Gabrielle rested her hand on Mabel’s shoulder, but Mabel flinched her off.
“Don’t touch me,” she said abruptly.Then she glanced at my cousin.“Sorry.”
Gabrielle shook her head.“No, honey.I should have known better.”
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and shot off a text to Lennox.He was still at the school, since it was only just after lunch, so I wasn’t expecting him to reply as fast as he did.
(Lennox)Where is Mabel?
(Me)Here.Shaken up.
(Lennox)I’m on my way.
“Your dad’s on his way here,” I said, guiding her toward a chair, but not touching her.“Damon, can you run and find Danica and ask her for the weighted blanket, please?She should be in her home office.”
All he did was nod, then took off using the patio gate.
Mabel’s eyes darted wildly and her knee started to bounce.She was up out of her chair and pacing as her fingers stimmed faster and faster.
“Do you want to do the senses thing again?”Gabrielle asked.“Would that help?”
“No,” Mabel said, shaking her head.“No.She’s going to find me.She’s going to find me, and she’s going to take me away from my dad.She’s going to kidnap me.I need a tracker implanted behind my ear like a dog.”She met my gaze with frantic, wide eyes.“That’s what we need to have happen.I need a tracker that can’t be removed.These shoe and backpack chips are stupid.”Then she removed her shoe and pulled a small tracker out from beneath the insole.“It’s useless.The same with the Find My Friend app.If she throws my phone away or breaks it … gets me new clothes and shoes … he’ll never be able to find me.Nobody will.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Gabrielle said.“Your dad won’t let that happen.Wewon’t let that happen.Just because Jolene posted a picture of you and your dad doesn’t mean Kyla is going to see it.”
“Doesn’t mean she won’t,” Mabel snapped back.“She posted it in Florida groups.In Tallahassee groups.”
“Yes, but Kyla has moved to Cedar Bluff in Alabama,” I offered.“I doubt she’ll be keeping up with Florida news when she’s trying to start a new life.”
Mabel’s head shook and her eyes just continued to get wider; her chest rose and fell quickly and before we knew it, she had collapsed to her knees on the rectangular pavers, shoved her hands into her hair, and started to pull—hard.
“Got it,” Damon said, rushing back, slightly out of breath.He placed it over Mabel’s shoulders, but before he could step back, she grabbed his hand and tugged him to his knees with her.“I … I need deep pressure.”
My nephew glanced at me and his mother in confusion.
Gabrielle and I were equally shocked and confused.
“Uh … you need to just wrap your arms around her and squeeze,” I said.
Damon did so, cautiously, as Mabel rocked back and forth a bit.
“Harder,” she murmured, leaning into him.
He adjusted his position on his knees, inching closer to her, and hugged her tighter.“Like this?”
“Yeah.”After a full minute of nobody saying anything, and the two of them just kneeling on the ground, Damon hugging her, Mabel’s body gave a tremendous shudder, and she sighed, relaxing into his arms.
They stayed like that for a while, with Gabrielle and me just standing there over them, not sure what to say or do.Damon didn’t say a word.He didn’t make a face of discomfort, even though I was sure his knees hurt.He just held her tightly.
Gravel under tires pulled our attention away for a moment, before the frantic slam of a truck door and shoes on rocks.“Naomi?”Lennox called.
“On the patio!”I replied.
He found us and sank to his knees beside his daughter.Damon released her and gave a little groan as he stood up.
“I’m here, Mabes,” Lennox said softly, rocking her a little.“I’m here.I’m not going anywhere, and neither are you.She’s not going to take you away from me.I promise.”
Mabel lifted her head off his shoulder.“You can’t make those kinds of promises.”
