Chapter 5: She Never Came Back

At the church, the organ had already started playing.

Noah stood near the guest seating and glanced toward the entrance for the third time.

The doors opened.

It was only the late photographer.

He lowered his head and dialed my number.

It rang once before going to voicemail.

“Rowan, it’s me. The ceremony’s about to start. Call me when you get here.”

When Chloe took Rick’s arm and walked down the aisle, Noah was still gripping his phone.

He told himself I just needed a little time to calm down.

I had always cared about the bigger picture.

Even if I missed the ceremony, I would show up for the reception.

But when dinner was served, my seat was still empty.

Diane checked her phone several times.

“She’s not answering me either.”

“Forget it.”

Rick handed her a glass of champagne.

“She’s hurt, so she’s throwing a little fit. She’ll be over it in a couple of days.”

Chloe came over, a drink in her hand.

“Mom, it’s time for the toast.”

Whatever unease Diane had was instantly forgotten.

She rose, smiling, and walked to the head table with Rick.

Under the lights, Chloe stood linked to her father’s arm, accepting everyone’s congratulations.

No one looked at the empty chair again.

At eleven that night, they came home with leftover cake and presents.

The moment Diane stepped inside, she called out, “Rowan?”

No one answered.

The living room was dark.

The kitchen held none of the familiar smell of coffee.

She went upstairs and pushed open my bedroom door.

Her steps finally stopped.

The bed was neatly made.

Half the closet was empty.

The laptop and picture frames were gone from the desk.

Rick stood in the doorway, his face darkening.

“She took her stuff?”

Noah rushed downstairs and yanked open the front door.

The driveway was empty.

My car was gone.

Diane called again.

Straight to voicemail.

“Where could she have gone?”

“Where else?”

Rick yanked at his tie.

“Probably staying with a friend for a few days. The wedding’s over and she’s still making a scene.”

Diane stared at the half-empty room, muttering, “If she had a problem, she could have said something. What kind of grown woman just disappears like this? She’s thirty years old. She should know better.”

Not one of them imagined that I would never come back.

By then, I had already passed through airport security.

My screen showed a dozen missed calls.

Noah.

Diane.

Rick.

There was even a message from Chloe.

“You were way out of line today. All the relatives kept asking where you were.”

I didn’t open the rest.

I took out the new SIM card I had bought in advance and slipped it into my phone.

Then I snapped the old one in half and dropped it into the trash can beside the gate.

When the screen lit up again, my contacts list was blank.

No payment reminders.

No prenatal appointments.

No one waiting for me to clean up their messes.

After boarding, I took a window seat.

The plane rolled toward the runway.

Outside, Boston’s lights stretched across the darkness, then quickly fell farther and farther behind.

I wasn’t sad.

For the first time, my chest felt light, almost empty in the best way.

I lowered my eyes to the one-way ticket in my hand.

Destination:

Tucson, Arizona.

Arrival in two hours.