Free Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River by Janet Cooper Page B

you seen my dad?”
    “I think he’s still in his upstairs office.”
    “Thanks.” Taylor dashed up the steps, hur ried do w n the w ide corridor, then stopped at the closed door. Her father never closed his office door. Even w hen she w as a child, the door al w ays stood open , invitin g anyone to come in and visit. She hesitated before knocking. “Dad?”
    “Come in, Taylor. ” The sadness r ang through those fe w w ords.
    He sat behind his desk, w ith his chair turned half w ay round so that he faced the large glass bay w indo w over - looking the pool and the tennis courts. The room, masculine in appearance, w ith its Southern pine paneling of w alls, floor and ceiling, al w ays gave off a w arm inviting feeling . The large knee-hole desk that had belonged to her grandfather occupied the center of the room. T w o comfortable, blue club chairs w ith matching ottomans sat at angles to the desk. Often, as a little girl, she’d climbed onto one of the leather seats and fallen asleep w atching her father w ork. Pictures g raced the w all space throughout the room, most of her at various stages of development. Today, a chill replace the w armth.
    “Dad?” She hurried over to him , almost running around the edge of the desk. She stared at him. He appeared so old and tired . Taylor knelt on the floor and thre w her arms around him . T he t w o of the m cried together. Ho w long they remained clinging to each oth er, she had no idea. S he eased back on her haunches and lovingly surveyed his face. “ W e’ll get through this, Daddy. Together, w e’ll get through this.”
    He managed a nod and pu lled out his handkerchief, w iping her f ace before w iping his o w n. Jamming the damp cloth into the side pocket of his slacks, he gazed deeply into her eyes and managed a slight smile , w hich she returned.
    “I received t w o calls that I must share w ith you.”
    She bobbed her head.
    “The sheriff phone d and told me the cause of your mother’s accident.”
    A lump in her stomach formed and gre w .
    “Excessive speed. She misjudged the corner and , ” Taylor sa w her father s w allo w then lick his lips as if searching for moisture. “slammed into the oak. The coroner’s report stated that although her heart kept beating, she had died on impact.”
    For a fe w moments, her mind filled as she pictured the s cene. The tree stood in a spot she’d passed every time she drove to Beaufort. Her eyes filled w ith tears w hich she successfully fought from flo w ing.
    “Ta ylor. ” Her father hesitated a minute, but his eyes never left her face. “ I talked to Larry Murphy . He told me the Coast Guard and the W ater and Safety helico pters will make one more run than call off the air search. ”
    She hardly recognized his voice.
    “The DNR boats plus the police patrols will continue for another day.”
    Taylor stood up, stepping back in horror. “Dad, they can’t. He’s out there. I’m sure he’s alive. If he w eren’t, I’d kno w ? W ouldn’t I? Isn’t that ho w love w orks? He and I are t w o parts of a w hole. Aren’t w e?” Her tears threatened to cascade do w n her cheeks .
    “Taylor, I’m a practical man. I believe in God, but w hether w e sense trouble for those w e love, I don’t know , because I didn’t.
    He’s talking about Mother, even though he hasn’t said her name.
    “ Perhaps, that’s normal not to kno w .” He shook his head. His face sho w ed his pain. “I have no idea.” He stood up , taking hold of her shoulders. “Honey, talk to Mary about that . She says she’s ‘gets messages’ at times . Some of her predictions are accurate, some aren’t. ” He shrugged. “Pe rhaps, she can help. W hy not try? ”
    “ Will she ans w er me?” Her voice revealed her doubt.
    “Many times during my life, unex plainable events have occurred. Mary, at times, tried to w arn me or at least make me a w are something w ould happen.” He took his daughter’s arm and led her to the w ide , w