Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88078 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, he’s been home for a long time.”
“It sure seems that way, doesn’t it?” I replied cheerfully. She had no idea.
I didn’t mind that Rachel wanted to spend time with Shane while he was home. I totally understood it. But it sucked being the friend who was ignored when someone’s significant other came home from yet another military deployment. I practically lived with Rachel while Shane was gone—she hated being alone—but the moment her husband stepped foot on American soil, I was persona non grata again.
It had been happening for years. I wasn’t sure why it still bothered me.
“Mom’s going to have a baby soon,” Sage piped up from the backseat as I turned onto their street.
“I know, pretty exciting, right?”
“Yeah. She’s having another brother, though.”
“What’s wrong with brothers? I have two brothers,” I reminded her, pulling into their empty driveway.
I climbed out of the car as she started to answer and looked at the quiet house in confusion when no one came to greet us. Where the hell were Rachel and the boys?
Sage continued rambling on as I helped her out of her seat. “—wanted a sister. Boys stink, and they only play with boy stuff—”
“Kate?” someone called from across the street. “Where’s Rachel? She was supposed to pick up the boys like two hours ago!”
I turned to see Rachel’s neighbor Megan crossing the dead-end street with Gavin on her hip and Keller skipping alongside her.
“No clue,” I answered quietly as she reached me. “The school called because she didn’t pick Sage up. I’ve been trying to reach her for the last forty minutes.”
“Where’s my mom?” Sage asked, looking between us in confusion.
“Hey, sis, take the boys inside for me, would ya?” I handed her my keys as Megan set Gavin on the ground. “I’ll be inside in a sec, and we’ll make a snack. You guys want to make some cookies?”
“Yeah!” Keller yelled, throwing his fist in the air.
“No hello for your favorite aunt?” I asked him with a raised brow.
“Hi, Auntie Kate! Cookies!” he yelled, racing toward the door with Gavin and Sage trailing behind him.
I watched as Sage unlocked the door, leaving the keys hanging in the lock as she rushed inside.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked, turning to Megan.
“I have no clue. She said she was going to get her nails done and she’d be back in, like, an hour. It’s been well over three now,” she replied in frustration, wrapping her arms around her waist.
“That’s not like her.”
“No, I know it’s not.” She rushed to add, “I’m not mad, I’m worried. She’s usually back before she says she’ll be.”
“Auntie Kate, cookies!” Keller screamed at me from the front door.
“I better get in there,” I told Megan, looking over my shoulder at Keller swinging on the open door. “Thanks so much for watching them.”
“No problem,” she answered with a nod. “Let me know when you hear anything, okay?”
“Sure,” I said, already walking toward where my little monkey was trying to climb the door frame.
“Let’s go make a mess in the kitchen!” I announced loudly, picking Keller up like a football as he giggled. I forced myself not to panic in front of the kids as we pulled ingredients out of the cupboards and began trashing the kitchen. I told myself that Rachel would call soon, but the longer I was there with no word from her, the less I believed it.
* * *
We didn’t hear anything, not for hours.
I tried to call Rachel at least a hundred times but she never answered, and after a while I couldn’t even leave another message in her full voicemail.
It wasn’t until I was making dinner for the kids that my phone rang, and I almost dropped it in my haste to answer.
“Hello?” I said, walking toward the laundry room for a bit of quiet. “Hello?”
“Can I please speak to Katherine Evans?”
“This is Katherine.”
“Hello, this is Margie at Tri-City Medical Center. I’m calling about a Rachel Anderson.”
My knees felt like water, and I reached out to grip the washing machine to keep me on my feet. “Is she okay?”
“Ma’am, she’s been in an accident.”
“Is she okay?” I could hear my voice becoming more shrill with every word, and I clenched my teeth to keep myself from yelling.
“Can you come to the hospital, ma’am?”
The woman’s voice was unnaturally calm, and I knew that no matter what I said she wasn’t going to give me a straight answer. Hell, it was her job to notify people that their family was in the hospital. She didn’t give a shit that I was about to lose my mind.
“I’ll—” I looked around the laundry room in a panic. What was I supposed to do? “I’m on my way. Tell her I’m on my way.”
“Come straight to the emergency entrance when you get here.”