and large font to easily read for the younger age group it was designed for.
But the hole was empty. There was no journal or key or anything else inside the book box. No candy or letters or even pictures of anyone. Nothing to indicate the hiding spot had ever held treasures or secrets for anyone, least of all a little girl.
Tommy leaned back, keeping the book on his lap while he stared into space. The book had been there. He knew it had. Amanda had confirmed that. Jennifer had even known it was in the house somewhere. She hadn’t known about the dictionary, but she’d known about Amanda’s journal. Where could the journal have gone to and why did Tommy suddenly feel sick to his stomach.
A sound from the doorway caught his attention and Tommy jerked his gaze up to find Amanda standing there, staring at him.
Things had just gotten extremely real.
Chapter 32
Lily
Lily slapped her hand on the counter and sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. She didn’t want to see the festive lighting of the bed and breakfast she ran with Taylor or the admittedly addicting cookies Cari had sent out with Tanya and Taylor when they came out. Lily didn’t want to eat another one and get a wave of sugar rush that just made her more tired after it wore off.
“I know.” Taylor came around the check-in counter and grabbed Lily’s arm. “Come on, Lil, come sit down. I don’t want you getting too upset. Brock said you’ve been getting more and more irrational… um, stressed lately.” Taylor tugged on Lily’s arm.
Lily opened her eyes, begrudgingly following Taylor toward the sitting room. “I’m tired, but this isn’t fair. You said she was going to come out to my place?” Lily glanced at Tanya who scrunched her nose at Lily. “Ugh, I don’t want anything to do with her. I can’t deal with this and yes, I’m irrational. I can’t handle much right now. I actually can’t stop focusing on the fact that this baby is coming out one way. There’s only one way.” Lily couldn’t stop thinking about it. And the truth was, she wasn’t sure what was so scary about it until she watched the birthing videos they gave her from the doctor’s office.
They all took a seat and Tanya leaned forward, tears in her eyes. “You want to know what is horrifying? I had to factory reset my phone last week and most of my contacts were deleted, right? You guys remember I was asking who people were when you would text me.” Lily and Taylor nodded and Tanya continued. “Well, it was her. But I thought it was a random friend who was asking me some questions. I honestly thought it was Julia Hammren from down the road. She was supposed to do some delivery work for me and one of the items had to get out to Lily’s place. So, this text was asking me where Lily’s place was and if there was a gate or anything and I answered.” Tanya shook her head as she dashed tears from her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.” Her words trailed off in a whisper.
Taylor reached over and patted Tanya’s knee. “It’s not your fault. That’s not why Lily is upset.” Taylor glanced up at Lily as if to say step in here.
“You’re right, actually. I’m not. I’m upset that she’s back at all. That she’s even in town. How could she come back here and act like any of us even want to see her? We can’t see her without all of the pain and memories her presence brings up.” Lily sighed and leaned forward, pressing her hand against her lower back. She wasn’t even that far along and already her back hurt and her hips had an unnatural pain that Taylor said was sciatica. Not that Lily was complaining. She’d take all the burdens that came with the blessing of being pregnant, it just definitely took the pleasure out of the act.
“What can we do about it?” Tanya thrummed her fingers on her knees and glanced between her sisters.
“Cari refused her service and then the Jennifer called the sheriff and Jesse backed Cari. When Cari was telling me about it, I couldn’t stop laughing. I’m more than a little embarrassed that I almost wet myself.” Taylor rolled her eyes and laughed. “Oh, the joys of motherhood.” Her eyes snapped open and she glanced at the clock on the wall. “Crud, you guys.