Prologue - Tyler

4:44 p.m.

“Hi, you’ve reached Molly. I’m not available right now, so please leave a message after the beep. If you’re wanting to make an order at Batter Up, please call 555-5378. Thanks, and have a great day! Go Raptors!”

beep>

“Molly, baby. Call me when you get this message. I’m worried sick. I just found out about the tornado. Please be okay! I know they said the phone towers were out, but I hope they start working soon. I love you so much. Take care of yourself and our baby.”

4:53 p.m.

automated voice message> “You’ve reached the voicemail of ‘Hayden Scott,’ please leave a message after the beep.”

beep>

“Hayden, brother, call me. I have to know that you guys are okay. If you get this message, please go to Batter Up! and check on Molly. I can’t get a hold of her either. I have to know if she’s okay. Coach is making us play the game tonight, and I don’t know how the fuck I’m going to play ball not knowing if she’s okay and how you guys are, too. Call me as soon as you can. I’m heading to the gym, but I’ll have my phone on me the whole time waiting for a call.”

5:01 p.m.

“You’ve reached Adam McAlister. Leave me a message. I will say I’m not the best at checking voicemail, so email or text usually is better.”

beep>

“Mack. It’s Tyler, Tyler Stone. I heard about the tornado. I have to know that everyone is okay. I’m low-key freaking out. My manager is making me play tonight. Would you make us play? Hell, of course, you would. Please, let me know that you guys are okay.”

5:09 p.m.

“Hola, te comunicaste con Iván. Dejame un mensaje. Si esta es Camila te amo. Hablaré contigo más tarde.” [Hello, you contacted Iván. Leave me a message. If this is Camila, I love you. Talk to you later.]

beep>

“Ivan. Oh, fuck. You guys all have to be okay. God. I can’t get a hold of Molly, Hadyen, or you. I even tried Coach Mack. Please call me soon. I love you, Amigo! Please make sure Molly and the baby are okay. I’ll try Dixon next. Call me. Please!”

5:18 p.m.

“Hey, it’s The Cooper Dixon. I don’t listen to voicemails, so just text me.”

beep>

“Coop, my man. I don’t know how long it takes them to fix cell phone towers, but please call me as soon as you get this message. My game starts soon at 7, and I’m freaking the fuck out. Please check on Molly and make sure she’s okay. I hope to hear from someone soon. I’m going to text you this exact message just in case those come through easier.”

5:22 p.m.

“Hi, you’ve reached Molly. I’m not available right now, so please leave a message after the beep. If you’re wanting to make an order at Batter Up, please call 555-5378. Thanks, and have a great day! Go Raptors!”

beep>

“Molly, they are making me play baseball tonight. I know I won’t be able to play well at all. I need to hear your voice and know that you’re okay. I love you so much, and I know in my heart that you’re okay. I would know if you weren’t, right? Oh, god. You have to be okay. You’re my everything, baby. You and our baby have to be okay. My manager did say I can have my phone with me in the dugout since these are special circumstances, so call whenever you get cell service back. Hunter said he’ll have his phone on, too, so you call him if for some reason I’m batting or something and don’t answer. His number is 555-8998. I love you so much.”

5:33 p.m.

Caller ID: Dad

“Hey, it’s Ty. You know what to do after the beep. If this is Molly, I love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

beep>

“Tyler. It’s Dad. I was in Leesburg, Ohio, picking up a part for a Mustang I’m restoring for a customer. I heard them all talking about a tornado that hit a few towns north of them and heard them say Riverbend. That’s where your lady friend is from, right? Well, I decided to drive the extra few hours north to see if I could find her. Your mom said the name of her bakery is Strike Out! or something like that, so I hope I can find it. I hope she’ll be okay. There are signs everywhere about cell phone towers being out, so if I lose you I’ll call back when I can. I’m really sorry about what happened the last time we were together, Tyler. I really am proud of you and Landon. And even though I won’t -”

5:48 p.m.

“You’ve reached Mike Stone of Stone Auto Body Shop. I’m probably out working on a car right now. You can reach the shop office at 555-3032, and we’ll get back to you when we can.”

beep>

“Dad. Oh my god. Thank you for going to check on her. I was in the weight room and couldn”t believe I didn’t hear your call. I feel lost not knowing what’s going on. She has to be okay. The name of her bakery is Batter Up! It’s on Main Street, just a few shops away from the baseball field, Campbell Field. It has a red and white awning, and you can’t miss it. I’ve tried to call her and some of the guys from my old team, but I haven’t heard anything back. Please call me with any information as soon as you can. This means more to me than anything. Thanks, Dad. They are making me play the game tonight, so if you call back and I don’t answer, that is why. When you find Molly, tell her I love her and to call me as soon as she can.”

6:47 p.m.

Carter: I know you’re getting ready to play tonight. We’re listening on the radio. Have you heard anything yet? Mom wants to know if you’re ok.

Me: Nothing yet. Game is starting so I can’t talk long. And I’m def NOT ok.

Carter: Mom said she hasn’t heard from dad since around 5:30 or so. She was so proud of him for going. We’re all worried about Molly.

Me: I still can’t believe he went! I just want to hear her voice. I can’t believe I have to play fucking baseball right now.

6:58 p.m.

automated voice message> “I’m sorry but the voicemail box you have reached is currently full. Please try your call again later.”

“Fuck! Molly! Who the hell filled up your mailbox? What am I saying? I know people are worried about you and love you. I just wanted to hear your voice! And now I’m crazy and leaving a voicemail when the box is full.”

7:23 p.m.

Caller ID: Meadow

“Hey, it’s Ty. You know what to do after the beep. If this is Molly, I love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

beep>

“What the fuck, man? I just turned on my radio to listen for anything about the tornado, and they were talking about you actually playing in the game. I can’t believe they made you play! Have you heard anything? I know you’re freaking out because I am, too. Our girl has to be okay. She just has to. If you hear anything, please call me. Just so you know, she would want you to play the game as well as you can. She is so proud of you, Tyler, and she really loves you. I’m glad my bestie found her man. I’m going to go and try her and Penelope’s numbers 100 more times. They have to connect the calls again, eventually, right?”

7:36 p.m.

Caller ID: Unknown Number

“Hey, it’s Ty. You know what to do after the beep. If this is Molly, I love you, and I’ll talk to you soon.”

beep>

“Hi, I’m trying to reach Mr. Tyler Stone. My name is Becky Alexander from the American Red Cross. I work at the closest location to Riverbend, Ohio. We received information about a loved one, and if you would please contact us back at 800-555-4083, we will share that information with you.”