She turned her attention back to David. “I got divorced a year or so ago. Are you seeing anyone these days?”

“No. I’m still single.”

Her eyes lit up. “We should get together soon and catch up over a drink.”

“That sounds great. Let me know what works for you.”

“I’ll watch for your email and we can make a plan.”

Paula couldn’t help noticing that as they did in high school, that Missy and David looked good together. For some reason, the thought depressed her. Which was silly. She reasoned that it was just that she wasn’t overly fond of Missy. She’d come into The Whitley for various ladies’ group functions over the years and had never so much as said hello to Paula when she saw her. And it wasn’t like she didn’t know who she was, she clearly remembered as she said so today. No, she just always acted as though Paula, and many others, were beneath her.

That was while she was married, though. Missy didn’t work then, and her husband was wealthy. They belonged to one of the swankier country clubs and she was involved in various charity organizations. Paula had no idea why they divorced, but she guessed that her financial situation wasn’t as rosy as it used to be if she was helping to manage a new restaurant. Maybe the experience had humbled her. But Paula still didn’t think she was worthy of David.

He was quiet as they drove back to the hotel. They were halfway there when his phone rang.

“Hi, Dad. What’s up?”

Paula noticed a muscle in his jaw clench as he listened to his father. “You have no idea where she might have gone? I’ll be right there to help you look. Don’t worry, Dad. We’ll find her.” He hung up the phone and looked at Paula. “My mother disappeared. In the middle of the day, with her companion in the house. My father is on his way home from the office to help look for her. I need to go there, too.”

“Take me with you. It will save time from having to drop me off. And I can help look, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, turn the car around.”

He did, and ten minutes later they pulled up to his parents’ house. An older woman who looked to be in her sixties was on the front porch dabbing her eyes with a tissue. His father was talking to her and as they walked up they could hear him saying, “It’s not your fault, Meg. Who would have thought she’d disappear while you were putting a load of laundry in?”

“Hi, Dad. Paula and I were just out to lunch, so we’re both here to help look for Mom.”