Footprints In The Sand - Michelle Horst Page 0,34

close incase she needs me. I search the newspaper and circle a few apartments that look like they have potential.

I make a few appointments for the following day and then phone Marcus. I haven’t seen him in a while. He’s now helping his dad at the local accounting firm. Never thought he’d follow in his dad’s footsteps. Marcus’ phone goes to voicemail and I leave a quick message for him to call me back. As I disconnect the call to Marcus, my phone rings. Without looking at the screen and thinking it’s Marcus phoning me back, I answer, “Hey buddy, it’s been a while. How are you?”

There’s a moment’s silence before a somber voice comes over the line. “Is this Seth Harper?”

I feel a flush of confusion and then quickly answer, “This is he.”

“A Janice Harper has you listed as next of kin…” there’s another moments silence and I get a sinking feeling in my stomach. “I’m afraid it’s bad news, Sir. She was involved in an accident, a hit and run.” The voice pauses again and the seconds that pass kills me. “She didn’t make it.”

~*~

After the call I can’t find any strength to move. I sit on the couch right through the night, staring off into blank space. When the sun starts to peek over the horizon, I get up and leave the house. At first I walk but then I break out into a run. I don’t stop until I reach the water’s edge. The waves roll in and out, over my feet, dragging me into the ocean with each wave that crashes on the beach. When I’m knee deep in the water, I break down.

I didn’t cry when Dad did all those horrible things. I didn’t even cry for Mom. In the back of my mind I didn’t let myself feel all that pain, because I still had Aunt Janice. She was my link to Mom, and now they’re both gone.

I just saw Aunt Janice! How can she just be gone like that?

~*~

Chapter Thirty-One

Lacey~

It’s getting late and Jan is still not home. Sometimes she works late, but never on a Saturday. She knows we all go out for drinks.

There’s a knock at the door and when I open there are three smiling faces staring at me.

Kelly is the first to frown. “You’re not dressed?”

My shoulders slump under the worry I feel for Jan. “Jan’s not home yet. I’d rather wait for her and then we’ll meet you there?”

Gemma grins wide, “Great. You know which club, right?”

I nod. “We’ll be there as soon as she gets home,” I say again.

The night crawls by and my dread grows with each hour that passes. I’ve tried Jan’s phone a zillion times, but it keeps going to voicemail. I don’t know who else to phone! I fall asleep curled up on the couch and wake up well before dawn. There’s a cooking show on the TV and just the sight of food brings tears to my eyes. Jan loves to watch the food network.

I try her phone again but there’s still no answer. I have an awful feeling as I make some coffee. I drink it standing in the kitchen and then get ready for work. As I walk to the café a million thoughts race through my mind. I’m so worried for Jan!

I open the café and go about my usual routine. At six I open for customers. Jan changed the opening time from nine to six in the morning. We were missing the morning rush and after a few requests she relented.

I get swept up in the rush as one customer after the other comes in. Just before lunch, Amo comes in. She started working here a year after me. She helps out during the week with the lunch rush and over weekends.

“Hallo, lovely.” Her smile falters when she sees my face. A worried look crosses her face, “What’s wrong?”

I slump down in of the chairs. “It’s Jan, she never came home yesterday and I keep leaving voice messages, but she doesn’t return any of my calls.”

Amo takes a seat across from me. “That’s weird. We closed up and went home. Your apartment is right around the corner. Doesn’t she have any family or friends you can call?”

“Not that I know of,” I sigh. “She never talked about any family and we have all the same friends.”

“I’m sure she’s fine.” Amo pats my hand. She gets up and places her bag behind the counter. “Are you going to