’t just need her, he wanted her. First part wouldn’t be hard, but the second. He swallowed, hugged Amelia tighter as the rain continued to pour.
Time to hope the sun would come out, just one more time. For them all.
twenty-four
“Amelia!”
She pulled away from Linc’s hug, squinting across the park. “Did you just hear my name?”
“I think so.” Linc turned, searching the shadows around the lot. Another shout echoed across the field, and a light flashed over the hill behind the gazebo. What in the world?
Then a flashlight beam shot across his face. He shielded his eyes with his hand, scowled. “Who is that?”
Amelia’s mouth opened. “That’s…everyone.”
She was right. Sure enough, the whole town crested the hill, converging on the park, holding lanterns, toting flashlights, wearing headlamps. Sheriff Rubart led the charge with an umbrella, flanked by Sadie and Harper and Mrs. Peters, wearing a clear plastic rain slicker. Even Peggy, the eighth-grade teacher, wasn’t far behind them, marching alongside a handful of other teachers Linc recognized from town. There was Pastor Todd and Isaac Bergeron and Mayor Landry, Madame Paulette in an oversized poncho. Several deputies, Captain Sanders from the fire department. Sawyer Dubois, in a graphic tee featuring a guitar, his long hair dripping.
Cade and Owen yelled as they jogged toward them. “There she is!”
Miley, with a dark hoodie over her head, tagged close behind with Trish and Rosalyn. Bringing up the rear was Mama D and Farmer Branson, who gallantly held an umbrella over her head.
“She’s here!”
“She’s all right!”
“We found her!”
The shouts mingled—the inaccurate last one making Linc smirk—as ten people tried to group-hug Amelia at once. Her eyes widened and her back stiffened before Linc lost sight of her completely in the mob of ponchos and ball caps.
There was only one person missing.
But that was his fault. Linc waited a moment, then whistled between two fingers. “Let her breathe.”
Everyone backed off, except Mama D, who kept one arm around Amelia. And okay, that was fair, because she’d dealt with enough over the last few weeks. She’d earned it.
Amelia’s eyes flicked from one person to another. “What is everyone doing?”
“Looking for you.” Mama D squeezed her tight, and to Linc’s surprise, Amelia didn’t edge away.
Rosalyn stepped forward, nestled in next to Cade. “You had us worried sick!”
Linc looked toward the crowd, then back at Mama D. “But how did anyone even know that she was missing?”
Cade snorted, wrapping his arm around Rosalyn. “Madame Paulette heard Sheriff Rubart dispatch the deputies to start searching for Amelia.”
Finally, the man had come to his senses. Linc nodded at him, eyes narrowed. “Glad to hear you shoved protocol where it belonged.”
“Yeah, you big softie.” Trish winked at him.
Sheriff Rubart frowned, flustered. “Well, the storm was getting worse, and…” He paused. “The bigger question is what was Madame Paulette doing on the police scanner?”
All heads turned toward the dance teacher.
