“Can we come back tomorrow?” She flashed her puppy dog eyes at him. He always had a hard time saying no to her.
“Tomorrow’s your party kid.”
Right, the party she was sure no one was going to come to. “So?” She did her best to hide from her family the hurt that came from having no friends.
Giving her a look that left no room for argument, she finally desisted and followed him on the short walk home. Like a dog being kicked, she tried to guilt him into hanging out with her longer. It didn’t work.
A wet tongue on her cheek brought her back from the indulgent memory. “James,” she uttered in awe. She had a brother. He must be looking for her.
Turning to the animal at her side, Pepper pat her head as she got up, not realizing how late it was until she entered the kitchen to find the cabin quiet. The clock showed it was after midnight.
“Huh,” she mumbled, shocked she’d slept so long. “Think his computer is password protected?” she asked Roxie, who had taken up residence beside her, not expecting an answer.
Quietly entering Nick’s office with fingers crossed, she clicked on the mouse. “Ah hah!” she cheered quietly seeing a guest user that was open. Pulling up the browser, she froze. Unsure of what exactly she was searching for.
The only information she had was her first name and her brother’s, and new park built when she was nine. She didn’t even know how old she was now.
“Shit,” she mumbled.
Deciding keywords might be easiest, she typed in James’ name, then hers, followed by missing woman, with high hopes of something popping up.
As the icon swirled in thought, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer for some type of success. Opening them again, she was disheartened to see over a million search results.
Roxie laid her head on Pepper’s lap with hopeful eyes. “You’re right, I’ll just have to look through them all.”
“Stupid flipping internet,” Ace heard being mumbled for the second time as he looked at the clock beside his bed.
After his eyes had cleared, four a.m. flashed back at him. “What the hell?” he grumbled, climbing from bed. Grabbing a pair of basketball shorts as he walked past his dresser, he slipped them on once he was in the hall. Noticing light coming from Nick’s office, he made his way there to see Pepper hunched over, squinting at the screen, and Roxie laying at her feet.
“What are you doing?” he asked, clearing his throat.
“Shit!” she screeched, jumping from the chair. “You scared the crap out of me.” Her eyes never left the screen.
“Well?” he asked again when she didn’t answer him.
“Huh?” Now she wasn’t even paying attention.
“Pepper,” he scolded. “What are you doing?” He asked for a third time before she finally looked at him.
“I had a dream, and then I had a daydream, and I have a brother. But I don’t know how damn old I am, so it’s making this search impossible. A last name would help more, but beggars can’t be choosers, right? A million results! Can you believe that? I’ve barely put a dent in it, and I’m nowhere.” Taking a deep breath, she looked at him questioningly.
“Uh,” he paused. Was he supposed to understand the jumbled mumbling that came out of
her mouth? “How about you start from the beginning, and maybe, take a breath so I know what the hell you’re talking about?”
“Oh, right, sorry. Apparently, I ramble when I’m frustrated. Not such a great trait to have I guess.” Going back to her search, she failed to explain anything. Ace didn’t even think she noticed.
“Christ,” scratching his chest, he told her, “I’m going to make coffee, then you’re talking.”
“Oh, yeah, sure,” she agreed.
He didn’t think she heard a word he said to her. Again.
Chuckling at her single-minded focus, he went to the kitchen to start a fresh brew, knowing full-well that if he wanted her to tell him what was going on, he would have to get her to focus.
As the fresh grounds began to percolate, he pulled out some bread to make toast for her. She often forgot to eat if he or Nick didn’t remind her. Wondering if that was a characteristic from her real life or one she’d picked up since meeting them, he almost burnt the bread.
Once everything was ready for consumption, he made his way back to the office where she hadn’t moved an inch in the ten or so minutes he’d been gone. Placing the plate and cup on the desk, he pulled her chair back. Picking her up, he sat in her place with her planted firmly on his lap.