He didn’t finish that sentence, and I couldn’t handle the thoughts of any harm befalling Collette.
“Has anybody been able to get ahold of Frankie?” I asked.
“No. Straight to voicemail,” Kate said.
I sat in silence, leg bouncing. I looked around to see my best friends and their partners.
“Tell me it’s not going to be too late,” I begged them. Looking at each of them one at a time.
I didn’t care for the worry and concern on their features.
“We aren’t leaving without a fight,” Charlie said.
“Whatever happens, we’re together, and we’ll figure it out,” Emma said.
“So, no sugar coating then?” I joked, but it sounded forced to all of us.
My phone rang loudly.
“Thank God for in-flight Wi-Fi,” Emma said and squeezed Wesley’s hand.
“Is it her?” Charlie asked.
I was patting my pockets and checking for something I knew I wouldn’t find. “No. It’s my work number.”
The others looked around, as confused as I was.
“The last time I saw it was …” I answered the call as it dawned. My work phone had been more Collette’s than mine these last months. “Collette.”
“Harrison?” Her small voice said. It absolutely wrecked me. Fear and relief to hear her sweet little voice and pure rage at her mother all battled in me at once.
“Collette, I can’t see you. Where are you?”
“I’m in the closet.” She sniffled. “Where grown-ups cry.”
“Are you crying, sweetie?” My heart began to race, formulating plans of how to get to her.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“I’m on my way to come get you.”
“Okay.” She sniffled again.
“Love, are you okay?”
“I’m hungry.”
“Where’s your mom? Can you turn on a light so I can see you?”
“She’s sleeping. She sleeps a lot and doesn’t like when I make noise.”
“It’s okay. You can be quiet,” I said, voice tight in my throat.
“I want to go home. Is Frankie with you?”
I sucked in a breath. “She’s on her way too. We’re coming to get you. Right now. Just. Hang tight, and we’ll be there as fast as we can.”
“Okay. Frankie said she wanted me to live with Papa George, but Mama says Frankie doesn’t want me. This family wants me.” I swallowed.
