Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand

Author:Elin Hilderbrand [Hilderbrand, Elin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781429905473
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2011-08-13T02:10:13+00:00

Beth and the kids trudged back to the car, everyone so loaded down with stuff that there was no opportunity for kissing or hand-holding. It was a silent march out to North Beach Street and then up the Cobblestone Hill. They piled into the Range Rover and drove to David’s house, slowing to check the identity of each person walking on the side of the road along the way. No Peyton. The house was dark except for the onion lamp by the front door.

“She’s not home,” Piper said. “God, I hope she left a message.”

The kids trooped into the house while Beth stood at the back of the car and separated out David’s belongings from her own— his chairs, his thermos, his blanket. She knew there wouldn’t be a message. No one had spoken to the girl, no one noticed her missing until she was long gone. Peyton had been ignored, so she ran away. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure it out, only a mother.

When Beth walked into the kitchen, the kids were sitting on barstools around the island.

“No message?” she said.

Garrett shook his head. Piper started to cry quietly. Beth put a hand on her back.

“And you checked the whole house?”

Piper nodded, then moved into Garrett’s arms where she collapsed.

“Maybe she went to our house,” Winnie said. “It’s closer. Maybe she got tired and decided to wait for us there. She knows we don’t lock it.”

“Okay, we’ll check,” Beth said. “Piper, you stay here and wait for your father’s phone call. Tell him our plans.”

Piper clung to Garrett with a ferocity Beth had only previously seen in two year olds. “Can Garrett stay with me? Please? I’m freaked out to be here by myself.”

Beth hesitated. Garrett staying here meant only one thing: sex. In a bed, probably, which would have irresistible appeal. Beth fought off images of the cottage on Bear Street with David. All summer long, sex on a bed, sex every which way.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Beth said. “Because how will he get home?”

“I’ll have Dad run him home when he gets back.”

“David shouldn’t have to do that,” Beth said. “It’s late. Garrett will see you tomorrow.”

Garrett threw Beth a dirty look. “I’m not ten years old, Mom. I’ll stay here with Piper and if David won’t take me home then I’ll walk.”

“In the dark?”

“Yes,” Garrett said.

Beth heard the challenge in his voice and decided she wasn’t up for it. “Well, if Peyton’s at our house, we’ll come back. Obviously. And if she’s not there, I guess we’ll come back anyway and wait to hear what David says. Or I will. Marcus and Winnie may want to go to sleep.” Beth closed her eyes. Teenagers were going to be alone in a house full of beds no matter what she decided, that much was clear. “So I’ll be back in a short while, then. A couple of minutes.”

Beth drove to Horizon saying a prayer to God and Arch and anyone else who would listen.

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