Page 6 of A Sister's Secret

"Then we'll do it together," she replied, her voice steady, though he could see the worry tugging at the corners of her smile.

Oliver nodded, grateful beyond words for her unwavering support. He faced his parents once more, his posture speaking of a man who would not be swayed from his course.

"Whatever it takes, I'm going to uncover the truth. Michelle deserves that much. We all do."

Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Thompsons' secluded home. Inside, as the last light of day faded, a new resolve took hold, propelling Oliver into the depths of a mystery that had lingered over their lives for far too long.

Gently closing the door behind them, Oliver and Lisa stepped out into the cooling twilight, their arms instinctively wrapping around each other. The world seemed eerily silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze—a stark contrast to the heavy revelations that still echoed in their minds.

"God, I can't believe she’s gone…" Oliver's voice trailed off as he clutched Lisa closer.

Lisa nestled her head against his chest, her presence a balm to the ache that had settled in his heart.

"We'll get through this," she murmured, her words muffled by his jacket.

As they reached the gravel driveway, pebbles crunching beneath their feet, Oliver stopped, looking back at the house that loomed in the fading light. It was as if the structure itself was burdened with untold stories, its windows reflecting not just the dying day but the ghosts of a past long hidden.

"Where do we even start?" Lisa asked with her gaze following his. Her hazel eyes, usually so warm, were now clouded with the weight of uncertainty.

"First, we need to find out where Michelle went after she left here." Oliver's hands were fists at his sides, the woodworker's callouses a testament to his ability to shape and fix things. But this wasn't wood; this was his life, and it would take more than skilled hands to put these pieces back together.

"Maybe someone in town knows something," Lisa suggested, her resilience shining despite the shadow of doubt. "Old friends, neighbors… there has to be someone who knows where she went."

"We could check social media, online records…" he trailed off, his mind racing with possibilities. There was a decade to cover in which Michelle could have built an entirely new life or met an untimely fate. They had searched for her back then but came up with nothing. He had never wanted to stop, but his parents had told him to let it go. He never should have listened to them.

"Let's start with what we know and go from there," Lisa said, her practicality grounding him as always. She pulled out her phone, tapping away to take notes. "We'll make a list tonight—people to talk to, places to visit, anything and everything that might lead us to her untold story."

Oliver gave a determined nod, feeling the stirrings of hope amidst the turmoil. "Whatever it takes."

They reached the police cruiser with Sheriff Coleman sitting in it, waiting for them. As Oliver opened the door for Lisa, he paused, allowing himself a moment to look into her eyes.

"Thank you," he whispered, the words thick with gratitude and love. "For being my partner in every sense."

"Always," she replied, squeezing his hand before sliding into the seat.

With one last glance at the darkened house, Oliver got into the car in the front seat next to the sheriff.

“You okay?” Sheriff Coleman asked.

Oliver nodded. “As okay as can be expected, I guess.”

“It will get better,” he said as the engine came to life with a soft purr.

"Oliver?" Lisa's voice broke through his reverie, laced with concern, as they stepped out of the cruiser and said goodbye and thank you to the sheriff.

"I know you said you were okay to the sheriff, but are you okay?"

He nodded, but his jaw clenched involuntarily. An urgency bubbled up inside him, the need for answers more pressing than ever.

Lisa reached out, her hand warm against his arm. "We'll find the truth, Ollie. But we can't let it consume us."

"I need to know, Lisa." His words were fervent, an undercurrent of desperation threading through them. He shot her a look that bore the intensity of his resolve. "I need to understand why she vanished—why she didn't come back."

Her eyes softened, though worry creased her brow. "Just… don't lose yourself in this search," Lisa murmured, her fingers tracing patterns over his knuckles. The fierce determination in his gaze unsettled her; she knew the peril in obsession's grip all too well.

He nodded, though his heart raced with impatience. There was no turning back, not when the shadows of the past clung so tenaciously. "I won't," he promised, more to himself than to her. But the promise felt hollow against the magnitude of what lay ahead.

With a deep breath, Oliver turned his attention to the café in front of him, both their home and workplace. Somehow, it looked different now. A few hours ago, saving this place and making it work had been the most important task in his life. But now, everything had changed. It was no longer his number one priority. He had gained a new mission in life and was bracing his heart for whatever truths lay hidden in the darkness ahead.