2

The sunshine did not reflect Gary's mood. He knew that technically there was no reason to think anything bad had happened. Miranda wasn't a child. She seemed calmer since they had married - although he reasoned it may have had something to do with the pair of them spending the majority of time in bed. He smiled as he thought of the time they had spent together. But he still couldn't shake the feeling that he was right. Something was very wrong.

"Morning Gary."

"Clive." He ran a hand over his face. "Has Miranda been in?"

"Today?"

"Yeah." Gary paused.

"No."

"Well, if she does come in can you ask her to call me?"

"Ooh. Trouble in Paradise?"

Gary sighed. "Just." He paused. "Ask her." He headed out of his own restaurant with no idea as to where he was headed.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Such fun." Penny smiled as she listened to the woman on the other end of the phone. The cruise had been amazing but her and Charles were still not quite as happy as she wanted them to be. There was no way she was going to tell Stephanie Parkhurst it had been anything other than wonderful. She headed into the joke shop as she ended the call.

"Miranda!"

"She isn't here."

"Oh. Morning Stevie. Where is she? Not still in bed! I know her and Gary are still in bed!"

Stevie raised an eyebrow. "No. Gary is out looking for her. We don't know where she is. She wasn't here when I arrived. She wasn't here when Gary woke up."

"What?" Penny glared at her daughter's best friend.

"I'm ringing people she may know. Tilly, Charlie, people she may be in touch with from school. I'm clutching at straws. I mean really! The only people in her phone book are you, her dad, me, Dr Gayle, Mike, Tilly and Pizza Hut." Stevie bit her lip. "Oh and her cousin in Scotland."

"Call her." Penny paused. "She might know something. I'm going to look for Gary. " The older woman left the shop as Stevie buried her head in her hands.

Xxx

Miranda sat on the park bench deep in thought. She was an adult. A business owner and a married woman. A fully fledged adult. But she felt lost. Her and Gary had been married a little over two months - she'd had so much heartbreak in the lead up to her wedding in the Bistro that she had explained it as just being stress. But now she knew. She had no idea how to tell Gary or if she should. Wiping away a tear she turned sharply as she heard her name called.

"Miranda." Gary was clearly out of breath. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Miranda sniffed as she watched him sit next to her. "I needed some air. Sorry. Why didn't you just call me?" She fumbled with her pockets.

"Because your phone is at home on the sofa."

"Oh! Oh bugger. Sorry." She looked away as Gary took her hand.

"Miranda? What's wrong? What's happened?" He felt his heart rate speed up. "Has someone hurt you? Are you sick? What is it?"

Miranda slipped her hand out of his. She wanted to say something to calm him down. To reassure him but the words wouldn't come. He held her gaze for a moment before the rain started pounding the pavement.

"Oh! Run!" Miranda got to her feet as Gary grabbed her hand and ran towards shelter with her. He had no idea what was wrong but he had patience. He knew he would find out in time.

Xxxxxx