Finding Her

Four

"Don't push your friends away." Was the first thing Henry said on the walk to Gregory's house that night.

He thought back to Shara and Lynn's reactions that morning. He wasn't pushing, he wasn't inviting them to be lost and depressed with him but he wasn't trying to put distance between them either.

"I won't."

Henry cleared his throat. "You say that but I didn't see Shara tonight and Lynn seemed quieter than usual."

"Shara's mad that I didn't tell her about Charlotte." He kicked a pile of dirty along the way. "Lynn is trying to make me feel better but, it's too soon. You know?"

Henry nodded. "It is too soon to feel one hundred percent but, they both know, there is nothing we can do right now. We have to wait and see what happens."

The destination was in view and Zev took the opportunity to change the subject. "Do you think we will be here long, dad? I am going to talk to Shara when we are done. You're right, I can't push her away."

Henry stopped at the end of the driveway. "No, we won't be long. That's a smart idea." He looked over the lawn that had grown out but been ignored. "This weekend you and I will come back and do some of the outdoor chores for her father. Okay?"

"I can cut the lawn and wash the house." Zev offered.

"I'll mow the lawn, you can wash the house and the truck." They reached the door and knocked on the wood.

There was a thud, inside and Gregory swore. He answered the door in a stained undershirt and ripped blue jeans.

"Yeah?" He squinted from the sunlight and used his hand to shield his eyes.

"I heard about your daughter."

The tall and muscular man crumpled onto Henry's shoulder. He sobbed and hugged him. "Thank you for coming." He turned and gestured for them to come in. "Excuse the mess."

They cleared seats at the dining room table and chatted for a while. The conversation turned to work and Zev excused himself.

"I'll be back on the weekend." He put on his shoes and turned back. "You'll be in my prayers."

He paced out into the fair weather and down the road to Shara's house. He replayed the last thing he said in his mind. Why had he said that? He cringed when others brought up prayer as a resolution but, he still put it out there to comfort others with out flinching.

He knew it would warm her father's heart, so he said it. Did those words stem from belief or was he so accustomed to hearing it that he parroted what felt right?

He was still dissecting his personal faith when the front door of Shara's house opened. She wore a handkerchief around her heard to keep her blonde hair back. Her overalls covered the shirt she got at the only concert they had ever been to.

"Can we talk?" He stepped back and she closed the door while stepping off the ledge.

There was a pause. "You could have told me. I didn't like her but I would have understood how you felt. Why do you have to be such a jerk sometimes?"

"I know. I should have told you as soon as I found out. I'm sorry." He hung his head.

She slapped his shoulder. "There's nothing to be sorry about. Just don't do it again." A smile crept onto her lips and she pulled him in for a hug.

"I don't know what to do now." He whispered into her neck.

She pulled back from him with crimson cheeks and a big smile. "What can we do? We're just kids. She could be anywhere."

"What if she doesn't come back?" He put his hands in his pockets and tapped the stair rail with his shoe. "I want to look for her."

She nodded and looked off in thought. "I knew you would."