Laughing Fate (44 page)

He forced his eyes to focus on her jeep. If she didn’t get in the water then where would she go? He had already searched all the little caves in the side of the bluff. The caves and surrounding area had been searched again by the search party. It was as if she had vanished in thin air. It just didn’t make sense. Someone as dynamic as Puck couldn’t just disappear, could she?

“
Come on, Potter. It’s time to go.” Potter got up and followed his friends blindly. They were right; he was doing no good by just sitting on the shore waiting for news. He sat in the back of the car and stared blindly out the window. Where could Puck have gone? What had she been thinking?

Ding. Potter looked up at the sound. Dave cursed and explained, “Car’s low on gas. I’m going to stop at the next gas station to fill it up.” Potter nodded absently and continued staring out the window.  Would he be considered a widower if he hadn’t even been engaged to Puck? No, probably not.

Dave pulled into the 76 station and stepped out to pump the gas. Potter couldn’t stand being in the car any longer and got out to walk around. He wondered how Perri was holding up. Once it was evident that Puck wasn’t to be found easily, Tony had taken Perri back to the house. The poor girl didn’t need this kind of stress- it couldn’t be good for the baby. Potter saw a little coffee shop and wandered over to it.

He could use something to jolt his brain- grief was making his brain foggy, but if he could only think clearly maybe then he would be able to help in the search for Puck.

“I’ll have the strongest drink you have.”

“
Sure thing. Some weather we’re havin’, huh? Couldn’t believe it when they announced a tornado warning. Glad it didn’t come to anything.”

“
Yeah,” Potter said wishing that the man would just be quiet. He didn’t want to make idle conversation while Puck was missing.

“
Don’t know why I didn’t shut down the shop. You are only the second customer I’ve had today and I’ve been open since 4 am! Too stubborn I guess.”

“
Mmmm,” Potter pointedly looked at the clock and back to the empty cup in the clerk’s hand.

“
Sorry if I talk too much- I’ll have your coffee up in just a second.”

Potter just nodded and made noncommittal noises in response to the man’s conversation. Another time and Potter would have been more polite to the man. He seemed lonely and eager to talk to anyone. Potter closed his eyes and fought against the wave of pain that was threatening to engulf him. This wasn’t a day for idle chit chat.

“Seems to be quite the commotion happening out on the beach. I sure hope it’s not that nice young girl that was in here earlier.”

Potter jerked his head up and asked, “What did she look like?”

The man scratched his head and said, “Well…she was real nice lookin’. Had a sweet little heart shaped face, was about this tall, and had light hair cut about shoulder length. She came in real early this morning.” He handed Potter his cup and smiled a bright smile. “She stayed and chatted with me a bit. Said that she was going surfin’ because the fever had struck and that she just had to. I warned her to be careful and she just laughed. She seemed real nice; it would be a shame if something happened to her.”

“
Did you see her after that?”

“
No…but I didn’t really expect to, you know?” The man shook his head, “She was just a customer. A girl like that wouldn’t be interested in a guy like me.”

Potter felt another wave a pain crash into him. If he had never taught Puck how to surf then she wouldn’t be missing right now. “If you see her, give me a call on this number. It’s very important that you do this for me.” He wrote his cell number down and handed it to the man. Potter grabbed his coffee and left.

The gust of wind that hit Potter as he stepped out of the shop was an obnoxious reminder that Puck was still out there in this weather. Potter drained the scalding hot coffee and threw the cup away in the nearest trash can. He walked over to Dave’s car and climbed in, hating the awkward silence that permeated the place. His friends were trying to be supportive, to show their concern- Potter wished they would just stop. This wasn’t helping Puck any. They had just given up. Potter hated it. Hated being so useless, the girl he loved was in danger and all he could do was drink coffee and ride in a silent car.

“
They’re reporting Puck missing on all the radio stations. I’m sure we’ll get information soon.”

“
Sure.”

“
Look, if you need to talk…”

“
I know.”

Dave put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot. Potter watched the scenery speed by. He knew Dave was right and that someone had to be there for Perri, but this all seemed wrong. He was giving up on Puck. Was he really just going to sit at home and wait for the coast guard’s call? He hated being so bloody useless. This was wrong.

“Stop the car!”

“
What?”

“
I can’t leave. Not until they’ve found Puck. Call my cell phone if you hear any news.” Potter stepped out of the car before Dave could protest. The storm had slackened off by now, it was still windy, but the rain had lessened. Potter jogged over to the gas station that they had just left- not really knowing what he planned. He just knew that he couldn’t leave Trinidad until Puck was found.

A car drove up to his side and Dave jumped out. “You didn’t have to jump out of my car. A simple ‘turn around’ would have worked. So what are you planning?”

“I don’t know!” Potter said, frustration making his voice rough. “I just can’t leave.”

“
Okay. We’ll go back to the beach.”

Potter looked at Dave- his clothes were all drenched, his face looked drawn and tired. He couldn’t keep Dave out in weather like this. “Dude, just go home. I’m going to walk around, ask people if they’ve seen her. My car is  at the beach, I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“
Yeah, go comfort Perri.”

Potter watched his friend walk away, still unsure about where exactly he would go. He went into the gas station’s market and headed for the counter. A teenager wearing Goth clothes and a spiky hairdo stood behind the counter banging out a solo with plastic straws. He straightened up when he saw Potter, put the straws down and stared open mouthed at him.

Potter looked down and winced. He had run out of the house in the clothes he’d slept in. The rain had completely soaked through the white t-shirt and pajama bottoms he had been wearing. Potter shook his head. That wasn’t important right now.

