Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

vanishes
    as Dad stands in the kitchen doorway. His face is drawn with
    sadness. I button up my army-green jacket.
    “I can’t stop, Dad,” I say while pulling a black woolly hat
    down over my hair. A car horn beeps outside. I kiss Dad on the
    cheek without meeting his eyes. “I’ll be back before dark,” I say
    and stick my gloves in my pocket.
    “Sarajane.” I turn around and face him. “Please be careful.”
    I force a smile. “Always am, Dad.”
    Josh has the heater up full blast, as it is a cold morning
    outside. He’s wrapped in a puffy black jacket, jeans, and heavy,
    black military-style boots. His blond hair is tucked away under
    a black cap.
    “Love the boots,” Josh says while he reverses out of the
    driveway of our two-story house. We live in a cul-de-sac with
    two other families. We keep to ourselves and so do they.
    I look back at the house and Dad is standing in the sitting
    room, looking out the window, wrapped in grief. I give a small
    wave and then we are out of sight. The drive is always silent as
    we make our way to the forest, my mind racing,
    praying today will be the day we find something.
    Josh pulls in at a filling station. “Coffee?” he asks while
    taking off his seat belt.
    “Yes, thanks.” His door closes and I watch as people go on
    with their daily lives. It looks so simple, no major complications.
    When my mother was around, I never realised how great my life
    was. Josh climbs back in, then hands me my coffee and drops a
    bag onto the floor on my side.
    “What did you get?” I ask as he turns the key in the ignition.
    “Your favourite. Tuna sandwich with lots of mayonnaise.”
    We leave the filling station and I wrap my hands around my
    coffee for extra warmth. We arrive at the parking lot just on the
    outskirts of the forest. I climb out, still clinging to my cup. We
    follow our usual trail. The ground is muddy from the rain. This
    causes my wellies to make squishing noises. Josh has nailed red
    pieces of cloth onto trees to help us remember the area we need
    to search. I send up another silent prayer that today I will find
    something, anything.
    This area was the last place my mother was before she
    disappeared six months ago. She was out that day, walking
    Charlie, our dog. The Garda found Charlie dead, along with
    my mum’s blue rain mac. That is all we have left of her.
    It made no sense, her disappearance. There was no ransom.
    We weren’t wealthy, just comfortable, so that was ruled out
    earlier on in the search. Also, my mother had no enemies. She
    was just a housewife.
    We take opposite sides of our outlined area and comb the
    ground for clues. After two hours of coming up empty-handed,
    we return to the car. Josh gives me my sandwich and a bottle
    of minerals.
    “Josh, do you think when someone dies they would linger
    around?”
    He takes a drink before answering me. “Yes, I suppose, if
    they have unfinished business.”
    I know Josh is just being kind. He really believes if you’re
    dead, that’s it, lights out.
    “I don’t feel her here,” I say.
    Josh places his hand over mine. “That’s good, Sarajane.” Pity
    fills his brown eyes, and it makes me angry.
    I push his hand away. “She is alive.”
    He places his hands on the steering wheel, his knuckles
    turning white from his grip. I know he believes she’s dead and
    I’m in denial. “You can’t keep this up.”
    I seal my sandwich, having lost my appetite. “Keep what
    up?” I ask, knowing fully well what he is talking about. I knew one day I would have this conversation.
    Josh turns to me. “Sarajane, please. Searching for her in the
    same place for the last six months is not healthy.”
    My temper flares. “Sorry for taking up your Sundays.” I
    jump out of his car, slamming the door, and return to the
    forest.
    Josh follows me. “Sarajane, this is not about my time.” I
    keep walking, splashing mud past my wellies up onto my black
    jeans. Josh catches up with me. “Just stop.” He