Page 127 of Dancing for the Minotaur

A cold prickling sensation ran along Terra’s arms.

“Maybe there was a route change,” she suggested. But if there had been something like that, the school would have notified her.

“That’s what I thought, so I called the schools,” her mom said.

“And?”

Lucy’s breathing sounded fast—almost panicked.

“They said the children were picked up.”

Terra gripped the phone harder.

“Picked up by who?”

“Their father.”

For one instant, the tension eased.

“Oh, for God’s sake.” Terra closed her eyes. “Jackson…that idiot.”

This wasn’t the first time her ex had done something like this.

Twice before, Jackson had gotten some last-minute idea that he was going to be Super Dad for the afternoon and simply appeared at school to collect the children without bothering to tell anyone. Once he had taken them to Busch Gardens. The other time it had been miniature golf and pizza.

Both times Terra had nearly killed him for taking the kids without telling her.

“I’m going to call him,” she told Lucy. “He’s done this before.”

“I know, honey, but something feels wrong.”

“It’s probably just Jackson being an inconsiderate asshole. What else is new?”

“I hope you’re right.” Her voice still sounded frightened.

“I’ll call you back,” Terra promised. She hung up and immediately dialed her ex.

He answered after four rings with a cranky sounding,

“What?”

Same charming Jackson. Sometimes she wondered what had ever possessed her to date him in the first place, let alone marry the man.

“Where are the kids?” she demanded.

There was a pause, then Jackson said,

“What kids?”

Terra was running out of patience.

“Your children, asshole. Cody and Lisa. Where did you take them?”

“Hey, don’t get mouthy with me, woman! I didn’t take them anywhere.”

Terra frowned.

“Jackson, I don’t have time for this.”