Ben opened the door, interrupting our conversation. "Dad. I'm ready."
"Finally," Tom grumbled.
Ben gave me a questioning look. "Was there something else, Willow? Were you waiting for me?"
"No, I was just talking to your father. I'm heading home now."
"I'll be in touch. Try not to worry." As Ben waved his father into his office, I heard him say, "You shouldn't have come down here, Dad. I told you to let me handle this."
"You need me, Ben. You just hate to admit it."
As the door shut, I wondered why Ben wouldn't want his father's help. Maybe it was just a competitive father-son thing. Ben was doing his dad's old job. That had to be uncomfortable for both of them.
Turning, I walked down the hall and out of the building. The sky had grown darker, and I couldn't stand the thought of Kelsey being alone somewhere. This island could be beautiful but also terrifying.
The sheriff had told me I was lucky ten years ago, that I must have had a guardian angel. I wondered again how I'd gotten home that night.
Had someone helped me? But why wouldn't that person have said anything?
I pushed the questions out of my mind and got into my car. I couldn't keep going back into the past. I needed to be Kelsey's guardian angel. I needed to bring her home.
Chapter Thirteen
I got back to my parents' house a little before four. I couldn't believe how quickly the day had flown by. My parents were in the living room with the Chadwicks. The atmosphere was quiet and somber. My mother was pacing by the patio doors. Sean and my father were both on their phones, and Eileen was sipping more tea.
As I walked into the room. Eileen gave me a worried smile. No one else seemed to notice my presence.
I cleared my throat. "Any updates?" I asked.
Finally, I had their attention. My dad gave me a bemused look. "What?"
"Is there any news, Dad?"
"No. We just got back from searching the beaches on this side of the island. Gage and Carter are still out there. They won't quit until it's dark. Hopefully, she'll be back by then." My father gave me a sorrowful look. He was trying to stay hopeful, but time was taking a toll on him.
"Where have you been, Willow?" my mom asked sharply.
"I just spoke to Ben. He doesn't have any new information."
"He's as worthless as his father," my mother muttered.
"Tom Ryan wasn't worthless," Sean Chadwick put in. "He did a lot to keep this island safe."
My mother shot Sean an irritated look, which he sent right back at her, making me wonder again what was going on between them. Despite the animosity I could see now, I had not misheard them the night before. They had had an inappropriate relationship at some point, but maybe it was over. Did that make it better?
"We should get some food going for dinner," Eileen said. "Everyone will be tired and hungry when they get back. I have some fresh vegetables in my garden. I know it's summer, but with this wintry weather, maybe some soup would be good."
"Would you stop with the food, Eileen?" my mother snapped. "Or go home and make it at your own house. The thought of soup cooking in my kitchen turns my stomach."
"Monica," my father said sharply. "That was rude. Eileen is just trying to help."
My mother bit down on her lip. "I'm sorry, Eileen. I'm just frustrated and scared."
"Which is completely understandable," Eileen said. Although her words were kind, I could see that her patience was wearing thin. She'd been babysitting my mom all day.
"We appreciate your support, Eileen," my father added.
"Well, Kelsey is going to be my daughter-in-law. She's family. Just as you all are. We need to stick together and support each other." Eileen got to her feet. "I don't want to make things more difficult. I'll go home and make some food there. I can bring it by later, or you can all come over if you get hungry."
"That sounds like a plan," my father said.
"I'll go with you," Sean said.
"Could you wait?" my mother asked Sean. "I need to speak to you for a moment, if you don't mind."
"Uh, sure," Sean said, giving my mother a puzzled and wary look.
"I'll see you at home," Eileen told her husband.
My father also stood up. "I'm going to make some calls. I want to see if I can get more resources to the island to help in the search."
Realizing that I was going to be left alone with Sean and my mother, I quickly got up and followed my dad down the hallway to his study. Before he stepped inside, I said, "Dad, is there anything you know that you haven't wanted to say in front of Mom?"
He shook his head. "I don't know more than you do, Willow. I can't imagine Kelsey running off and letting us worry like this, but the alternative is unthinkable."
"This is awful."
His gaze filled with compassion. "How are you doing, Willow? Are you all right?"
"No. I'm terrified. I don't want to lose Kelsey."
"We're not going to lose her," he said forcefully.
"They couldn't find Melanie. And they searched just as hard."
"That's why I want to bring in additional resources. Ben is a smart kid, but I don't know if he has the manpower to cover this entire island and all the boats going in and out of the harbor."
"What can I do to help?"
"Look out for your mom. She needs support."
"I will," I said, as my father moved into his study and shut the door.
Despite my promise, I didn't return to the living room. My mother was with Sean, and she would find me more of an annoyance than a support, so I headed up the stairs. I wanted to look in Kelsey's room again. Maybe she had left some clue behind.
I entered the room and closed the door behind me. After setting my bag down on the desk, I took off my jacket, hanging it over the back of a chair. I then picked up a few items of clothing that Kelsey had left on the bed and hung them in the closet. As my gaze caught on the garment bag, I impulsively unzipped it. She'd sent me a photo of her wedding dress months ago, but the gown was even more stunning than I remembered.
One of the fashion designers Kelsey modeled for had made the dress, and it was exquisite, with lace, beads, plunging cleavage, and a sexy low back. Kelsey would be beautiful in this dress. But now I wondered if she would ever wear it.
Even if she came back, would she still marry Gage?
If she'd run away, then she had serious doubts about Gage. If she hadn't run away…
I zipped the bag back up and rifled through the two large suitcases she'd brought with her. As I moved clothes around, I found myself simply unpacking. When I was done, Kelsey's clothes were neatly hung in the closet or put away in the dresser. I had found absolutely no clue as to why she wasn't here to do this for herself. Not that she would have unpacked. She'd probably have waited for our housekeeper, Lorraine, to do it for her. In fact, I was a little surprised that my mom hadn't ordered that done already.
With Kelsey's room now clean and waiting for her, I sank down on the bed. The soft mattress enveloped me, and I stretched out on the thick, fluffy comforter. I could smell Kelsey's perfume in the air, and it was oddly comforting.