My heart constricts at the very real possibility that Grams might catch a cold, or worse, develop pneumonia. Neither the police nor the search service has reported anything good.
“You should go home too, girl. I’m sure the police will find her.”
I know her words are meant to calm me down, but they just fuel my panic. “Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.”
With a deep breath, I shove the phone into my pocket and then start my search again. Half an hour later, I am drenched to the bone, and the rain is so heavy I can barely see in front of me. When a gust of wind completely ruins my umbrella, I’m forced to seek shelter from the rain too, stepping inside a coffee shop. Yet the moment I’m inside, the ceiling seems to cave in on me, suffocating me. I force myself to take deep breaths, to no avail.
Grams will have sheltered herself. I know she has.
I fumble with my phone, desperate for someone to tell me it will be all right, that Grams will be fine. That’s when I realize whom I need. Max. Without hesitation, I call him. He doesn’t pick up the first time, but I call him again. Finally, he answers.
“Hi!” I say through sobs.
“What’s wrong?”
“Grams is missing. She left the house, and we can’t find her, and now it’s raining, and I can’t even see in front of me, and I don’t know what to do. The police are still searching, but if they haven’t found her until now….”
“Where are you? I’m coming where you are right now.”
That’s when I remember that Max has an important all-day meeting today.
“No, I’m sorry. I forgot about your meeting. I’ll deal with this on my own.”
“Emilia, just give me the damned address. I’ll be there.”
I give him the address and then buy a cup of steaming coffee, clutching it in my hands for dear life. The rain intensifies, so all I can do is wait. And waiting kills me. I sit at a small table by the window with my forehead pressed to the glass and hugging my knees to my chest.
Max finds me in the same position when he arrives, and my entire body is numb.
“You’re soaked,” he says, sitting next to me.
“I know.” I hate how defeated I sound.
“Let’s get you home and changed.”
“No,” I say vehemently. “If I go home, it means I failed her.”
“Emilia, I’m sure Grams is somewhere waiting for the rain to pass.”
“I— Help me brainstorm.”
“What?”
“Places where she might have gone. I tried to think about that while I was there, but I was too panicked—”
“Okay,” Max says. He takes my hand in his, rubbing the back of my palm with his thumb. I instantly feel calmer than I’ve been in hours. Calm enough to think.
“What were her favorite places in the neighborhood?” Max asks.
“The bakery, but I was already there, and they hadn’t seen her. The movie theater, which is closed. The gazebo in the park, the library, and the store with knitting supplies. I’ve been everywhere.”
“How long has she been missing?”
A knot forms in my throat as I look at the time displayed on my phone. “Five hours. The police are also looking, and also a service specialized for these cases, but….”
We exchange brief looks, and I know exactly what he’s thinking.
“I don’t think she left the neighborhood, she couldn’t walk much without tiring,” I explain. “She looks fit, but she tires quickly.”