DAVID JUMPED AND SPILLED his coffee on the counter when his phone vibrated. One of these days, he was sure to have a heart attack from that. He reached into his front pocket and pulled it out. It was early for her to call.
“Hello, beautiful.”
“David! Dad’s in Memphis. No one else is here. You gotta help . . .”
He set his cup down. Apprehension rippled through him. “Maggie, what’s wrong?”
Her words tumbled through the phone. “She left a note, but she’s gone. I thought she was in bed when I went to take a shower. I can’t believe I’m such a bad mother. How could I let her run away? I don’t know what–”
“Maggie!” He shouted over her words. “Calm down! Tell me–”
“–I’m almost there.”
There? Where there? David rushed to the front door and threw it open. Sure enough, her truck barreled down the driveway.
Rocks flew as she skidded to a stop. The driver’s door practically flew off its hinges. She rocketed from the cab. David pocketed his phone and hurried toward her. It would have been comical if she had not been so upset. She still cried into the phone as she ran to him.
“. . . it was her pillow and not her. I can’t–”
David snatched the phone from her hands and crushed her body into his. Words continued pouring from her, her fists wringing his undershirt. “Poppy said I couldn’t love her anymore, and I don’t know what to do. I can’t find her.”
The door behind him opened. His dad stood there, pulling his suspenders up on his shoulders. “David, what’s going on?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. She’s not making much sense at the moment.” He pushed Maggie away and held her at arm’s length. Tears streaked her face. Her eyes gleamed like polished sapphires. Her chin trembled with each breath. “Calm down, Maggie. Tell me, slowly, what happened.”
Her hands fluttered as she spoke. “I woke up. I thought Poppy was still in bed. I checked, I mean I really checked. I thought it was her. I can’t believe I’m a bad mother already. I only went to take a shower.” Tears flooded again. Her chest heaved, and she collapsed against him. She pulled a paper from her shorts’ pocket. “Here.” She shoved it into his face.
He passed the note behind him. “Dad, read it please.” David held her racking, sobbing body as tight as he could with the other arm. She slowly fell to her knees, and he sank with her.
Dad took the paper. Mom arrived on the scene and rushed to their side. David gently rocked Maggie as her sobs subsided. Her misery and pain stabbed deep into him. It killed him to see her this way.
His dad’s voice rose above Maggie’s wails. “Dear Maggie, I know that you can’t love me since David is going to marry you now. I think it is better if I find a new home. Please don’t worry about me. Take care of Sorta and make sure Samson doesn’t bite her. Tell David that I love him but that I know he can’t love both of us. I’ll be sure to write. Poppy.”
Maggie pressed herself harder against his chest. Tears soaked him. Her body shook, and she burrowed herself deeper into his arms.
His dad looked down at Maggie. “When did you find this?”
“A . . . inutes . . . go.”
At his dad’s confused expression, David translated. “She said a few minutes ago.” He slowly brushed back her tangled hair. His hand rubbed circles around her back before gently pushing her back so that he could look into her eyes. “Listen, she couldn’t have gotten far. We’ll find her.”
Nothing but sobs came out. How many tears did she have? His poor baby was a walking hydrant. He placed a hand on her head and pulled her to him once more. Her hair, still wet from her shower, clung to his cheek. Her arms latched around his waist.
“Come on. Buck up a little. We can’t find her like this.”
Maggie nodded, but David felt new wet patches form against his stomach. His mom knelt down beside them.
“Here, Son, let me have her. Y’all go get our little girl.” His mom gently pulled at Maggie and coaxed her to her feet.
Sputtering and sobbing, Maggie stumbled inside with his mom. David rose to his feet. His dad stood holding the letter out to him. He took the note and read. She had used Maggie’s sparkly pink pen.
His heart slammed against him. Air left his lungs. He wavered as he read Poppy’s pretty handwriting. His finger traced the letters. So many times he had helped her with her penmanship. Sitting on the small living room floor, using the old coffee table as a desk. Maggie watching them from the kitchen. His hand shook. His little flower had left them.
His dad laid a hand on his shoulder. “Careful, Son. Let’s get the family together. We’ll all find her.”
A tear splashed down on the note, and David realized his face was wet. He folded the note and stuck it in his back pocket. “I . . .” He cleared his throat and fought the lump down. “I’ll call Jeremy. You call Darlene.”
