A local woman missing- Mary Kubica

Maybe this was one of those times. Meredith didn’t have time to call
Josh or to leave Delilah with Bea. She had to go.
“Still,” Josh asks, “if the birth was fast, wouldn’t she be home by
now?”
Bea looks at Leo standing there in the glow of the porch light. He
looks so small. Every time lightning strikes or thunder booms he
shudders, clinging tighter to Josh’s leg. But Josh is so concerned
about Meredith and Delilah, he doesn’t notice.
Bea says to him, “Hey, buddy. I made cookies. You like chocolate
chip?” and he nods a hesitant yes. “They’re in the kitchen. On the
counter. You go help yourself, okay? You know the way.”
Leo looks to Josh for approval. Josh forces a smile. “Go on,” he
says. “Just take your shoes off.” Stepping timidly inside our home,
Leo does as told before scampering off in wet socks for a cookie, his
blue blanket trailing behind.
With Leo gone, Bea asks Josh, “Did you call the police?”
Josh shakes his head. There’s something frantic about it. His eyes
are wild.
“Josh,” she asks, “did Meredith have a reason to leave?” Bea
doesn’t mince words. It’s not her way. She gets right to the point,
asking, “Were you guys fighting?”
His reply is resolute. “We weren’t fighting,” he says. “Not like you
might think. But Meredith wasn’t herself lately. She was stressed out
all the time. She was quiet. I wanted to know why. She wouldn’t tell
me. All she’d say is that it was nothing, that she was fine.”
“How long had this been going on?” I ask.
“I don’t know,” he says. “Maybe two weeks.” It’s been about two
weeks since I last saw Meredith. I remember that night, Bea’s
thirtieth birthday. I don’t remember Meredith being particularly quiet
or stressed. That said, we all put on a good face when we need to.
“It’s not like Meredith to keep secrets from you,” I say. Josh and
Meredith have a marriage others would envy. By their own account,
they’ve always tried to be honest with each other. They made a
promise before they got married to never go to bed angry. It’s the
kind of promise most couples make and then easily break. But not
Josh and Meredith.