All three servants nodded, each one looking more curious than the last. Reid was tempted to tell them a bit more but decided against it. This was Rosalind’s business, and he wasn’t even sure how much her situation should become common knowledge.
When they left, he sighed and stood up. “Father, I’m going to take your advice and go to the church and wait.”
“In the meantime, if she shows up here, we’ll send word to you. I’ll fill your mother in on the latest events as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s hope she reaches out to you, son.” He nodded. “Indeed, you—and the church—are her best chances for survival.”
Reid knew his father wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest. As brave as Rosalind was, Reid knew she was really only a young farm girl on her own in the middle of a big city. Her innocence and the sense of betrayal she surely had to feel were a dangerous combination. It could even propel her to make some poor decisions. “I shudder to think about what will happen if she doesn’t reach out.”
“None of that, now. You need to stay positive. Focused. I will pray. If we do those things, I know we’ll find her. And once we do that, we will all put our heads together and try to figure out what happened to her sister. And we will. I’m sure of it.”
Reid was humbled by both his father’s trust in the Lord and his hope for their success. Once again, he was reminded that he had a lot to learn to become the man his father was.
He only hoped there would be enough time to learn even more. He needed his father, just as he needed their Father in heaven. “Well, I’m off,” he said. He marched downstairs, took his hat from Watterson, and strode out the door.
The moment he stepped outside, he was struck at just how bright the sun was shining. He blinked a bit, letting his eyes adjust to the daylight. Took time to look around him, take in the beauty of the morning.
Yes, the day was beautiful. The trees and shrubs surrounding their home were neatly trimmed and flowers bordered the estate like vibrant ribbons. Few people drove along the streets. It was almost quiet.
For once the air wasn’t too hot or too humid, and the promise of fall was, perhaps, in the air. The winds their city was known for weren’t gusting and kicking up dust and debris from the road. The air even smelled sweeter than it usually did.
Yes, all in all, it was a beautiful day. Beautiful in looks and in feel. It was a beautiful day to make a difference in someone’s life.
With that thought in mind, he stepped down his front steps, turned right, and started walking to the church. He’d start there. If she didn’t show, then he’d start exploring other places and other options.
All he could do was take one step at a time.
CHAPTER 26
Rosalind had been sitting in the same church pew she’d sat in before for an hour. For most of the time, she’d been completely alone. She’d passed the time by listening for footsteps and berating herself for not doing more to keep her job at Sloane House, telling herself she was ten times the fool.
Just like when she’d boarded that train in Milwaukee, determined to locate Miranda and bring her home safely, she’d been hopelessly naive.
Why had she cared whether Minerva had a bed to sleep in or not? Furthermore, why had she thought that she would have a chance of meeting Reid—or even anyone who knew him—at this time, on this day? The choir practice she’d stumbled upon had been later in the day, on another day of the week. She didn’t even know how often they practiced.
She should have come up with a better solution. More importantly, she should have prepared better. She should have asked him where his home was, about his job. Asked him something of importance so if she did need him, she would be able to find him.
And, well, while she was at it, she certainly should have gone to the police station herself and asked about her sister, even though they had rebuffed her father. If they had no answers for her? She could have returned again and again until they took her seriously.
Instead, she’d taken the investigation into her own hands, even though she didn’t know the city or the first thing about locating a missing person. Yes, she’d been ten times the fool.
After sitting for that hour, she was already coming to the conclusion that the only things she did have any more were hope and her faith. She started praying then. Her words were rusty at first, but little by little they began to meld together.
Asking the Lord to join her felt, finally, like the right thing to do—as if at long last she was doing something right. Every time she began to doubt and worry, Rosalind did her best to breathe deeply and let the scent of incense, lemon oil, and aged wood fill her soul. Each time, the cool air, mixed with the comforting scent and a sense of faith, soothed her.