AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It seems that way,” Natalia says. “I’ll meet you back at your house. We’ll talk and strategize. But until then, don’t panic. She’s fine.”
The knot in my chest loosens ever so slightly. Knowing Yuliana is with someone who loves and cares for her is the only solace in this shitty, shitty day.
“Okay.” The single word swells with unshed tears. I swallow them down. “Thank you.”
“See you in a few,” she says.
We hang up, and I forget all about getting my car. Making it home to Yuliana as soon as possible is the only thing that matters now.
Usually, the trip would take twenty minutes, but another bus broke down and mine has to pick up a few extra stops. All in all, I burst through my front door forty minutes after the call. Instantly, I scan for Yuliana.
“Hello?”
My house is tiny. Where could they be?
“Back here,” Nat calls.
I follow her voice to Yuliana’s room. What used to be Yuliana’s room, anyway. Now, it’s a mess of blankets and sheets hanging from the bed and the ceiling fan to create a truly epic blanket fort.
“Whoa. What on earth is going on in here?”
“Bad days call for slumber parties,” Nat announces, crawling out of the door flap on her hands and knees. She lifts a hand for me to help her up. I yank and she stumbles to her feet and then leans close, her voice low. “She’s worried you’re going to be mad at her.”
I wink at Nat and drop to all fours. The cut on my hand smarts, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my chest. Yuliana is struggling, and I wasn’t there for her.
Ishould have built her this fort.
Ishould have picked her up from school.
I’m so glad Nat could be there for her, but the fact that I missed the school’s calls and was in Kirill’s bathroom instead of with my daughter isn’t a mistake I’ll forget anytime soon.
“Hello?” I call, weaving through the blanket walls. “Where’s my baby girl?”
There’s a loud sniffle.
Yuliana is tucked in the back corner of the blanket fort, a purple crochet blanket pulled over her head. I can see tufts of her golden brown hair sticking out of the holes.
I ease into the space next to her, careful not to bring down the entire blanket fort with me. When I’m close enough, I lean over and kiss her exposed elbow. “Hey, honey bun. How’s it going?”
“Bad.” She coils into a tighter ball. “Did Ms. Holliday call you?”
“She did. She wanted me to know you were having a hard day. Sorry I wasn’t there to pick you up.”
“Where were you?”
It’s a simple question, but kids have a way of cutting to the very core of you. They’re emotional scalpels. “Sorry, babe. I was working. I didn’t have my phone with me.’
“I wanted you there,” she whimpers, sniffling again. “Ms. Albrecht is gone. There’s a new lady, but I don’t know her. She’s mean.”
I brush her hair over the crochet blanket, wishing she’d come out and let me cuddle her. I know better than to force her out before she’s ready, though. “I’m sure she isn’t mean. She’s just new. What’s her name?”
Yuliana shakes her head.
“Did you learn her name?”
She shakes her head again.
“Use your words, honey.”
