Unknown:> I was everywhere. There’s not one room you can feel safe in until you give me what I need.
I stand frozen by the open window, staring at the barrage of messages coming in on my phone.
Unknown:I see you’ve gotten my messages. >
Me:Who are you? Why are you doing this? I have no money for you. Nothing. He died and left me nothing but debt. I can’t pay you.
Unknown:I know. But I’ll still get what I need from you. One way or another. >
Me:Leave my daughter alone. She’s innocent in all of this.
Unknown:Why don’t you check this drawer? >
Rushing over to the drawer, I pull out the envelope. Inside is a whole stack of photos. Me and Lily in our home, me putting Lily to bed, us with Cooper, even photos from my date with Cooper today.
The photos flutter to the floor.
Me:Leave us alone! Or tell me what the fuck you want.
Unknown:I’m good. I have what I want right now, you’re under my power, you’re stuck not knowing where I am, who I am, or when I’m cashing in.
Me:Fuck you.
Tossing my phone, as if it’s the one causing all this evil, I run out to find Cooper. But when I get there, he’s standing with Lily in his arms, talking to Emma through her car window.
“Hey, girl!” Emma yells.
I plaster on a fake smile, one that won’t give away what I just found. “Hey! How was my girl today? Good I hope?”
“Please. You know my Lily May was perfect. As always.” Emma laughs at me. I do not know that. Sometimes with her sass, I never know.
Cooper’s assessing eyes are roaming over me. He knows something is off. But he won’t ask in front of Lily.
A perfectly timed wail from Olivia sounds from the backseat. “Okay, someone is ready for bed.” Emma starts her car. “We’ll see you guys later!”
We both wave as she backs out of the drive.
Lily hops out of Cooper’s arms and runs inside, when I go to take off after her, my arm is pulled back, stopping me. “Don’t go yet. What happened? You look like you saw a ghost.”
“I need to get to Lily. Go to the bedroom, read my messages, it’s all there.” The tears are about to fall and they can’t. The stinging behind my eyes as I try to suck them back so Lily doesn’t suspect anything. “I need to go.” He releases me, and just stands watching me as I back away from him before turning to run up the steps.
They were just here, my girl is in there alone, and I never shut the window.
Panic surges through me and I can hear my blood pounding in my ears. “Lily!” I yell as soon as I go through the door.
“What, Mommy?” She steps out in front of me from the living room floor.
“Hi! I missed you today.” Scooping her up, I walk over to the couch for us to snuggle, where I can hold her tight. “Tell me all about your time with Ms. Emma.”
She launches into a full blown, detailed diary of her day as Cooper passes through the house into the bedroom.
Two minutes later, Wyatt and his partner come through.
“Hi, Wyatt!” Lily says with a smile on her face.
“Hey, Lily May, how’s my favorite girl today?”
“I’m good! I pwayed with Wibby today!”
