phone. Through it all, I tried not to think about Natalie.
I couldn’t do it. The heart wants what it wants.
At a quarter till, she was waiting for me in the lobby looking as dazzling as ever in a red blouse, jeans, and pumps. As I approached, I wondered whether she’d been obsessing about me in the same way I had been about her, but as usual I couldn’t tell.
“You ready?” I asked.
“I was waiting on you.”
The Bodensee was only a short walk away and the evening was pleasant, with a gentle breeze that carried the scent of conifers. We were the only ones on the sidewalk and I could hear her shoes tapping against the concrete, my own steps falling in unison with hers.
“I have a question,” she finally asked.
“Go ahead.”
“What are you going to do if we actually find Callie’s family? What do you plan to tell them?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “I guess that depends on what we learn.”
“If she is a minor, I have a duty to inform law enforcement.”
“Even if she was abused?”
“Yes, but that’s where it might get complicated,” she said. “It’s also tricky if she ran away at seventeen or whatever, but is now technically an adult. Frankly, I’m not sure what my obligations would be in that situation.”
“How about we cross that bridge when we get to it?”
* * *
The Bodensee, like the police station, looked more like a house than a commercial building, and I felt at home as soon as we arrived. The servers were dressed in Bavarian fashion in tight-waisted frocks, short-sleeved blouses, and colorful aprons; a bustling bar offered a variety of German beer. We were led to a table in the corner that seemed to promise a modicum of privacy in an otherwise crowded room. As we sat, I could hear faint strains of conversation drifting toward us.
Natalie glanced around, taking in the environment, a smile on her face.
“I can’t believe we’re in Georgia,” she said, coming back to me. “This place is amazing.”
“It does have its charms.”
We reached for our menus. The choices were more extensive than I imagined they would be, but given my lack of familiarity with German cuisine, I wasn’t sure how the dishes would taste, despite the descriptions.
“Are you going with the Wiener schnitzel?”
“Probably,” I said. “You?”
“I’m not a very adventurous eater,” she confessed. “I think I’ll go with the grilled salmon.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
When the waitress came by, I ordered a lager; Natalie opted for a glass of wine and we told her our selections. Making conversation, Natalie asked her how long she’d lived in Helen.
“Only two years,” she said. “My husband works for the parks department and he got transferred here.”
“Is that typical, you think? Or did most of the residents grow up in the area?”
“I’d guess it’s a bit of both. Why?”
“Just curious.”
When she was gone, I leaned across the table. “What was that about?”
“Just collecting information. Who knows? It might end up being helpful.”
I put my napkin in my lap. “I want you to know that I appreciate you coming here with me and laying the groundwork with the police and the sheriff.”
“My pleasure.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t have to work.”
“I took a couple of vacation days.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I really need them anymore. It’s hard for me to go anywhere other than my parents’ beach house. As much as I enjoy spending time with them, I can only stay there so long before I start going crazy.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. That probably sounds selfish.”
“Not at all.”
“It is compared to you. Since you lost your parents, I mean.”
“We all have our challenges, don’t we?”
The waitress reappeared with our drinks and dropped them at our table. I took a drink of the lager and found it delicious.
Natalie toyed with her glass, seemingly lost in thought, before finally realizing she’d gone quiet. “Sorry,” she said. “I sort of drifted off there.”
“Care to share?”
“I was thinking about life. It’s not important.”
“I’d love to hear it.” When she still seemed hesitant, I added, “Really.”
She took a sip of her wine. “During our first year of marriage, Mark and I visited Blowing Rock. We spent the weekend at a charming bed-and-breakfast, hiking and antiquing. I remember thinking the whole weekend that my life was exactly what I wanted it to be.”
I studied her. “What are you going to do?”
“About what? Mark?” When I nodded, she went on. “I’ll just keep taking it day by day.”
“Is that fair to