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My mom gets out of the car first and I follow on shaky legs. Caleb wraps his arm around my shoulder and ushers me into the diner I haven’t been in for years. I didn’t even think it would still be standing, never mind open for business.
Pop greets us the moment we cross his threshold. Caleb ushers me to a booth far away from the door and windows. He sits me down and takes my face in his hands.
“Pop, can we get some water, please?”
“Of course.”
“That was him, wasn’t it?” I choke out through the thick emotion clogging my throat.
“Honestly, I don’t know, babe. We’ll see what Clay and Al say when they get here.”
“Why was Al there? Isn’t he off the case?”
Caleb shrugs. “We always used to attend the funerals of our victims’. I know this case will piss him off until the bastard is behind bars.”
Pop places a jug of iced water on the table and pours me a glass. I take it from him and sip slowly.
“What do you say I make you some pancakes and bacon? Sweet and savory combined. It might just make you feel better,” says Pop.
“That sounds…” I look between Pop and Caleb. They both look at me with concerned gazes. “That sounds good.” I smile.
Caleb’s cell rings in his pocket. He stands up and walks over to the far corner of the diner to answer it. My mind wanders. I want to hear what he’s saying, but I don’t know if my legs will hold me up to go over there.
My mom reaches over the table and takes my hand. I forgot that my mom and brother are here. My head isn’t my own today, and Spencer is clearly overthinking things as he looks out of the front window.
“It’s going to be okay, sweetie.”
“Yeah.” I sigh.
I want to believe those five little words every time I hear them – It’s going to be okay.
The diner door beeps as it swings open and we all look over to it. Clay walks in with Al on his heels. They look a little out of sorts; hair all over the place, suits disheveled, and shoes muddy.
I stand up on trembling legs and meet Clay in the middle of the diner. “Did you get him?”
“We didn’t. I’m sorry. We chased him down several blocks, but he disappeared. Chris is checking all local surveillance cameras. SVU are checking out the area and they have dispatched forensics to the area you spotted him in.”
“Another dead end.” I turn away from Clay and sit back down in my seat. A sharp pain shoots through my stomach and I hiss with pain, rubbing my tummy.
“Aria?” Clay bends down by my side.
Caleb joins him a moment later. “I’m calling Dr. Collier. You need to get checked over, sweetheart.”
Clay stands up and lets Caleb join my side. As much as I love Clay like a brother, Caleb is the person that I want by my side.
“I’m okay, Caleb. I’ll be fine once I get home,” I say weakly.
“I’m not taking any chances. It’ll only take five minutes to get you checked over.”
Caleb walks away with his phone pressed to his ear. I rest my head on my arm, leaning on the table. I feel my mom’s hand squeeze my arm and I close my eyes.
“Caleb’s right, sweetheart. It will put your mind at rest knowing everything is okay with the baby.”
I just want one day where I don’t feel suffocated. One day where everyone doesn’t make decisions for me. One day where I feel like I’m my own person.
