We said our goodbyes, and I hung up before realizing what was wrong with the end of that call.
I’d been doing the pretending-to-be-cheerful thing, too.
* * *
The drive out to Johnston was peaceful, at least by the new standards I’d formed since Gretchen came into my life. She only spent about twenty minutes screaming, and didn’t even throw up once.
When I arrived, I tucked her into her sling. I had a vague memory that Wesley worked at a community center. That gave me a place to start, even if I might have to try a couple of them. There was also the chance that he might not be working today. On the bright side, the town was only a little bigger than Sargasso.
The first community center I tried had no idea who I was talking about. At the second, the woman at the front desk said he used to work there but left a while ago.
“Is he still in town?” I asked. “Do you have any way to reach him?”
The woman examined me. “What do you want with Wesley?”
“Just to talk to him. He used to date my sister.”
“Hmm.” Apparently that was enough of a reason. “You’re in luck—he works just down the street. And if he’s not in today, I can give you his number.”
Ten minutes later, I was at the entrance of Wesley’s community center. Although we’d only met a few times, and they’d been together at least a year and a half ago, I instantly recognized his shaved head and the gleaming smile that contrasted so nicely with his dark skin. People flowed around us as I tried to talk to him.
“You’re in town?” he asked, looking at me quizzically.
“I came looking for you, actually. I thought you might have some way to find my sister.”
Wesley paused as he slid a clipboard to a guest, who wrote down her name. “What do you mean, find Amanda? She’s missing?”
“Not missing,” I said quickly. “I just can’t find her.”
He pulled the clipboard back, blinking at me. “How long has it been? Have you gone to the cops?”
“No, no. It’s not like that. She just doesn’t want to be found.” I gave her a quick rundown of the situation. His eyes popped when I said she’d had a baby. And by the end of my story, his concern was still as strong.
“So she could be lying dead in an alley somewhere,” he said. “She needs help, not guilt trips.”
I crossed my arms. “The cops aren’t going to give a damn if a grown woman isn’t answering her phone. Besides, I’m trying to keep this baby out of the foster system. I’m doing my level best to find Amanda in the meantime. Am I right to think you can’t help me with that?”
“I’m sorry,” Wesley said. “I haven’t heard
from her in a long time.” His eyes were downcast. “Maybe whatever man she left me for would have a better idea.”
“She left you for someone else?”
Wesley shrugged. “That’s my best guess, anyway. She just disappeared, stopped answering my texts, blocked me on social media.”
“I never knew why you two split up,” I said slowly. “Always thought she did something to make you leave. It seemed like a shame. You were good for her.”
“Thank you. Let me know if I can do anything else for you, okay?”
“I will,” I said. “I know you care.”
“More than care.” Wesley’s eyes were pained. “I loved that woman. It just wasn’t good enough for her.”
* * *
That night, Gretchen gurgled as I placed her in the bassinet I’d reluctantly bought a few days earlier. Despite myself, I smiled and bent to place a kiss on her forehead. With her big eyes staring up at me, she flailed helpless limbs in my direction.
“What, you want a hug?” I picked her up and held her for a second, then put her back. “That’s all you’re getting. It’s bedtime… even if I know you’re going to wake me up wanting formula in about an hour.”