The Missing - Kiersten Modglin (the reading strategies book TXT) 📗

sure I can pull together an event that you two will remember for the rest of your lifetimes.” I paused, letting it sink in, then added, “Alyssa is going to get the wedding of her dreams, Tom. You’re going to give that to her. Your first gift as man and wife.”

His face flushed red, and he looked at his dad. For just a moment, I was worried they’d say no. Then, at the last second, Lester patted his son on the shoulder, his lips pressed into a tight line and looked back at me. “We’ll do it.”

“Oh, excellent. I’m so excited to plan this event for you.”

Tom’s eyes clouded with tears. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you both.” He nodded toward me.

My smile was genuine as I watched them, a moment of true appreciation and love for each other. “I’ll just have to cancel your honeymoon to Cabo,” the man said with a laugh, and Tom joined in, pulling his dad into an emotional hug.

When they were done, both looking slightly sheepish for the emotional outburst, Lester cleared his throat. “So, when do we pay you?”

I clasped my hands together in my lap. “Well, now, ideally. It’s the only way I can officially get your event on my books. As I’m sure you understand, I get hundreds of requests like this a year, and I’m only really able to do three or four, the ones I feel truly deserve it… But until you’ve paid, I can’t hold your spot, and I can’t start calling in any favors.”

The man nodded, albeit hesitantly. “Do you prefer a check or card?”

“Neither,” I said firmly. “It will have to be in cash. I’ll give you a receipt, of course, but I no longer accept checks and, because I’m not in the office, I’m not able to accept cards. Like I mentioned, this event will be off my books anyway, because I’ll end up losing money on the deal in all actuality. And I’m afraid I don’t deal with the online payment systems, PayPal and the like. I’m old school.”

The men exchanged a worried glance, and I quickly added, “Of course, if you’d rather not… It’s not a problem for me. Don’t feel like you’ve wasted my time. But I do have another appointment this afternoon. Would you like an autograph for Alyssa anyway?”

“No, no,” Lester said quickly. “I’ll just need to run by my bank. I don’t have that much cash on me.”

“I can get some out, too,” Tom said, speaking to Lester.

“Will that be okay? If we leave to do that, will you still be here when we come back?”

I tapped the Apple Watch on my wrist and sighed. “I can be here for the next hour, but I have an appointment after that. How long do you think you’ll be?”

“That’s all the time we need,” he said, standing up abruptly. “Our bank has a branch here in town. Let us just run over there, and we’ll be back.”

“Thank you again, Ms. Sheridan.” Tom shook my hand, a genuine appreciation in his panic-filled eyes. It was likely more money than either of them had in their bank accounts. Likely more money than they’d ever spent on any one thing, but for his fiancée, he was willing to do it. To let his father fall further into debt. To mortgage his own future for a moment of happiness. It was why I did this. Why I’d built a career doing what I did.

After the front door had closed, and I heard the truck’s loud engine pulling from the driveway, I stood, walking toward the kitchen.

Belinda was there, cleaning up the last of the dishes from the hors d'oeuvres she’d prepared. When she heard me coming, she turned off the water and glanced over her shoulder. “Did they decide to do it?”

“I think so,” I said. “I never know once they leave. Sometimes they come back, sometimes they don’t.”

“How much are you charging them?” she asked.

“Twenty thousand,” I said. “Five to split between you and your sister.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “They didn’t look like they had that much.”

A sly smile played on my lips. “I very much doubt that they do. Love makes people do crazy things.” Without another word, she turned the water back on and resumed her work. “I’m going to go up and get ready. Listen for the door.”

A few minutes later, I was upstairs, packing my things into my suitcase. I unclipped my hair and ran my straightener through it. It was blonde now, but I was thinking I’d go dark next. Or maybe red. Extensions might be nice. I’d chopped it off months ago, and it didn’t seem to be in any hurry to grow back, resting comfortably just above my shoulders.

I glanced at the clock. Nearly an hour had passed, and they hadn’t returned. Had it been a waste of time? Were they going to back out on me, after all?

Once my hair was straight, I put the straightener in my bag too, loading up the toothbrush and toothpaste and looking around the room.

What else?

As I packed the last of my things up, I heard the familiar rumble that told me the truck was back. I couldn’t stop my brow from raising instinctively. Hm.

Within a few moments, as I waited silently with bated breath, I heard the thump, thump, thump of a knock on the door.

Then, I heard footsteps climbing the stairs, and finally, Belinda pushed the door open gently. There was a pink to her olive cheeks that hadn’t been there before. “They’re here, ma’am.”

I smiled at her with an I told you so sort of grin, and sauntered past, my shoes clicking against the hardwood as I made my way down the staircase. They were there, in the foyer, Tom looking nervously at his dad, who was sweating profusely.

“Gentlemen, you made it.” I clasped my hands together in front of my waist. “I was beginning to get worried.”

“Sorry it took so long. The man at the bank had to