As they neared Dallas' room to grab his phone, Adelaide heard the faint murmur of voices from the kitchen. Not Eden, too soft to be Hollis, but she was sure there were two - Beaudan and Callum, then. Perhaps Beaudan had finally decided to join his family - Hollis should be able to find him shortly, then.
As they made their way back downstairs, Adelaide listened to Dallas chatter about some sporting event she hadn't paid attention to. It had never been her thing, but seeing how animatedly Dallas talked about it, she decided that she would watch a replay later so she could talk to him about it. Leave it to the youngest Morcant to change her view on sports.
They passed the kitchen, and Adelaide couldn't help but peek in, looking for Beaudan. He was nowhere to be found, though, and a rather troubled-looking Callum met her gaze. Adelaide stopped short, Dallas bumping into her with a muttered apology that she ignored. Something in Callum's face wasn't right - the tightness in his brow, though typical, was different, and the way his frown pulled at his face made her pause. "Where's Beaudan?"
Her voice seemed to snap Callum from his thoughts, as he jumped at the sound, gaze snapping to her own as he wiped his face carefully clean of any expression. "He went out."
The response was dull, lackluster, and vague. She knew Callum wouldn't give her all the answers - he never had, and she was sure even if he did like her, he would still be carefully obtuse with his responses. But the way he guarded his expression, watching her with a scrutinizing look, made her hesitate. He wasn't telling her something, that much was obvious. Beaudan hadn't gone out since they arrived, had avoided leaving at all costs unless it was to the beach - and he certainly wouldn't return by himself. He would have asked Dallas to go with him, maybe even Callum if he needed an escape. Before, he would have asked Adelaide.
Though she knew she was missing something, Callum wasn't the one who would give her answers. She nodded curtly before turning away, keeping her expression neutral until she could no longer see his face. Only then did she allow her brows to crease, her frown to mar her face as she contemplated Beaudan's whereabouts.
He wouldn't have gone into the town - had been so opposed to the idea that she was sure he would skirt around it regardless of his destination. She held up a finger to Dallas before slipping out the front door and rounding the corner of the house.
As she suspected, one of the cars was missing, its absence sharp as she surveyed the drive. Beaudan hadn't gone anywhere close, then.
Plastering a soft smile on her face, she returned to the house, gesturing for Dallas to come to her near the door. Callum would stop her if he overheard, and she needed to know where Beaudan had gone.
"Where would Beaudan take a car?" She left the question light, a simple inquiry as if she was asking for the nearest cafe. Dallas frowned for a moment, thinking, before he responded.
"He usually goes to the other home..." he began, eyes squinted as he thought. "The closest one is in France, though, so I don't know why he would have left without letting us know. But that's the only reason we take the cars anywhere here. Everything else is close enough to walk."
Adelaide nodded, his words confirming her fear. Beaudan had taken off, left without letting her know - had probably intended to keep it silent entirely, but Callum had seen him and kept his secret. Had let him leave without Adelaide knowing.
"We're going on a drive," she whispered, tone fierce as she felt her welling anger overflow. "The cellar can wait."
"I don't know, Addie... Beau only goes there when he wants to be left alone-"
"Beaudan lost the right to be left alone when he kissed Hollis in front of me. He doesn't get to run away before he fixes his mistakes."
She was firm in her decision, anger coursing through her. Beaudan had left without a word - had tried to run away from the problems he created.
She was firm in her decision, anger coursing through her. Beaudan had left without a word - had tried to run away from the problems he created.
He should have known Adelaide wouldn't allow that.