Serial Separation (29 page)

Chapter 81

It was now summer and we had all graduated. I was lucky to be alive. I had Mercedes and the others to thank for that. When Paddy and Mike had questioned her about where she was all that weekend, and why the listings were missing, she left the office.

The more she thought about those two ingredients, the more she wondered if her sister Melanie fit the profile.

She went to the real estate office and researched the available properties and discovered the two missing listings. That’s when she decided to check them out, but she thought the remote property matched better than the other listing.

She had taken a set of spare keys to both properties, since her sister managed both for the office. She found my car behind the fence when she opened the gate, then saw what was happening.

Melanie’s body has never been recovered, but she could not have survived the freezing water. The other two women were arrested since Melanie had told me their names. Their phone numbers were located in Melanie’s pocketbook.

I don’t know why I’m thinking about all of these things. I guess it’s the fresh air, the sound of birds, waves hitting on the rocks below, the smell of the ocean and the warmth of the sun. It seems Lisa is always waiting for me, but today is different. Now I’m waiting for her. I’m not alone either. Mike is standing next to me, and Judy is looking at both of us, smiling.

I could hear others whispering. “Lisa is never late.”

When would she come? My feet were falling asleep. Finally, I think she knew she kept me waiting long enough. The other sounds were replaced by the noise of those gathered standing, and then I heard the music . . . the most lovely music a man could ever hear.

Here Comes the Bride.
She’s coming to join me for the rest of our lives. Thank you, God!