Page 69 of Between the Lines

Had those things hurt more than they’d helped? Had Sophie realized how much she was missing out on by pulling away from her dad and brother?

Essie set the phone down on the coffee table and folded her hands in her lap.

She didn’t know how to reach Sophie. Not yet. But at least she understood something now that she hadn’t before. Sophie wasn’t pushing people away because she didn’t care.

She was doing it because she was afraid of being left again.

Essie sat there in the quiet living room, letting that wash over her. She wanted to help Sophie, but she genuinely didn’t know how. And she was afraid Sophie could be on the verge of doing something stupid.

Essie felt like there was only one option left to her. She had to call Frank. She reached for her phone again and tapped Frank’s name.

It rang longer this time. Once, twice, then rolled into voicemail. She didn’t hang up right away, listening to the familiar recorded greeting before it ended.

“It’s me,” she said after the tone. “Nothing urgent, but please call me when you can. I saw something about Sophie, and I want to fill you in.”

She ended the call and sat there, thumb resting against the edge of the phone. She knew Frank was busy. He probably had meetings stacked on meetings. And then there was the time difference in Italy, which didn’t help. Still, she didn’t like sitting on information that felt this important.

Essie scrolled and tapped Chad’s number instead.

He answered quickly. “Hey, Essie.”

“Hi,” she said. “Do you have a minute? I couldn’t reach your dad.”

“Yeah. We’re nearly wrapped up for the day but he’s still talking to one of the managers. What’s going on?”

Essie chose her words carefully. “I just watched a new TikTok Sophie posted last night. It was…not great. She looked and sounded really lost. Talked about the breakup with Ryan and feeling like everyone leaves her.”

Chad was quiet for a beat. “That sounds very much like her, but I’m surprised she’d post something like that. Kind of goes against her brand,” he said finally. “She hasn’t been answering my texts lately. I’ve been wondering what’s going on with her.”

Essie closed her eyes briefly. “She left the house yesterday while we were at church. Took all her things. No note. Nothing. Just gone.”

“Yeah, Dad mentioned that. That doesn’t surprise me,” Chad said, his voice tightening. “She tends to disappear when things get too real. When there’s a chance she might actually have to explain her decisions. She did the same thing to me when she came to visit, remember?”

“I do. It’s ironic that she’s upset about being left and yet she runs when she can’t handle the situation.” She blew out a breath. “Well, I left a message for your dad. Would you let him know?”

“I’ll tell him,” Chad said. “He’s still talking with that manager, but I’ll make sure he knows you tried to get him.”

“Thank you,” Essie said. “I didn’t want him blindsided. And I didn’t want to overreact, either. I just thought it was something he should know.”

“You did the right thing,” Chad said. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you. Hasn’t been easy on any of us, but you’ve been trying to reach her when you didn’t have to do anything. I appreciate that, Essie.”

“It was the right thing to do.” Essie looked around the living room, listening to the quiet left behind after the kids’ visit. “I just don’t want her thinking she’s on her own,” she said. “Even if she’s chosen to be elsewhere right now.”

“I get that,” Chad said. “She may not say it, ever, but it matters that you care.”

Essie hoped that was true. “Please let me know when you talk to him.”

“I will,” Chad said. “And Essie? Thanks for calling me.”

“Of course,” she said.

“You know, you should really get yourself a pet. With how things are going over here, I don’t know when my dad and I will be back.”

“I’ve actually been thinking that same thing myself, but I need to talk to Frank about it first.”

“I’m sure he’d say yes. Anyway, thanks again. I’ll talk to you soon, I’m sure.”

They hung up, and Essie set the phone down beside her. Outside, the light had shifted a little as the morning sun rose higher. She still didn’t feel like cleaning, so she got her book out and read, hoping it would take her mind off of Sophie and this feeling of helplessness that Essie despised.