He scrubbed at his face. His hands shook harder as he tried to press the speed dial on his phone. He managed to hit the four button. As he waited for Jeremy to answer, he walked off down the driveway. Gravel skittered beneath his sandals.
“David?”
“Jer. Poppy’s gone. Maggie came over. Poppy left a note. She’s disappeared.” Saying the words, David felt like Maggie. His body trembled. His gut clenched. Tears threatened to flood. He leaned his hand against the old oak tree. “We need everyone to help find her.”
“We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
No questions. No hesitation. David closed his phone. His brother was coming.
His family was coming.
Minutes seemed like eternity as they stretched. His heart hammered at him again. There was no way his ribs were going to retain its furious beats. Dad’s hand massaged his shoulder, and the wild jackrabbit leaping around inside him calmed down.
He brought his head up at the sound of a deep rumble. Jeremy’s F-250 screamed around the corner and braked, sending a white cloud billowing past. Sarah’s car careened past them to the house. She leapt out, threw a wave, and ran into the house, Sophie right behind her.
Jeremy hopped out with Dennis. They flattened themselves against the truck as Marty Sr.’s Navigator pulled into the driveway. Darlene flew out of the SUV and ran to the house.
Both of the Martys emerged. Marty Sr.’s voice rumbled. “How we doing this?”
Jeremy pointed at Dennis. “You take Dennis and Marty. Check out the downtown area; then, branch off into the mall. David and I will take the outer highway close to Maggie’s. Dad, you take Mom and check the church, the cemetery, and the playgrounds.”
The front door slammed. Maggie ran toward David. The impact of her body catapulting into his almost knocked him down.
“Sarah, Sophie, and I are going to check the riverside and make our way down to Arkabutla,” Maggie told him. “Poppy’s always talked about having a camping trip down there.”
David’s hands wrapped around Maggie’s face, and he looked deep into her eyes. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, pressing her lips together. “I am now. Family’s here.”
He lowered his forehead to hers. Cool skin against hot. “Yeah. They are. Go. Jeremy and I will check the highways.” He tasted salty tears as he covered her lips in a quick kiss. Then she was gone, running back toward Sarah’s car.
Jeremy slapped David’s shoulder as he passed. “Come on. Every second counts, little brother.”
Jeremy’s truck roared to life as David slid into the seat. They left the rest of the family scattering for their own vehicles.
Poor Poppy. Feeling alone. Feeling unloved. Feeling like he once felt.
He lowered his head into his hands and scrubbed at his hair. Fingernails dug into his scalp. His heart lurched within him. Tears boiled inside. He needed to control himself.
“Don’t hold it back, little brother.” Jeremy’s hand slid across his shoulder, squeezing it. “Talk to me.”
David shook his head. “Go to Maggie’s cottage. Let’s check the riverbank. Poppy and I walk the banks a lot.”
“Sure thing.”
Within minutes, they arrived at Maggie’s. David jumped out and raced to the backyard. The little wooden pier was empty. He took the left trail with Jeremy on his heels.
“Poppy!” His voice echoed in the woods and off the river. No reply came. No Poppy.
Jeremy grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. “Let’s look elsewhere. She wouldn’t go this deep into the woods.”
David nodded dumbly and followed his brother back to the backyard. She had to be somewhere. Oh, please, lead them to where she was.
His breath hitched.
His knees buckled.
David sunk to the ground. His mind whirled–his family, his girl. Everything and nothing cascaded through him.
He knelt on the hard rocks in the dirt. They dug into his knees. His heart ached.
He stretched out his hands. His head bowed. Smooth dirt caressed his forehead. Now he knew how King David felt. He could feel his soul ripping apart, and for the first time in so many years, he cried out with his whole heart.
The words would not come, but God knew his heart. He had to know his heart. Oh, please, keep her safe. Don’t let another be taken from him. Keep her wrapped in your loving arms. Protect her. Help them find her.
His hands formed fists around the small rocks, squeezing them until they cut into his palms. “Don’t abandon me, please.” He breathed the words, the dirt stirring underneath his lips. “Don’t take another away, please. Guide us to her. Oh, God, forgive me. I’ve wronged you. Don’t let my sin harm her.”
“God doesn’t work like that, little brother.”
Jeremy knelt beside him. No touch upon his head or shoulder this time. No other words spoken by him. His comforting presence bolstered David’s resolve.
David closed his eyes. A feeling of peace washed over him, urging him to speak again. He opened his mouth, tasting dirt against his lips.
