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I nod and pull back the sniffle and tears.
As the night creeps, getting darker, so do my thoughts, and now, I’m angry I’m in the middle of the goddamn woods when I could be in my car or in the streets or literally anywhere else but here.
My heart is pounding, and I’m starting to feel nauseous when Tyler’s phone chimes for the hundredth time tonight.
“It’s Will. He found her!” he gasps and stops to read the text again.
“Is she okay? Where is she?” I ask, desperate for the answer.
His feet start to run as the need to get out of here and to our daughter is imminent. “The place we used to make out.”
“The car?” I’m right behind him.
“No. The tree house.”
twenty-eight
MY PARENTS’ HOUSE ISflooded with light and filled with people. We burst through the front door, looking for our girl. Dad is in the foyer, grabbing my arms and rubbing them assuredly.
“Izzy’s okay. She’s out in that death trap, but she’s okay.”
“Did you see her?” Tears of relief burst from my face as I hug my father because no matter how old you get, you still need a hug from your dad.
“Will brought her a coat and a blanket, but she won’t come down yet. He’s standing guard outside while she takes her time going through whatever the hell it is that kid is going through right now.” He looks at my appearance and down to my coat and sweater. “What do you have all over you?”
“Coffee,” I explain. “Long story. Crazy, long story. I’ll share it tomorrow.”
I let out a shaky breath as I turn to Tyler. He’s holding Hunter, who has his head buried in Tyler’s shoulder. Maisie has her hand on Hunter’s back, rubbing it in a tender motion. Her face is puffy. She looks worn, like a woman who’s been sick with worry over a missing preteen.
Tyler might be scared and questioning his choices, but of all the women my ex-husband could have fallen in love with, even if it was when he was still married to me, it might as well be someone who actually loves his kids. And who knows good hair. That can’t hurt.
I look over to Maisie. “Thank you for closing your shop early and looking for Izzy.”
Maisie creases her brow. “She means the world to me. I’m so happy she’s been here the whole time.”
Anna, Dad’s girlfriend, and the recent bane of my existence is standing on the other side of the room, serving coffee to Tara, Jillian, Kent, and some of my father’s friends who must have joined the search.
I walk over to Anna and do the same as I did with Maisie. “Thank you for your help tonight.”
Anna accepts my appreciation with a gentle smile. “Anything for your family. A child missing from home is frightening. I can’t imagine what you must have felt tonight. I’m happy she’s home. So, you want something warm to drink?”
“I’m good.” I look to Tyler, who is now at my back. “Let’s go get our girl.”
We walk out the back door and over to the neighbor’s tree house.
“What’s the plan of attack?” he asks. “Scream at her for being an idiot or love on her like we just spent the last few hours searching for her like the panicked parents we are?”
“A little bit of both,” I muse. “I wish parenting came with a manual.”
“One for marriage wouldn’t have been bad either.”
I shake my head as we walk toward the ladder. Will is here with a thermos and standing out in the cold. He’s wearing a thick black parka jacket and his boots. I love those damn boots.
Tyler shakes Will’s hand. It’s an odd show of respect, especially since Tyler’s been a total dick to Will the last few times he’s seen him.
“Thank you for watching over her and for taking care of business earlier with that other officer.”
Will shakes Tyler’s hand back. “Just doing my job. I was on my second trip back from Greenwood Village when I remembered you talking about a tree house you used to sneak into. When I got back to the house, I asked Jillian about it. Imagine my surprise when I found a very scared, very cold Isabella was trapped up there. The ladder broke, so she couldn’t get down. I found your father’s ladder in the garage.”
