15. Cassie

CHAPTER 15

CASSIE

Yesterday I went homesore and satisfied. I ended up spending the whole day with Baker, and I felt a little guilty lying to Mom and Ryan when I got home. I think Ryan knew something was up, but he’s too much of a gentleman to say anything. My mom doesn’t have a clue what I do; she never did.

I got to school early this morning, and I’m waiting for the kids to get here while I go back though my text messages from last night and this morning. They’re all from Baker, and I get butterflies in my stomach as I read them each again.

I read through our texts from last night first.

“When can I see you again?”

“We still haven’t talked about the carnival.”

He replied, “Tell me what kind of booth you want and I’ll have it ready. I want to spend our time together a different way if you know what I mean.”

I remember typing the next text without any hesitation. “I agree. I can think of better things we could be doing.”

“Are you feeling okay?”

That was probably the tenth time he asked me that yesterday, and I answered him with a smile. “I’m perfect.”

The bubbles had popped up immediately, letting me know he was writing something. “You are perfect.”

But it doesn’t stop there.

“All the way from that fiery red hair, to those sassy lips that I can’t stop from kissing, that big soft heart, down to your curvy body that dreams are made of. Every bit of you is perfect, Cass.”

I got a little choked up. The negative thoughts start to arise but I remind myself that Baker is not like any man I’ve ever known. He’s not playing me. I typed out a text and sent it to him. “Tomorrow after school. I can see you then… and it won’t be soon enough.”

As I reread the texts, I’m hoping that today doesn’t drag by.

Which of course it does. It’s the slowest Monday I’ve ever had, but I’ve forced myself to keep my phone in my purse in my drawer so I’m not tempted to check it every five minutes to see if there’s a new message from Baker.

Nothing exciting happened today, but at least all the kids were on their best behavior.

It’s the end of the day, and I’m walking back from the office from making copies when Charlotte comes up beside me. “Did you hear about Colby Turner?”

I slam to a stop. “What happened?”

She grips my arm. “He left at lunch time, and no one has seen him since.”

I think back to this morning when he was in my class. He was quiet, but he’s always quiet. I try to remember anything about this morning that would have stood out, but I can’t recall anything.

I talk to Charlotte for a few minutes and then I excuse myself to my room. I want to call Baker, that’s the first thing I want to do, but I don’t. All these feelings start to resurface, and I’m half afraid to call him. What if he’s like every other person in my life, excluding my sister and Haven, and doesn’t come when I need him? The fear of that happening is what stops me from calling him.

Plus, I’m sure Principal Daniels has notified the authorities, and he’s already out looking for him. But I know I can’t do anything.

I grab my purse and my tote bag of papers that need to be graded and walk to the front office. The secretary is still at her desk. “Have you heard anything about Colby?”

She shakes her head with a sad look on her face. “No, he’s still missing.”

I nod and walk out without another word. All I can think about is that I knew something wasn’t right at Colby’s home. I should have done more to help him. I’ve tried and tried to get him to talk to me, but he never did. I should have found a way.

I’m almost to my car when the police car pulls into the lot and comes to a stop next to me. Baker gets out, and I can’t help it, the emotions rolling through me are so overwhelming I burst into tears.

He comes to me and wraps his arms around me. “Oh baby, it’s okay. We’re going to find him.”

But even with his reassurance, I can’t stop crying.

He’s rubbing my back, saying soothing words in my ear, but I can’t stop. I finally pull myself together when he says, “Baby, Colby needs you right now. I hate to see you upset. Please, trust me. We’ll find him.”

I suck in a sob and try to catch my breath. I’ve soaked Baker’s shirt with my tears, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He gathers my hair in his hands and pulls it off my shoulders, letting it fall down my back. “Talk to me. Why didn’t you call me?”

I search his eyes and shrug. “I don’t know.”

He’s not having it, though. “Cass, why didn’t you call me?”

But I still don’t answer him. He’s frustrated, and I don’t blame him. He blows out a breath and puts his arm around me as he walks me to his squad car. “Come on.”

I stop before getting in. “Do you want me to follow you in my car?”

He shakes his head. “No, I want you to get in my car. I need to go find Colby, but I can’t leave you when you’re upset like this. Come on, you might know where he is.”

I point to myself. “I might know? I don’t have a clue. Have you talked to his mother?”

He sighs. “His mother was found passed out in her front yard. She almost od’d. She’s been admitted to the hospital.”

I gasp and bring my hand up to my mouth. “Oh no! Do you think Colby knows?”

He shrugs. “I’m not sure, but it’s possible that she was strung out this morning before he went to school. Maybe something happened. We don’t know for sure. I’ve called his uncle. He was in Jasper about to get on a plane but he’s back in town and is searching for Colby too.”

He sets me in his car, and instead of shutting the door, he squats next to me. “Think about it. You know Colby. What does he like to do?”

I wrack my brain trying to think of everything I know about Colby. “He loves to draw.”

“We’ll check the new art store in town.”

I nod, thinking what a good idea that is. “He likes to read.”

“The library. There’s a hundred places he can hide in the library. What else?”

I try to think about it and lift my shoulders. I don’t know if this is a good clue or not, but I’m willing to try anything. “This summer I met Chloe at the park to run the track there, and I saw Colby hanging out at the swings. I didn’t know him then, but I noticed him because he was by himself, watching the ground as the swing swayed back and forth.”

He claps me on the shoulder. “Good, good. We’ll hit the art store, then the library, and if we still haven’t found him, we’ll go to the park. Good job, Cassie.”

He kisses me, puts the seatbelt around me, and snaps it before closing my door.

I watch as he walks around to the driver’s side of the car. Again, Baker has shown up for me when I needed him. I’m a fool if I don’t start putting some faith in him.