Chapter 17
Even as I stared in shock, I felt my mind flashing back to the conversation with the old men on the porch at the Trading Post, and I thought about the ride I’d taken in the boat, when I knew in my heart that my grandfather wouldn’t have gone to visit a woman named Helen. It hadn’t made sense to me, because my grandfather had still been in love with the same woman he’d always loved, even though she had long since passed away.
Natalie, too, was staring at the name. She was standing close to me, close enough to touch, and I remembered the night I’d taken her in my arms. She’d felt so perfect and I thought we were perfect together, but she wasn’t willing to tell me the truth of what was really going on with her. Now, as I caught the faint sounds of her exhales, I noticed she was studying the map in the same way I was. I sensed that pieces were beginning to fall into place for her as well, even if I was no closer to understanding how she felt about me.
Instead of speaking, I scanned the maps again, making sure there were no other clues, no other possible destinations. I ran the timeline in my head—just as I’d done before—and felt again that my grandfather must have known the trip might be risky for him because of the distance, as well as his age. Whatever the reason, it had been important, and I could think of only a single possible reason.
When I glanced at Natalie, I suspected I was further along in my suspicion than she was. Which made sense, because it was my mystery, not hers. As she continued to ponder, her brow was furrowed slightly, and as always, I thought she was beautiful.
“Helen, Georgia?” Natalie finally asked.
“So it seems.”
“Did he know anyone there?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? I tried to remember whether I’d ever heard him mention the town, or even whether he’d mentioned a friend from anywhere in Georgia. Someone from the war, or a work buddy who’d moved away, perhaps, or maybe even a fellow beekeeper. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that my grandfather’s life had always been about New Bern, while Callie had both a sweatshirt and a calendar from Georgia.
“I doubt it,” I finally said. “But I think he knew someone from there.”
It took her a few moments to intuit what I was thinking. “You mean Callie?”
I nodded. “I think he went to find her family.”
“Why? She didn’t get sick until last week.”
“I don’t know. But if we assume Callie was from Georgia and he was traveling to Helen, Georgia, it makes sense.”
“That’s a little thin, don’t you think? And if she’s so secretive, how would he have even known she was from Helen?”
“I don’t have all the answers yet. But they did know each other. He cared about her enough to help her get a job. He was going to Helen for a reason. Like me, maybe he thought she was a runaway and wanted to help her.”
“Are you going to ask Callie about it?”
I didn’t answer right away, another recovered memory suddenly leaping to mind. When I’d approached Callie during her lunch, she hadn’t become upset until I’d asked specifically whether my grandfather had ever mentioned Helen. At which point, she’d panicked.
I said as much to Natalie, though she still looked doubtful.
“I know I’m right,” I added. “Can’t you see how it all fits?”
Natalie exhaled. “Gimme a few minutes, okay? I need to make a phone call. I’ll be right back.”
Without further explanation, Natalie walked out the front door. I watched through the window as she tapped some numbers into her phone, then a couple more. It was more than a few minutes—closer to ten—before she finally came back inside.
“I called the police department in Helen.”
“And?”
“I asked them to check on any runaways named Callie. No one with that name is missing.”
“Are they sure?”
“It’s a small town,” she explained. “Super small. Like six hundred people. He would know. There are only a few runaways in the books at all in the last five years.”
Despite her findings, I still knew I was right. I could feel it and knew I had to check it out. Though I could drive, flying would be easier. I took a seat at the kitchen table and booted up my computer.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m checking on flights to Atlanta.”
“You’re going to Helen after what I just told you? To do what? Knock on doors? Ask people on street corners?”
“If I have to,” I said.
“What if she lived in the country somewhere? Or in the next town over?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said.
“You’re doing all this for a girl you barely know?”
“I told her that I wasn’t going to let her die.”
“And you mean that?” Her tone verged on disbelief.
“Yes.”
She was quiet for a moment and when she spoke again, her voice was softer.
“Assuming you’re right and she ran away from home…why would she rather die than contact them?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out, and it’s the reason I’m going. I’d like to ask a favor, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Call the police department again. Maybe the sheriff, too, while you’re at it, to let them know I’m coming. I’m sure I’ll need to speak with them. Maybe you can help make that part a little easier.”
“When do you think you’ll be there?”
“Tomorrow,” I said. “There’s a flight leaving around eleven. If I rent a car, I should be in Helen by early afternoon.”
“How long are you planning to stay there?”
“A day or two. If I can’t find any answers there, I’ll have to try to convince Callie to speak to me again.”
She considered my request. “I can make the calls, but I don’t know if it will do any good. You’re not in law enforcement and you’re not her family.”
“Any recommendations?”
“How about if I come with you?” she said.
For a moment, I wasn’t sure if I’d heard her correctly. “You’d like to come?”
“If she’s technically a missing person, law enforcement does have a bit of responsibility.”
I tried not to smile. “I’ll need your date of birth so I can book the tickets.”
“I can take care of it.”
“It’ll be easier to do both reservations at once.”
She gave me the information and as I began to type, she suddenly interrupted me.
“Wait.” Her expression was serious. “Before I go, I have one condition.”
I already knew that she was going to tell me to book separate hotel rooms, and that she was only accompanying me in a law enforcement capacity. In other words, I wasn’t to attempt to rekindle things between us.
“I want you to do something tonight. I can pick you up after work.”
“Yes?”
Her exhale was one of surrender.
“I want you to meet my husband.”