Page 59 of Between the Lines

Mattie came running back into the living room in his swimsuit.

Essie guided him toward the living room with a soft suggestion to pick a book while she got lunch made. The kitchen was where she knew exactly what to do, even when she didn’t know what to do with people.

She washed her hands before getting into things, then went back to the fridge. They needed simple and fast. Sandwiches would be easy, especially as she’d made tuna salad that morning for this very reason.

She’d add some sliced oranges on the side and maybe chips for Mattie. That should be enough to hold them until an early dinner. Thankfully, the pool should burn off the rest of his restless energy and keep the afternoon from going sideways. She’d get a cabana, if there was one available, and Mira could sleep in there under the fan if she needed to nap some more. Maybe Mattie would nap, too.

Essie might even join them.

She pulled out bread and the container of tuna salad, set them on the counter, then grabbed a cutting board and a knife. She started assembling the sandwiches and cutting them up, putting them all into a big container.

In the living room, Mattie raced his toy cars on the carpet. She wished she had half his energy.

“Mom? I’m going to change.” Liliana came out with her suit draped over her arm.

“Okay.”

“Mira’s still sleeping in the bedroom.”

“I’ll listen for her.”

“Thanks.” Liliana disappeared into the master bathroom, and for a few minutes Essie had the kitchen to herself.

She cut the last sandwich in half, then reached for the fruit. Orange slices were always good. Maybe she’d bring a baggie of gummy worms, too. Mattie loved those.

Her mind drifted, as it often did these days, back to Sophie. Maybe it was Essie’s maternal instincts at work, but she couldn’t help but be worried about her. Couldn’t help but wonder whether she’d eaten anything. Whether she would come back in time for lunch. Whether it was better to text and ask if Sophie wanted to join them at the pool again, or if it was better just to leave her alone like she seemed to want.

Every choice felt like it carried the risk of pushing Sophie further away. Just when Essie had thought she was making progress.

She was getting some snack packs of cookies out of the pantry when Liliana came back in her swimsuit and coverup.

Essie knew something was wrong immediately.

Her daughter’s face had gone still in a way Essie recognized. Something was bothering her.

“Mom,” Liliana said quietly.

Essie closed the pantry door. “What is it?”

Liliana’s voice stayed low, careful. “I peeked into the guest room because the door was open. All of Sophie’s stuff is gone.”

Essie gripped the cookie packs a little too tightly. “Gone,” she repeated, as if it might mean something else if she said it out loud.

Liliana nodded. “Everything. Her suitcase. Her toiletries and makeup. The clothes she had on the chair. I checked the closet, too. There’s nothing.”

Essie stared at her daughter for a long moment, trying to make this work with everything she’d been telling herself. Sophie just needed space and time, but she was coming around.

How wrong she’d been. A hollow feeling opened in Essie’s chest. “She didn’t say anything about leaving,” Essie whispered.

Liliana shook her head. “Not to me either. But then, why would she?”

Essie put the cookies on the counter next to the container of sandwiches, fingers trembling slightly even though she tried to still them.

She looked toward the hallway. Toward the guest room. “I need to call Frank.”

“Go ahead,” Liliana said. “I’ll make sure Mattie stays quiet.”

Essie went into the bedroom and closed the door most of the way behind her, leaving it cracked just enough that she could still hear the sounds of the house. She sat on the edge of the bed, phone in hand. She hesitated for half a second before tapping Frank’s name.