Read Online Fifteen Weekends by Christy Pastore - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christy Pastore
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came across a photo of Emily standing next to a guy wearing a white button down shirt and khaki shorts. Carefully examining the picture she noticed something familiar about him. Emily sat next to Ashleigh on the couch and picked up a few photos placing them back in the box.
“Emily, this is Craig right?” she inquired while holding up the photo in front of Emily’s face.
“Yes,” she replied with a deep sigh.
Craig Walker had vanished from the face of the Earth and out of Emily’s life. Five years ago, Emily had gone home to Marquette for Thanksgiving. When she returned to their apartment in Chicago, Craig was gone. No note, no goodbye, nothing.
The situation was puzzling because Emily had talked to Craig several times over the few days she was at her parents’ house. Things seemed normal. Nothing alerted her that there was trouble. When Emily tried to call his cell phone to let him know she was on her way to Chicago, she received a message saying the number had been disconnected. She tried a few more times thinking it was a technological error, but Emily kept getting the same message. When Emily walked into the apartment she found his closet empty. Craig took nothing else, just his personal effects. None of Craig’s friends knew anything about where he had gone, either, and no one at the CME Group seemed to want to return Emily’s calls. Both of Craig’s parents had died when he was in college, and he wasn’t close with any other relatives, leaving her with no leads.
Over the next several months Emily would get together with Craig’s best friends, Jared and Scott, once a week to talk about Craig and try to solve the puzzle that was his disappearance. Talking with them helped Emily deal with her emotional heartbreak and slight depression. As the frigid winter dragged on, their meetings became less regular. Jared had gotten engaged; Scott was promoted at work and moved to Austin.
Determined not to let Craig’s sudden vanishing act affect her life, Emily began to see a therapist so she wouldn’t become an emotional wreck for her friends and co-workers. However, being in Chicago and living in the condo they once shared kept her from moving on. All Emily could do was leave the city and try to come to terms with the fact that Craig Walker had vanished and he was determined not to be found. When summer came she landed a job at Cooper Bentley and made a fresh start in Grand Rapids.
“Emily,” she paused for a moment. “Don’t freak out, but I think I saw Craig in London.”
The blood drained from her cheeks. “What?” Emily said in a tight voice as she turned to face Ashleigh.
“Listen, when I was at Heathrow coming home, there was a guy who was standing outside the coffee shop in my terminal. I kept trying to place him because he looked so familiar, but I had only seen Craig’s photo a few times. I wasn’t sure until this moment, but seeing those steely blue eyes I’m sure it was him—so certain I’d bet my last paycheck on it.”
Emily could barely hear Ashleigh talking over the thundering beat of her heart. She was dizzy, not knowing if she was going to throw up or pass out.
“Emily, are you okay?”
Collecting her thoughts and looking directly at Ashleigh, Emily shook her head in slight disbelief and said, “Wait…so… you’re telling me that you think the guy you saw in London is Craig?”
“Emily, I swear it’s the same guy. I should have taken a photo of him with my phone. He walked past me as a little kid knocked over my suitcase, and Craig picked it up for me. He had an American accent, and he looks almost the same, a little older—hot as sin.”
Emily took another drink of wine, and then another, finishing her glass. The timer for the oven buzzed, startling her. Outside, the rain was beginning to pour again, and the thunder was so loud Emily felt as if it was right on top of her house.
“Hello, Earth to Emily?”
“Emily, this is Craig right?” she inquired while holding up the photo in front of Emily’s face.
“Yes,” she replied with a deep sigh.
Craig Walker had vanished from the face of the Earth and out of Emily’s life. Five years ago, Emily had gone home to Marquette for Thanksgiving. When she returned to their apartment in Chicago, Craig was gone. No note, no goodbye, nothing.
The situation was puzzling because Emily had talked to Craig several times over the few days she was at her parents’ house. Things seemed normal. Nothing alerted her that there was trouble. When Emily tried to call his cell phone to let him know she was on her way to Chicago, she received a message saying the number had been disconnected. She tried a few more times thinking it was a technological error, but Emily kept getting the same message. When Emily walked into the apartment she found his closet empty. Craig took nothing else, just his personal effects. None of Craig’s friends knew anything about where he had gone, either, and no one at the CME Group seemed to want to return Emily’s calls. Both of Craig’s parents had died when he was in college, and he wasn’t close with any other relatives, leaving her with no leads.
Over the next several months Emily would get together with Craig’s best friends, Jared and Scott, once a week to talk about Craig and try to solve the puzzle that was his disappearance. Talking with them helped Emily deal with her emotional heartbreak and slight depression. As the frigid winter dragged on, their meetings became less regular. Jared had gotten engaged; Scott was promoted at work and moved to Austin.
Determined not to let Craig’s sudden vanishing act affect her life, Emily began to see a therapist so she wouldn’t become an emotional wreck for her friends and co-workers. However, being in Chicago and living in the condo they once shared kept her from moving on. All Emily could do was leave the city and try to come to terms with the fact that Craig Walker had vanished and he was determined not to be found. When summer came she landed a job at Cooper Bentley and made a fresh start in Grand Rapids.
“Emily,” she paused for a moment. “Don’t freak out, but I think I saw Craig in London.”
The blood drained from her cheeks. “What?” Emily said in a tight voice as she turned to face Ashleigh.
“Listen, when I was at Heathrow coming home, there was a guy who was standing outside the coffee shop in my terminal. I kept trying to place him because he looked so familiar, but I had only seen Craig’s photo a few times. I wasn’t sure until this moment, but seeing those steely blue eyes I’m sure it was him—so certain I’d bet my last paycheck on it.”
Emily could barely hear Ashleigh talking over the thundering beat of her heart. She was dizzy, not knowing if she was going to throw up or pass out.
“Emily, are you okay?”
Collecting her thoughts and looking directly at Ashleigh, Emily shook her head in slight disbelief and said, “Wait…so… you’re telling me that you think the guy you saw in London is Craig?”
“Emily, I swear it’s the same guy. I should have taken a photo of him with my phone. He walked past me as a little kid knocked over my suitcase, and Craig picked it up for me. He had an American accent, and he looks almost the same, a little older—hot as sin.”
Emily took another drink of wine, and then another, finishing her glass. The timer for the oven buzzed, startling her. Outside, the rain was beginning to pour again, and the thunder was so loud Emily felt as if it was right on top of her house.
“Hello, Earth to Emily?”
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