I needed to find Drake. I couldn't think of anyone who had a better motive for keeping Kelsey away from her family.
Chapter Nine
I arrived at Drake's parent's house a little before noon on Wednesday. The two-story house sat at the top of a hill overlooking the harbor and their restaurant, which was only a five-minute drive from their home.
As I got out of the car, I paused on the sidewalk, looking up at the second-story window where Melanie would watch for me to arrive. She'd give me a wave and then run out of the house a few minutes later.
When we were younger, we spent a lot of time in her house, but that last summer, I was usually picking her up to go somewhere, because I had more access to a car than she did.
It wasn't just about the ride, though. Melanie hadn't wanted to spend time at home anymore. She'd been itching to get away any chance she could. Her dad ragged on her a lot. He was always questioning her, and if I walked in, I usually got interrogated, too. Her mom would step in with a smile and tell her dad to leave us alone, that we were good girls.
Maybe her dad had been right to be so worried. We'd always thought he was super overprotective. But look what had happened…
Drawing in a breath, I made my way to the front door. I hoped that Melanie's parents were at the restaurant. I didn't really want to talk to them. I just needed to see Drake's face when I told him Kelsey was missing. I might be able to tell if he'd had something to do with it.
Oh, who was I kidding?
I'd never been able to read Drake. When I thought he hated me, I found out he liked me. When I thought he liked me, I found out he hated me. The guy had always been a mystery.
I rang the bell. A moment later, the door opened, and I found myself looking at an older version of Melanie. Sylvie Maddox had black hair, brown eyes, and olive skin. She was a short woman with a few extra pounds around her waist that had always given her a soft, nurturing appearance. Melanie had shared the same features, although her face had been more square, her extra five inches and stubborn chin a throwback to her father, Holt Maddox.
Sylvie's gaze widened in surprise. "Willow? Is that you?"
"It's me, Mrs. Maddox."
"Yes, it is, you sweet girl. You look just the same."
"So, do you."
"Well, thank you, even though that's not true."
It wasn't true. There was gray in Sylvie's hair now, and there were dark shadows under her eyes that had probably been there for ten years.
"Come in." Sylvie waved me into the house.
"I'm actually looking for Drake."
"Well, you're in luck, because he's on his way over. Can I get you some coffee? I guess I'm allowed to offer that to you now that you're all grown-up."
I gave her a faint, sad smile as I remembered the times Melanie and I used to beg for coffee, but Sylvie had insisted on making us hot chocolate. She'd add a dollop of whipped cream to make sure we were still happy. A part of me wanted that hot chocolate again, but that would remind me too much of Melanie. "Coffee sounds wonderful."
As I followed her into the house and down the hall to the kitchen, I knew I was making a huge mistake. There were memories of Melanie everywhere in this house, especially in the line of photos along the wall. The family photo of Melanie as a five-year-old, with her dog, Josie, and a young Drake, brought a wave of stabbing pain. It only got worse with a Christmas photo taken probably only a few months before she vanished forever.
I felt a knot growing in my stomach, and a desperate urge to flee. But I reminded myself that I wasn't here for Melanie; I was here for Kelsey. I had to focus on the present.
"Why don't you sit down?" Sylvie said, as we entered the kitchen.
"I hope I'm not keeping you from anything. I really just wanted a few minutes with Drake."
"He'll be here soon. Have a seat."
"Okay." I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down.
"How are the wedding plans coming along?" Sylvie asked, as she set down a mug of coffee in front of me and then took the seat across from me. "I ran into your mother last week. She was so excited about the wedding, about Kelsey and Gage falling in love. They do seem well-suited."
I took a sip of coffee, needing the hit of caffeine. "I don't know about the wedding now…" I stopped, not sure what to say, but it might as well be the truth. "Kelsey is missing. We're not sure if she got cold feet or..." I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence.
Sylvie sat back in her chair, her jaw dropping in shock. "What do you mean—missing?"
"Gage dropped her off at my parents' house last night around eleven, but Kelsey didn't sleep in her bed, and no one has seen or heard from her since. It hasn't been that long. She might have gone to see someone, but we're worried."
"This is terrible news, Willow. I'm—I'm stunned."
"Me, too."
The back door opened, and Drake stepped into the kitchen. He wore a sweatshirt and jeans, and he looked…wet. I frowned, thinking that was odd. It wasn't raining, but Drake's hair was damp, and there were beads of water clinging to his cheeks. The bottom of his jeans also appeared to be soaked.
"What are you doing here, Willow?" he asked sharply.
I jumped to my feet. "I was looking for you. Where were you? Why are you so wet?"
"I was at the beach. A wave caught me by surprise."
That seemed like a lie. "Really? You were a lifeguard, and a wave took you by surprise?"
"It can happen."
"I'll get you a towel," Sylvie said, getting to her feet. "You're dripping all over my floor, Drake."
"Sorry about that. Here's the package you asked me to get." He put a small box on the table.
"Thank you," she said, as she moved into the laundry room.
"So, what are you doing here?" he asked me again.
"Kelsey didn't sleep in her bed last night."
"I'm sure she was with Gage. Why would you come here to tell me that?"
"She wasn't with Gage. He dropped her off at our house after the bonfire. No one has seen her since then."
"I'm sure there's an explanation."
"Are you sure?"
"Why did you come here, Willow?"
"I thought you might help me. Kelsey was happy to see you yesterday. She wanted to catch up with you. I wondered if she saw you last night, after Gage dropped her off. Did you meet up with her?"
"No." He paused as his mother came back and handed him a towel. "Thanks, Mom."
I was surprised by the sweet smile he gave his mother. I hadn't seen him be anything but harsh and angry in years. I'd forgotten that he had a charming side, one he'd often shown to his mom.
Sylvie had always had a soft spot for Drake. Even when she tried to be stern, he'd give her a smile, and she'd crumble. Melanie would get so frustrated by that. When it came to her parents, Drake could do no wrong, whereas she could never charm her way out of trouble.
"I need to go to the restaurant," Sylvie said. "Thank you for getting the package, Drake. Your father is out…somewhere, so you'll have to talk to him later."