Serial Separation (30 page)

Chapter 81

It was now
summer and we had all graduated. I was lucky to be alive. I had Mercedes and
the others to thank for that. When Paddy and Mike had questioned her about
where she was all that weekend, and why the listings were missing, she left the
office.

The more she
thought about those two ingredients, the more she wondered if her sister
Melanie fit the profile.

She went to the
real estate office and researched the available properties and discovered the
two missing listings. That’s when she decided to check them out, but she
thought the remote property matched better than the other listing.

She had taken a
set of spare keys to both properties, since her sister managed both for the
office. She found my car behind the fence when she opened the gate, then saw
what was happening.

Melanie’s body
has never been recovered, but she could not have survived the freezing water. The
other two women were arrested since Melanie had told me their names. Their
phone numbers were located in Melanie’s pocketbook.

I don’t know why
I’m thinking about all of these things. I guess it’s the fresh air, the sound
of birds, waves hitting on the rocks below, the smell of the ocean and the
warmth of the sun. It seems Lisa is always waiting for me, but today is
different. Now I’m waiting for her. I’m not alone either. Mike is standing next
to me, and Judy is looking at both of us, smiling.

I could hear others
whispering. “Lisa is never late.”

When would she
come? My feet were falling asleep. Finally, I think she knew she kept me
waiting long enough. The other sounds were replaced by the noise of those
gathered standing, and then I heard the music . . . the most lovely music a man
could ever hear.

Here Comes
the Bride.
She’s coming to join me for the rest of our lives. Thank you,
God!