“I ran from you, Father, but you would not let me go. I hated you, Father, but you would not stop loving me. Now, I am back in your arms, and I beg your forgiveness. My child is gone. Please help me find her. Don’t let her repeat my mistake. I cannot do this without you. I see that now. I am yours. Oh, Lord, I am yours!” A sob became his amen. Tears fell and created small puddles of wet dirt. The rocks in his hands were a lifeline thrown to him. Eternity passed. Time never existed.
Jeremy’s hand was feather light as it rested on his shoulder. Strength and calmness entered his body. David looked up. It was all different. He couldn’t name it. He couldn’t place his finger on it. But somehow, his world was different.
His brother grabbed him under his arms, and he stumbled to his feet. Smalls bits of gravel clung to his hands, and he flicked them off, wincing at the burning sensation. Deep cuts from the gravel criss-crossed his palms. There would be scars, but those were just physical.
He breathed in deep. His emotional scars were gone.
Jeremy’s hand left, leaving a cold void on his arm. His voice sounded strangled as he spoke. “Come on. Let’s try the highway. She might be along one of them.”
David slipped into the cab as Jeremy started the engine. Jeremy took a right turn onto the highway.
David looked out the windshield. The dark gray highway zoomed under them. Trees flew past. A flock of birds weaved through the blue sky. How bright everything seemed in the morning sun.
“Talk to me. What did you mean by ‘don’t take another away’?” The words were hesitant, as if he already knew the answer.
David opened his hands and stared at the red cuts. How easy it came to speak to God. How difficult it was to speak to his brother.
Jeremy touched his shoulder and then replaced his hand on the steering wheel. Out of the corner of his eye, David watched Jeremy rub at his mouth with his left hand. Patiently waiting.
Silence stretched. The highway loomed before them. His future stretched before him. He had to only reach for it.
“I can’t lose her, Jeremy.” The words fell out before he could stop them. He paused. He didn’t want to stop them this time. “Maggie and I love her too much. Anything can happen to her.”
“We’ll find her, David. We will. Have faith.” Jeremy took a left, leading away from the church. “She couldn’t have gone far.”
David clutched at his stomach. Fear gnawed him. Fire burned inside, licking at his soul. The urge for a drink grabbed at him. He pushed the thought aside, but it refused to go away. Fire needed fuel. He refused to give it fuel. He had to tell his brother.
“I can’t lose another one, Jeremy. Not another child. That’s what I meant earlier.” The words rushed past his lips, unburdened. He kept his eyes trained on the floorboard.
Again time suspended itself as Jeremy drove down the highway.
Tears dropped, hitting his clenched fists as he glanced at his brother. Three and half years of holding the secret inside. “Rebecca was pregnant.”
Jeremy swallowed hard. “No one knew?”
David shook his head. “No.”
“Honeymoon baby story?”
“Yeah.” David dropped his gaze to his hands again. “And now Poppy will be taken away. I can’t lose another child, Jeremy. I can’t.”
His chest heaved. Sobs, held in check, racked his body, shaking it and rattling his bones. He denied the fire its fuel, but the sobs continued. He buried his head and wrapped his arms around it. He gave in. Whoever said “the truth will set you free” ought to be shot. Telling the truth hurt. Painfully hurt.
Jeremy’s hand gripped the back of his neck and squeezed. “For three years you held this inside?”
“I did.” David rocked his body, willing the sobs to quit. “I’m sorry. For everything.” He raised his head and stared at the Ford logo on the glove compartment. “I . . . “
He faltered. A sigh escaped.
“I’m sorry too.” Jeremy’s hand fell away.
David looked over at him. Jeremy sat ramrod straight, staring ahead.
“You didn’t do anything. I’m the one who was a jerk, an–”
“Yeah.” Jeremy cut him off. “And so was I. You needed me. I wasn’t there. I didn’t even try to understand. I didn’t want to understand.”
“And I should have tried to talk to you. I had to blame someone. I blamed God, but the pain was still there, so I blamed you–”
“But–”
“I–”
David and Jeremy glanced at each other as their words overlapped. A grin stretched across their faces. David laughed and looked away at the empty highway. He wiped at his eyes with a thumb.
“We good, little brother?”
David nodded. “We’re good.”
“Then let’s go find our baby girl, shall we?” Jeremy drove.
