Free Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 07 - Missing Milt by Hope Callaghan

chuckled.  “It’s a surprise.”
    The two of them talked a few more minutes about kids, grandkids, the upcoming holidays and Lucy’s date.
    Paul frowned.  “What happened to…Bill?”
    Gloria explained the situation while Paul listened quietly, nodding once or twice.  “I know you never cared for him that much.”
    “Yeah,” Gloria admitted, “he wasn’t my favorite.” 
    Gloria went on to tell him about Frances and her missing boyfriend, Milt, and admitted she had agreed to look into his disappearance.
    “Another mystery,” he surmised.
    She nodded.  “What do you think?”
    Paul clasped his hands together and placed them behind his head.  He leaned back in the chair and stared thoughtfully at the barn across the street.  “If this is out of character, there would be cause for concern.  Has his family reported him missing?”
    “That’s something I don’t know,” she confessed. “I’m not sure if he even has family.”
    Paul rose to his feet.  “I would start there.”
    Mally lifted herself from Paul’s feet and waited by the back door.  Gloria let her in, grabbed her keys and met Paul back out on the porch. 
    They rode in silence, each of them deep in their own thoughts. 
    Paul turned and headed toward the larger town of Rapid Creek, which was on the other side of Green Springs.  Rapid Creek was halfway between Belhaven and Grand Rapids. 
    He made a few more turns and Gloria finally figured out they were heading toward Lake Harmony. 
    He parked the truck in the parking lot across the street from the lake.  Gloria knew better than to try to climb out herself.  She obediently waited for Paul to come around to the passenger door and open it. 
    She slipped her hand into his and stepped out of the truck. 
    “Where…”
    “You’ll see soon enough,” Paul assured her.
    They walked down the small gravel path toward the boat launch.  When they cleared the trees, Gloria saw the surprise.  A long, wooden dock ran along the launch.  Jutting out into the water was a large, two-story passenger boat.  The bottom section was enclosed.  An upper level sported an open, airy deck. 
    Paul and Gloria joined the line of people that were boarding.  The man near the entrance took the tickets from Paul and they stepped inside. 
    A rich mahogany wood covered the interior walls.  Antique lighting fixtures dotted the ceiling and intimate tables for two and four spread out around the cozy dining room.  In the center of each table was a black taper candelabrum with three lit candles. At the base of the candelabra were pink and red roses, adorned with sprigs of baby’s breath.  
    A waiter escorted them to their table. A placard with their names engraved in gold lettering sat off to the side of the gorgeous centerpiece.  “You may be seated now but I suggest heading up one floor to order a cocktail and enjoy the breathtaking view during sail away.”
    Paul led Gloria to the stairs in the back and stepped to the side while she climbed the stairs ahead of him. 
    In the center of the upper deck was a large bar, built of the same magnificent mahogany as the lower level.  Scattered across the deck were bistro tables.  Several other guests were already standing at the edge of the railings, enjoying the view. 
    They made their way over to the bar where Paul ordered two glasses of chardonnay.  He handed one to Gloria and raised his glass.  “A toast.”
    She raised her glass. 
    “A toast to dinner with the most beautiful woman in the world.”
    They tapped their glasses and Gloria lowered hers to hide the tinge of pink that colored her cheeks. 
    “Shall we?” Paul held out his arm.
    Gloria slipped her arm through his as they made their way over to the side rail and watched as more passengers wandered down the dock. 
    Finally, the ship set sail.  Gloria felt her tension slip away as the ship drifted from the shoreline. 
    Romantic music softly floated in the air as the boat circled the outer