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“You’re scaring me.”
“I know, Cucciolotta. I’m sorry. I promise to explain soon. Get up, and I’ll get Caleb and Truitt. You go get Myla and meet me downstairs by the back door.”
She sits up, the urgency in my tone causing her to wake fully. “Okay.”
I run to the baby’s room, pulling him up out of his crib. He barely stirs, nuzzling his face in my neck. I see his diaper bag on the floor and try to fill it with everything we need, and a few changes of clothes, before making my way to Caleb.
Bending down, I kiss Caleb on the head. Seeing him lying here asleep in his bed nearly brings me to tears. But I’ll have to deal with the emotions of this day later, once we’re safe. Tarzan must use up all of his energy during the day, because it’s nearly impossible to wake him now. It takes some sheer might on my part to lift him with one arm to carry him and Truitt down the stairs.
Myla stands by her mother’s side, alert, and visibly shaken. She’s holding her stuffed animal tightly under one arm, clutching her mother’s hand with the other.
“Farfalla, you’re going to be okay. I promise. I won’t let anything happen to us. You trust me?”
She quickly nods, and I give her a reassuring smile.
“We have everything?”
“I don’t know,” Jillian answers, seeming lost. “Do we need our passports?”
“No, baby. My cousin’s taking care of everything. And if there’s something important left behind, Gianni will help us get it.” I hand Truitt to Jillian and adjust Caleb in my grip as I notice the clock on the microwave behind her. “We need to go.”
Myla gazes up at her mother, confused.
“Just hold on to your mother’s hand and stay close to me. Let’s go.”
I swiftly move to the back door, opening it and waiting for the girls to come out behind me. Jillian stops, looking into her purse. “Baby, we don’t need to lock it.” I know we won’t be back, but she looks concerned. “We can call your mother in the morning. Just come on.”
We get to the fence, and I turn to Jillian, who must read my mind, handing off the baby to Myla. I hand her Caleb and scale the fence, reaching back as she lifts him up for me. I toss him over my shoulder, shocked this child hasn’t budged. “Come, come, Cucciolotta.”
She climbs unsteadily over the fence, and I try to reach up to help her as best I can. Once she’s down, she reaches for Truitt and encourages Myla to climb over. I extend my free arm to her, and she manages to jump off of shaky legs into my side. “Good job, Myla,” I whisper.
We make a mad dash to the garage, where I stop and tell them to stay quiet and stick close to me. I open the back door to the garage and let the dogs out, pushing the girls inside.
Jillian leans into me, her voice low. “What are we waiting for?”
She’s barely gotten the entire question out before we see flashing lights through the blinds of the garage windows. I take a calming breath, not that it works, and move to the garage door opener to walk us out onto the driveway.
An ambulance is parked in front of the house, the lights no longer flashing. We stand huddled together. I’m as unsure of what happens next as the girls are.
“Luca?” A uniformed EMT approaches.
“Yes.”
“Come with us.”
I look toward Jillian, praying I won’t let her down. Leading the way toward the ambulance, I can hear sirens in the distance.
The EMT picks up his pace. “Come on, come on.”
We quickly climb up the steps behind him. He gestures toward the bench seat for me and Caleb and encourages Jillian and Truitt to sit on the stretcher. As I reach out for Myla, the unnamed EMT taps the front divider, signaling we’re set to go.
My pulse is thrumming in my ears, so I can only imagine what Jillian and Myla are thinking. I’m fairly certain this man is affiliated with my cousin. I have no idea whether he’s a real EMT, nor whether this is a real ambulance. I wouldn’t put anything by Giovanni.
Looking out the small square window behind me, I can see we’re entering the main highway. The lights and sirens come back on as the unit picks up speed. I grab Myla’s hand. I can’t tell if she’s shaking or if it’s the vibration of the ambulance. I drape my arm around her and pull her into my side, kissing the top ofher head. “You’re being so brave, Farfalla. I love you. Don’t be scared.”
She looks up at me, her face relaxing just a bit. “I love you too.”
I squeeze her a little harder willing myself not to cry at the sound of her words before looking to her mother. “You okay?” I mouth.