The image of a little redhead leaning over the newspaper and asking about the casinos and if they were like the Old West ones popped into David’s mind. That was three weeks ago when they were at Pick Wick. His breath caught. Could she actually be going there?
“Jeremy, I know where to find her. Head for sixty-one.”
“Tunica?”
David laughed. He ran a hand over his mouth. “Yeah. She’s heading to the casinos. Don’t ask.”
Jeremy shook his head and turned at the next road.
David sat back. There was an urgency within him, but no fire. Fear wanted to rear its head, but he turned away. There was nothing to fear anymore.
“I think I see a little redhead.” Jeremy slowed and pulled to the side.
Up ahead, Poppy, wearing her black and white checkered dress, struggled with a small suitcase, dragging it behind her. It fell to the side, and she kicked it.
David pursed his lips. “Well, I do believe she’s in a foul mood.”
Jeremy laughed. “Good luck.”
Poppy looked up. She scowled when she saw Jeremy’s truck. With a determined look, she picked up her suitcase, turned, and staggered farther down the side of the road.
Jeremy shook his head again. “Well, I don’t think she’s going to give in easily.”
David opened the door and hopped out. “No one can withstand the Boyette brothers. Come on, let’s go get her.”
His legs ate up the graveled roadside. Poppy huffed and puffed. The suitcase had to be heavy, but she was relentless. David smiled. The girl was just like the family.
“Poppy!” David called out to her, but she sped up and dodged an anthill. She stumbled. The suitcase fell to the ground and spilled open.
With a cry, she threw herself down on the rocks and started piling the clothes and books back into the case. David eased himself down beside her and placed his hand on hers. “Poppy?”
She snarled at him and jerked away. “Go away.”
“I can’t. Not without you.”
She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I can do this on my own. Maggie has you now; she don’t need me.”
David reached for her, but she recoiled. That hurt. He let his hand fall back to the suitcase. His brows creased. “That’s not true. She needs you. I need you.”
Forget it. He didn’t care if she bit, clawed, or bucked. He pulled at her, fighting against her flailing limbs.
“Stop it. I’ll call the police! I mean it!”
David chuckled as Jeremy knelt down in front of them. “Police is already here, little flower.” He held her tight, smoothing back her hair. The scent of honeysuckle rose up from her silken strands. “Shh. Relax.”
She wailed, her body doubling over. Then she reared back, her head banging against his mouth. “But no one wants me. No one loves me!”
“Not true!” David turned her around, forcing her to look at him. He had to get this into her stubborn, red head. He grabbed her face and held it. “I love you! You’re my girl.”
“Not true!” She echoed his words. “If you love Maggie, then you don’t have room for me. I know you lied. A heart can’t love more than one. You don’t even love your brother!”
If words were hammers. His chest crumbled in on itself as her onslaught bashed into him. In his foolishness, he almost destroyed an innocent.
He wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to him, pressing his lips against the top of her head. Tears rolled down his face.
He could only whisper. “I’m sorry, Poppy. Believe me when I say that I love you.”
She shook her head. “No one can love me.”
Jeremy reached out and rubbed her back as he moved closer to them. “Poppy, love, everyone loves you.”
Her little hands pushed at David, and he allowed her to turn her head towards Jeremy. Dried streaks lined his face. How many tears were going to flow today?
She stared at Jeremy. Then turned to him. “Really?”
David kissed her forehead. “Really.”
Confusion sketched itself across her face. “But you hate your brother, don’t you?”
“No, little flower.” David lowered his head to hers. Her hair tickled his nostrils. Jeremy placed a hand on his back and one on Poppy’s. David looked up and met Jeremy’s eyes. “I love my brother. It’s just taken me a while to realize that.”
Her arms circled his waist. Above them, the sun brightened. David’s heart brightened with it. He cleared his voice. Enough of this. “Come on. No time for soap operas. Maggie is waiting.”
Jeremy’s hands fell away. He turned to reload her suitcase. Poppy pulled away and tried to smile. “She won’t be mad?”
“No. She will be overjoyed to have you back.” He tweaked her nose. “You ready?”
Poppy nodded and allowed Jeremy to help her to her feet.
David heaved a sigh and jumped up, slapping and clutching at his pants leg. “Thank you. Because I think an ant just crawled up my pants.”
Poppy’s laugh echoed down the open highway. She threw herself back into his arms, and David held her, laughing with her. He had his girl back.