Second Chances(95)

"That's the chapel, gorgeous isn't it?"

Nathan nodded again. She was right, it was impressive, the entire view was breathtaking.

"Why do I know that? Why do I know any of this? How come I know that locals call this second beach?"

"Because you've been here."

"Have I? Have I really?" She was looking at him with such intensity that he couldn't lie to her.

"I...I honestly don't know, Paige."

She stepped forward a few steps until her feet were underwater and the bottoms of her pants started to get wet.

"What do we do now?

"We'll figure something out."

"How? What leads do we have left to follow? Am I supposed to call Linda and ask her for help? I don't know who the hell she actually is. I don't know who the hell I am for that matter."

Nathan looked down at the sand. He had no answers and didn't want to lie to her. The truth was she was right, they had no more leads to follow. How much of what she thought she knew was actually true? How much of what he'd known about his own wife had been true? As he started to walk forward, the phone in his pocket began to ring.

"Hello?"

"Nathan King?"

"Yes."

"Listen very carefully," an angry female voice growled at him through the phone. "I'm only going to give you these instructions once."





CHAPTER SEVENTY



Nathan glanced at his watch again. It was only ten minutes later than it had been the last time he'd checked it, but it felt much longer. He knew that they were getting close and that the exit they needed wasn't far off, but part of him feared they would be too late. Too late for what exactly? He knew he was likely just picking up on Paige's anxiety. He prayed this wasn't some elaborate hoax.

Paige hadn't believed him when he told her about the phone call. She had watched him take the call on the beach, but still she hadn't believed it. Honestly, he wasn't sure what to believe himself. But who in the hell would send them on a wild goose chase like this? Who would be toying with them and to what purpose? How the heck had they even gotten his phone number? He had tried to ask, but the woman on the other end of the phone was in no mood to carry on a dialogue, she had told him he could either listen or talk to a dial tone.

"Why Mystic?"

Nathan shrugged. "Hell if I know. Hell, why McDonald's? This entire thing is crazy."

"My entire life has been crazy since you came up to me in the airport."

He winced.

"Sorry," she said. "That wasn't fair. I think it's obvious my life was already crazy, I just wasn't aware of it."

He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he didn't know what that possibly could be. He wondered what Paige would be doing right now if that woman at the airport hadn't helped him track her down. Would she be happy now?

She seemed to be thinking the exact same thing. "I wonder if I would be at work now if you hadn't found me."

"I'm sorry, Paige, really. Had I known all of this..." He trailed off, unwilling to finish.

She looked over at him. She could see the sadness in his eyes and it made her heart ache.

"Don't Nathan, don't be sorry. Ignorance is not bliss. I don't really believe that. It may be easier, but it is not better. I...I really do want to know the truth, even if I am terrified of what that might be."

He didn't know if he believed her or not. Was that conviction or fear in her voice? Probably both. Nathan guessed it didn't matter. He had seen her and he had tracked her. He had started the dominos falling and it was much too late to stop them now.

"Next exit," he said.

A few minutes later they were pulling off the highway and both he and Paige were looking for signs to McDonald's. She spotted it first, pointed to the left and a moment later they went up a small hill and pulled into the McDonald's parking lot.

Paige stared out the window at the building.

"I can't believe we are coming here for answers. Of course this is all so crazy who the hell knows. Hey Ronald McDonald I'd like a happy meal and oh yeah, how about the secrets of my life."

Even though he didn't want to, Nathan couldn't help but laugh. She had said it so seriously. Paige looked at him and gave him a shaky smile.

"Okay, maybe not."

"Probably not," he agreed. "Besides everyone knows Grimace is the real brains of this operation."

Paige started giggling and couldn't stop until she ran out of breath and began coughing. Nathan knew it hadn't been that funny but she was so nervous it was the only way her body knew to release some of the tension. He patted her gently on the back while she tried to catch her breath.

"Are you ready?"

She nodded and together they exited the car and went into the building. They got in line behind a short old man. A moment later, the old man got his meal and then they were at the register.