When she walks away, I wait a couple of seconds before I glance over my shoulder. I watch her make her way down the path, toward the restaurant. Poised and elegant.
Bending down to pick up my bag, I notice how my hand is trembling. I hold both in front of me, willing the shaking to stop.
Sitting down on the grass, I close my eyes.
I want to remain strong, even after she’s gone, but emotions begin to flood into me.
What am I going to do?
I’m no match for Falcon’s parents.
Needing to hear a supportive voice, I pull my phone from the bag and call my dad.
“Hey, kiddo,” Dad’s lively voice comes over the line. “How’s school?”
“Hi, Daddy.” I take a breath and force a smile to my face. “School’s good. Where are you now?”
“Nam...” The wind blows on Dad’s end, making it hard to hear him.
“Where, Daddy?”
“Le… inside.” I wait a couple of seconds and begin to pick at the blades of grass. “Can you hear me now?”
“Yes, much better. You were saying?”
“I’m in Namibia.”
“Where’s that?”
“South-West Africa. Kiddo, I wish you were here. I’m camping at the Skeleton Coast. It’s… it’s awe-inspiring.”
“What do you see?” I ask, needing to escape to where Dad is.
“It’s brutally beautiful. Vast bone-dry plains for as far as the eye can see. Wreckages scattered like carcasses. The Bushmen called it the land God made in anger.”
Tears well in my eyes and one slips over my cheek. I close my eyes, soaking in Dad’s excited voice, which is filled with reverence.
“I wish I was there right now,” I whisper. “I miss you, Daddy.”
“Layla?” He seldom calls me by my name. “Do you need me to come home?”
I begin to nod, desperately wanting to say yes. “No, Daddy. I’m busy with school. I just wanted to hear your voice. Send me a photo?”
“I’ll snap one for you right now. I’ll see you for Christmas. I’ve gathered many trinkets for you.”
“I can’t wait to see them.”
“Look up, Kiddo.”
My breath hitches, and I struggle not to sob as I tip my head back and look at the blue sky.
“We’re under the same sky,” Dad says.
“We’re under the same sky, Daddy.”
When the call ends, I get up and run, leaving my bag behind. I run as fast as I can by the restaurant, up the trail and only when I reach the lookout point, do I stop.
My breath explodes over my dry lips as I desperately stare at the Topatopa mountain range in the distance.
The instant I’ve caught my breath, I scream. The sound echoes and I imagine it carrying all my uncertainties and despair away from me.Chapter 20FalconI wait thirty minutes, and when Layla’s a no-show, I try to call her again.
The call goes directly to voicemail, and feeling worried, I dial Kingsley’s number.
“This better be you, Falcon,” she warns as she answers.
“It’s me. Is Layla with you?” I take the stairs down to the lobby.
“I thought she was with you,” Kingsley says. “I’ve just left the library, let me try to call –” Kingsley pauses and a couple of seconds later says, “Her bag is at a bench next to the library.” There’s another pause. “I don’t see her. Maybe she went to the restroom?”
A bad feeling settles hard in my stomach as I walk out of the building. This is not like Layla.
Knowing Kingsley is to my left, I turn right. “I’ll check the restaurant. Let me know if you run into her.”
“Will do. Don’t worry too much. I’m sure she’s somewhere around here.”
Cutting the call, I shove my phone into my pocket and walk faster. Students scatter from the path when they see me coming, and when I open the door, stepping into the restaurant, my worry turns to fear. Seeing my mother dining with Serena, anger begins to simmer in my chest. I stalk over to them and coming to a stop next to the table, my mother looks up, then a fake smile pulls at her mouth.
“Falcon, what a surprise.”
“It can’t be much of a surprise seeing as I go to school here,” I reply cynically.
“Nevertheless,” she points to the empty chair in front of me. “Why don’t you join us?”
Ignoring the invitation, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
Mother picks up her wine glass and takes a sip, before answering, “I think it’s self-explanatory. I’m having lunch with Serena.”
Fuck this. We can go in circles all day long, but it won’t help me find Layla.
Without another word, I stalk away from their table. Once I’m outside, I feel the cold grip of fear squeeze at my heart.
Did my mother confront Layla?
Did she manage to drive a wedge between us?
My phone rings and I hurry to pull it from my pocket. When it shows Stephanie’s office number, my heart begins to pound in my chest.
“Stephanie,” I answer, praying to the gods she’s not going to tell me to leave Layla alone.