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“Thanks for covering, Annie,” Morgan said again.
“Sure, no problem,” Annie replied, tamping down freshly ground coffee. “Like I said, broke girls love extra shifts.”
“Well, this girl loves broke girls who love extra shifts.” Morgan looked at her mother. “And you’re sure it’s okay, Mum?”
Rowena stopped wiping the bench. It had been clean for at least two minutes, Skye observed. Instead of answering, Rowena accompanied them to the door. “I’m glad you got to say a happier goodbye to your dad, Skye.”
“Me too.”
“He was much better this morning, don’t you think? Calmer. Like something had been resolved.” She looked closely at Skye. Skye guessed what she meant, and couldn’t form a reply.
Not pressing her, Rowena continued, looking at Morgan. “Service is very quiet today. It feels like something is in the air. The whole village feels like it’s on eggshells all of a sudden. Like something is coming and everyone’s battening down the hatches,” she forced a laugh. The nearly empty cafe was usually at least half full at this hour. The blue skies of the past weeks had been swallowed in grey cloud, deepening on the horizon, and the dull sea looked hazy. The streets outside were quiet.
“A little time out won’t hurt business, and you could both use a bit of fresh air. You’re looking peaky, the pair of you.”
“Thanks Mum,” Morgan hugged her mother, and Rowena held her tightly, her face pensive. She hid her concern before Morgan drew back, but Skye saw it. The smile Rowena presented as she opened her arms to Skye for a hug looked too bright.
“Be careful,” she said softly, “and say hello to Hunter from me if you see him. Tell him I’m sorry for sending him away yesterday. It was for the best. You understand, don’t you? For Daniel’s sake.”
“Of course. It’s okay.”
“Stay safe, and I’ll see you back here for lunch, all right? No later. Promise me?” Her cheerful demeanour looked forced, her eyes anxious.
“We promise. See you soon,” Morgan assured, and they let the glass door swing closed behind them. Skye glanced back as they crossed the road, and returned Rowena’s wave. Catching Skye’s movement, Morgan did the same.
“That was intense,” Morgan sighed as they headed along Marine Parade. “I really can’t figure out if Mum knows.”
“Same. She can’t know everything, or she’d never have let us leave. but she has to have guessed some of it. She’s been around my dad long enough, and usually nothing gets past her.”
“True. I’m surprised she agreed to us going out, to be honest. I think the only reason she hasn’t locked us up is she’s still in denial”
“That, or her spidey-senses really are working.”
“What do you mean?” They reached the stone steps, and began to descend to the beach.
“Remember when she said about something coming? I think she really meant it. Maybe she’s figured out that Hunter is connected to it. That I am. That whatever the ‘something’ is, we’re in the middle of it, and no way around that. She’s terrified about you though.”
“You think?”
“Yes, I do. I think it took all she had to not lock you in your room and leave me and Hunter to sort out whatever it is. I’ve never seen her the way she was when you were missing. You know, with Jarrod.”
Morgan stopped and looked at her properly. “Why are you telling me this?” Morgan asked, her frown hard.
Skye returned her gaze. “You know why. So you remember who really loves you. So if you have opportunities – choices... just remember that whatever you choose, the people who love you have to live with it same as you do.”
“Well, back atcha, Skye.”
They stared at each other. Then Skye smiled, wry and a little sad. “Fair enough. Neither of us goes anywhere without telling the other. Deal?”
Morgan’s frown softened. “Deal. And trust me, I am definitely a low flight risk. This is scary as hell. Mum’s not the only one to consider locking me in my room,” she raised a hand.
Skye bit her lip, studying Morgan’s face, regretting involving her best friend. “Listen, if you feel that way Morgan, are you sure you want to do this? This could be really hard for you.”
“Truth? I’m in this whether I hide in my room or face it down. Jarrod brought this to me. I can’t pretend it isn’t happening. And no way will I let you face this on your own, Hunter or no Hunter.”
Skye threw her arms around her best friend, lost for words.
“Back atcha,” Morgan whispered, returning her hug. They drew apart, sniffing a little. “You lead the way? Little Miss if-I-don’t-find-him-he’ll-find-me,” Morgan managed a weak grin.
“Yep. Follow me,” Skye agreed. “Got to put this to some sort of good use,” she tapped her ribcage, pretending that the emptiness inside wasn’t pushing her to the edge of despair. Hunter, where are you?
But reaching the bottom of the steps, Skye felt the emptiness shift a little. The cold breeze and incoming tide carried the briny scent of the ocean to her. Her skin tingled. Inhaling deeply, greedily, she felt her blood quicken, her pulse accelerate, like life was sparking inside her.
Rowena had clearly been right about the strange atmosphere keeping people shut up away from the village, unless it was the weather keeping the beach empty. Just a few diehard locals were scattered much further along the beach, probably savouring the rougher weather, strolling close to the water’s edge, seeming oblivious and carefree. The clench of fear she felt for them was justified. But even as she watched, as if by consensus, she saw them make their way towards steps leading to the street.
The ocean claimed her attention, blotting out the beach. The churning waves drew her like a magnet, and as she neared the water’s edge, she felt the sense of absence and loss fractionally ease. Whatever was out there waiting for her, Hunter waited too. The closer to the water she got, the more right she felt. But rising sharply along with the odd sense of well-being was fear: what was Hunter doing out there? He would never leave her behind by choice.
“Where to now?” Morgan asked. Skye wasn’t fooled by her effort at nonchalance. Her friend’s face was tight with tension, her eyes sweeping the choppy surface. Skye knew what...who...she was looking for. The wind gusted, buffeting them a little, tossing misty spray in their faces.
“We have to find Hunter first.” She looked along the beach both ways, and then out to the horizon, searching the heavy curling waves, and foam-chased ever-changing slopes between each. Would she even see his submerged form on a day like this? Or anyone else’s for that matter. “I don’t understand,” she couldn’t keep the fear out of her voice. “We had three days.”
“Three days to what?”
“Don’t get angry, Mags, but...you were right. Jarrod gave Hunter three days to bring me back. Today is only day two. Why wouldn’t Hunter wait?”
“Unless he’s gone back to tell them you should stay here?”
“Maybe. No. I don’t think so. Not without telling me. Something’s wrong. He’s out there somewhere, so something is very wrong. I think...I think he’s been taken.”
