Page 102 of Dreams of Falling

“Presumably, yes. I’ve called the police to see if they can send someone over to check, but they’re busy with the storm preparations. And I’m needed here at the hospital...”

“I’ll go.”

“No,” he said, his voice adamant. “The thought of you out on the roads right now...” He stopped and drew in a breath. “I’m sick enough with worry as it is. I just... If she calls, would you please have her call me at the hospital to let me know she and Ivy are all right?”

“Of course,” Ceecee said. “And before it gets dark, I’ll drive around town to see if anybody has heard from her or seen her. Maybe she decided to stay a little longer, get supplies. I’m sure they’re fine.” She wasn’t sure at all, but it sounded like the kind of thing she should say.

“Thank you, Sessalee. You’re a good friend.”

Ceecee flinched. He’d said that to her before, after they’d found out about Margaret’s pregnancy. Before her life had caved in. Before Margaret had pulled out the first rock that had started the avalanche.

“We’ll find them,” she said with more conviction than she felt. “You go back to work and don’t worry.”

She heard a muffled male voice speaking to Boyd. He returned and said, “I’ve got to go. Please let me know as soon as you hear anything.”

“I will. Boyd...” She wanted to tell him what she’d almost told him the day before at his office. When he’d told her that he still loved her. But he’d already hung up.

Carefully, Ceecee replaced the receiver and turned to Bitty. “Margaret never arrived in Augusta. Boyd’s called the police to get them to check at Carrowmore, but they can’t go right now.” She felt again the frisson of fear for Ivy and embraced it. Fear was a good enough motivator to hang on to when there was nothing else left. Nothing but her love for a golden-haired little girl.

Bitty was already shaking her head. “You are not going to Carrowmore. Not with a hurricane coming. And it will be dark soon.”

“If I leave now, I’ll still have daylight. It’s hardly even raining yet.”

“Ceecee...”

Ceecee cut her off. “I’m thinking of Ivy. What if she’s hurt? What if Margaret is hurt and Ivy is left to fend for herself? She’s just a baby!”

“You could get trapped there if the bridges go out.”

“I know—but Carrowmore has weathered more than two hundred years of storms and turbulent weather. It can withstand one more hurricane.”

“Then I’m going with you.” Bitty jutted out her chin.

“No.” Ceecee shook her head. “You need to stay here and go looking for them. Ask neighbors and friends. Drive around and see if you can spot her car. Anything.”

“And if I find her?”

“Call Boyd at the hospital first, and then call me at Carrowmore.”

“But what if the phones go down? They always do during a storm.”

Ceecee forced a smile. “Then we pray that we’re all fine, and that we’ll meet up again when the storm passes.”

Bitty stared at Ceecee for a long moment before giving a reluctant nod. “All right. But the minute the storm passes, I’m coming to find you.” She started walking to the door. “I’ll go looking now. Are you going to tell your mother where you’re going?”

“No. I don’t want her to worry—there’s enough of that going around. I’ll tell her that I’m borrowing the car to go looking for Margaret. I just won’t tell her where.”

“And if she calls our house wondering where you are? What should I tell her?”

“Tell her that I’ve gone to help a friend.” Ceecee’s lips twisted. “Friends forever, right?”

Bitty rolled her eyes. “Right. Maybe if we’re lucky, the river will rise enough to take out that damned tree.”

After Bitty left, Ceecee retrieved her purse and her father’s car keys from the hook by the front door. As an afterthought, she threw a couple of apples and a box of animal crackers in her purse. She thought about telling her mother she was leaving and taking the car but didn’t want to waste any more time trying to avoid telling her the truth.

On the front porch, she found Lloyd chewing on another Tootsie Roll that Bitty must have just given him. “Tell Mama I’ve taken the car to go look for Margaret, all right? I expect to be back by nightfall, and I’ll stop and get groceries on my way home. Tell her not to worry. I’ll be fine.”

“She’s gonna be mad.”