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“I can’t talk long, I’m still being questioned, but you can come get the girls.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll be there right away. Just give me an address.”
He gave me the address to the police station, and I repeated it out loud so Ava could type it into her phone.
“I have to go,” he said.
Tears streamed down my cheeks. I didn’t want to let him go, but I knew I’d be reunited with him soon. “I love you,” I said.
“I love you too.”
I hung up, my hands still shaking and I couldn’t find the words to say everything I wanted to say, but they got the gist of it.
“I’ll drive,” Charles said, standing up.
“You don’t have to, it’s getting late—”
“Yes, I do have to. I want to be there for my daughter and granddaughters,” he said.
“I’m coming too,” Brenda replied.
Liam and Harper were already standing as well.
“We might have to take two cars,” Ava chuckled.
“I have a van, but if you’d like to drive separately–”
“I can drive Harper and myself,” Liam said. “So that you can all be together.”
“Thank you,” Brenda said, smiling at her oldest son. If I’d had any concern about my siblings despising me for coming back into their life it disappeared in that moment. It was clear that they were welcoming me with open arms.
“Thank you,” I said to Liam.
We piled into the van, and my head was spinning. Charles texted Liam and asked him to pick up a couple of car seats on his way to the police station, which he was happy to do.
So now I knew what it felt like to have a family that actually cared about you. Ava took my hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. “You okay?”
“I think so. I’ll be happier when we’re all together again, but I’m relieved knowing that they’re all safe.”
The drive to the police station seemed to take an eternity, especially since we were out in the suburbs and needed to go into the city. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot, and before Charles had a chance to park, I was already reaching for the door handle. Ava was right behind me as I nearly jogged to the entrance. I pulled open the door and stepped inside, scanning the area, unsure of where to go.
“Can I help you?” A woman at the counter asked me.
“I’m with Gabe De Luca. My girls, I was told my daughters were here, with social services.”
“Oh yes, take a seat,” the woman said casually, as if the situation was a normal occurrence for her. Perhaps it was just another day at her job, but to me, it was my entire life.
I wanted to argue, but Ava took my arm and led me to a chair nearby. Brenda and Charles joined us within a couple of minutes, and before we were called back, Liam and Harper also showed up.
“What’s taking so long?” I groaned.
“Bureaucracy,” Charles said. ‘I’ve dealt with the police enough to know this feeling well. There’s much waiting.”
A few minutes later, a woman came out and called my name. My family stood to join me, but she stopped them. “Ms. Stone only, please.”
“But I’m his sister, the girls’ aunt,” Ava pleaded.
“And we’re the grandparents.” Hearing those words out of Charles’ mouth was so nice. I smiled at him. It meant the world to me.
