Page 58 of The Breakdown

No answer. She pushed the door open farther and stepped inside. The place was quiet, save for the gentle hum of the old refrigerator. She walked into the living room and peeked into the kitchen. Empty. She checked the bedroom. No Natalie.

She set the covered plate of eggs, bacon, and biscuits on the table and looked around. Natalie wasn’t there, that was clear. But the place felt different. It felt…hollow. With her mind clicking with panic, she rushed into the bedroom and yanked open the drawers. They were empty. She hurriedly searched the closet and found the same.

“Oh, no. No, no, no.”

She ran back into the kitchen and saw it, on the humming refrigerator. A note. June walked up to it and read.

Dear Vaughn and June,

Thank you both so much for all your help. You have no idea how much it meant to me and I’m afraid I’ll never be able to repay you for your kindness. Someday I hope to try.

Until then, please take care.

All my best,

Natalie.

June snatched the paper from the fridge and bolted for the door. She threw it open and ran outside, searching desperately for a glimpse of Natalie. She swept her gaze left and right. Then left again, toward the front drive, beyond the pasture. There, in the distance, was someone walking. A lone figure carrying something on her back.

“Natalie!” But it was no use. She knew she couldn’t hear her. She was too far away.

June looked again at the stables and ran as fast as she could to them, bumping into Greer on her way inside.

“Oh, sorry, Miss June. Boy, that was some breakfast,” he said, rubbing his stomach.

“Never mind that,” June said, brushing past him. “Where’s Vaughn?”

“She’s back feeding Miracle. Why? Something wrong?”

June continued on down the row of stalls, leaving Greer behind.

“Vaughn! Vaughn!”

“What?” Vaughn whispered harshly at June as she approached. “Keep it down, will ya? She’s trying to eat.”

“No time,” June huffed. She waved Vaughn out of the stall. “Come. Quickly.”

“Why? What is it?”

“Come,” June said. She tugged on her arm and pulled her down the line to the entrance of the stables. Greer was still standing there looking dumbfounded. Benny came walking up with a horse, grinning from ear to ear until he saw June. His young face fell.

“Something wrong?” he asked.

“Yes, please tell us what’s going on,” Vaughn said.

June placed a hand on her knee and pointed out toward the front drive. “Look.”

Vaughn and the boys followed her demand and squinted off into the distance. Greer spoke.

“There’s someone there.”

“Yes,” June breathed.

“Well, I’ll be, there is,” Benny said.

“Where?” Vaughn looked harder and reared back. “Who is that?”

“It’s Natalie,” June said. And she shoved the note at Vaughn’s chest. Vaughn opened the crinkled paper and read in silence. She glanced up, took another look at Natalie in the distance, and then back to June.