“
Have you seen a girl...” Potter paused. How should he describe her? He didn’t have a picture of her with him. He cleared his throat. “She’s about this high, she has light brown hair with blond highlights, she’s pretty small, has blue eyes that twinkle, and freckles across her nose.” Potter made useless little gestures trying to describe Puck. “She’s been missing since around four this morning. She’d be really wet and maybe injured. Have you seen her?”

“
No man,” the clerk said. He picked up his straws and continued his drum solo.

Potter stared at him for a full second before forcing himself to walk away. He would like to teach that punk to show some respect. Fuming with anger, Potter stalked out of the market. He walked along the main road and stopped at every local business. Everyone showed concern and was willing to help out in any way, but no one had actually seen Puck.

It looked as if Puck had driven here early this morning, picked up a coffee and headed out to the beach. From there she just disappeared. Potter forced himself to push his grief aside. He had to help. He couldn’t let his feelings get in the way of finding Puck. The rain had picked up again as he walked to the beach. He was maybe a block or two away from the parking lot when he saw a quaint little house. It looked like a cottage from a fairy tale. There were flowers growing in a pot in the window sill, ivy climbed up the white stucco walls and the yard looked well kept, but in a wilder sort of way. It was beautiful.

Potter didn’t know why he did it. He certainly shouldn’t have noticed this cottage at all. It sat in a little hollow made by trees and had a long curving driveway that led to the main road. Potter walked down the driveway and knocked on the door. As he stood waiting for the door to open, he berated himself for wasting time. Why was he at this house?

The door slowly opened and an elderly lady stepped out. She had snow white hair that was piled on top of her head, little granny glasses, and was wearing a house coat with little pink flowers. She had a plump body, a kind smile, and youthful looking eyes. Any kid would have loved her to be their grandma.

“
Can I help you?” She looked Potter up and down and grimaced. “Oh dear, you were out in the storm weren’t you? Young people today, they just don’t have the sense to get out of the rain. Come in, come in.” Granny opened the door for Potter and ushered him in. She handed him a towel and put tea on the burner.

“
Shhh, now don’t talk until you are dry. There is a shower in the back. Go take a shower. Have you had lunch yet? I was just fixing some sandwiches for us; I’ll make an extra one for you too.” She smiled kindly at Potter and pushed him towards the shower.

“
You’re dripping on my floor. Go take a shower, there will be time enough to talk when you’re through.”

Potter felt like he had stepped into another world. He never thought that he’d identify with Alice of Wonderland, but he certainly felt like he had stepped into a rabbit hole. He found himself taking a shower and wrapping the towel around his waist. He looked around for his clothes, but the old lady must have taken them.

He heard voices from the kitchen, the soft sound just barely carrying over to him. He walked down the hallway, appreciating the quaint charm that filled the house. There was a sound of running feet and happy barks that warned Potter a second before three large dogs barreled past him. He wandered through the living room, absently pet one of the black lab’s head and poked his head into the kitchen. What he saw blew his breath away.

Sitting like an angel was Puck, perched on a high kitchen stool and sipping on a glass of tea. She was wearing a white nightgown that must have belonged to the old lady. It was long sleeved and covered her from her throat to her feet.  She looked warm and safe. Potter stood there and sputtered for a second. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Was he hallucinating?

Puck was laughing softly at something the lady said and then turned her head slightly. When she saw Potter her eyes became shuttered and she stood up. “What are you doing here?”

“
Puck, is that really you?”

“
Yes? Why are you here?” Puck wrinkled her nose and turned to the old lady. “This is Potter.”

Potter frowned. She said that like it should mean something to the lady. Had she been talking about him? From her tone of voice it was nothing good.

“And you’re safe? Nothing broken or hurt?”

“
Yes? I’m fine, Potter. What’s wrong?” Puck looked at Potter with concern. He wasn’t making any sense. Of course she was fine, she was standing right here wasn’t she? She felt a moment’s unease when she wondered if he had been worried about her. Not that she cared if he was worried about her.  Puck frowned at the stupid man. She didn’t understand what he was doing here, but she did
not
want to see him right now! 

“
Oh my god, Puck!” Potter cried and ran to her. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her up against him. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent. “I thought I lost you.”

Puck froze for a second, but then wrapped her arms around his head, holding him to her just as tightly. “I don’t know why you were so worried, but I’m fine.” She felt Potter shudder and felt guilt slice through her. She really hadn’t meant to worry Potter like this, but she had been safe dang it! Puck gasped as a thought hit her.

“Was everyone worried about me? How’s Perri? WHY were you so worried? What’s going on?”

“
Puck, dear why don’t you come sit down? I’m sure this young man will answer all your questions as soon as he’s able. As for you- I put your clothes in the dryer, but if you want I still have some of my husband’s clothes in the closet. I’ll just go get you something nice and dry to wear okay?” She left the kitchen after she was satisfied that her guests would sit down and drink some tea.

When she came back in she saw the handsome young man towering over the girl yelling about how worried everyone had been. Grace frowned at the young couple. It was obvious they loved each other, but they were showing it in all the wrong ways. Her Georgie had never yelled at her. They had argued plenty of times, but he had always been a mild tempered man. She smiled sadly at the memory of him. They had been married for thirty years before he died.

Grace cleared her throat and watched the man step guiltily away from Puck. He was still glaring at the girl, however. He had looked so anguished when he’d knocked on her door. Grace had known the moment that she saw him that he was lost. Grace had a knack for collecting lost things. Her dogs had all been found wandering the streets alone, so she had picked them up. When she had seen the girl sitting on the sand shivering in a wet bikini, Grace had taken her home. The silly girl had refused to go anywhere without her surf board, so Grace had watched as Puck untied the knots in the surf rack and hefted the board on top of her head.