Page 82 of Last Wish Wedding
Still, she couldn’t fight the creeping dread as she stepped out of her car and joined the throng of waiting parents. She spotted Amanda Porter, Tyler’s mother, standing near the school entrance and made her way over.
“Any word?” Kelsey asked. She tried keep her voice level.
Amanda turned, relief crossing her face at seeing her. “Oh, Kelsey! They just called the school office. The ferry is about fifteen minutes out.”
“What happened? They missed the four o’clock?”
Amanda nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Apparently there was some kind of incident with one of the kids at the aquarium. They got delayed and missed the scheduled crossing.”
“Incident?” The word landed like a stone in Kelsey’s chest. “Did they say what kind?”
“Just that everyone’s okay.” Amanda offered a reassuring smile that did nothing for Kelsey’s growing unease. “You know how kids are on field trips. Probably someone wandered off in the gift shop.”
Wandered off. The words echoed in Kelsey’s mind as she remembered the man with the camera. The Prescotts watching her. Watching Noah.
“Probably,” Kelsey agreed, her mouth dry.
Parents continued to gather, their conversation a mix of minor irritation and good-natured jokes about teacher herding skills. Kelsey joined in automatically, laughing at appropriate moments, but her attention remained fixed on the road leading to the school.
When the yellow bus finally rounded the corner, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the waiting crowd. Kelsey moved closer to the designated drop-off area, stomach knotting as the bus doors opened and children began spilling out.
One by one, students descended the steps and ran to waiting parents, backpacks bouncing and voices excitedly talking about fish and sharks and the ferry ride. Kelsey scanned each face. The knot in her stomach tightened with every child who wasn’t Noah.
Then the flow of children stopped.
Kelsey stepped forward. Mrs. Smith, Noah’s teacher, appeared at the bus door, one hand on the shoulder of a subdued-looking Noah.
“There he is,” Kelsey breathed, relief flowing through her until she registered her son’s expression—head slightly down, with none of the other children’s post-field-trip animation.
Mrs. Smith spotted Kelsey and guided Noah down the steps. As they approached, the teacher’s professional smile did little to mask the concern in her eyes.
“Ms. York,” Mrs. Smith said, then quickly corrected herself. “I’m sorry—Mrs. MacCormack.” She kept one hand lightly on Noah’s shoulder. “We had a bit of a situation today I wanted to discuss with you.”
Kelsey knelt to Noah’s level first. “Hey, buddy. You okay?”
Noah nodded, not quite meeting her eyes. “I’m fine, Mom.”
“What happened?” Kelsey looked up at Mrs. Smith while keeping a hand on Noah’s arm.
The teacher’s expression was carefully neutral. “Noah disappeared for about fifteen minutes at the aquarium. As you can imagine, it gave us quite a scare.”
“Disappeared?” Kelsey’s voice sharpened.
“I’m sorry,” Noah mumbled.
Mrs. Smith continued, “When we found him, he was with a woman he identified as his Aunt Jennifer. He said she was his uncle’s wife.”
The name hit Kelsey like a gut punch.
“I should have been notified immediately,” Kelsey said, fighting to keep her tone even.
“There was no need. Noah was found quickly, and everything seemed to be in order.” Mrs. Smith’s brow furrowed slightly. “In the future, though, I’d appreciate if you’d let us know when family members might be meeting up with students on field trips. It’s school policy that we need written permission for anyone else to have contact with students while they’re in our care. She was quite… upset with me about it.”
Kelsey stood slowly, one hand still on Noah’s shoulder. “I didn’t know she would be there.”
Something in Kelsey’s tone must have registered with the teacher because Mrs. Smith’s expression shifted subtly. “I see. Well, no harm done this time, but perhaps a family conversation is in order.”
“Absolutely,” Kelsey agreed, her voice tight. “Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”
