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My first reaction was relief.Then, the anger took over.Was Sarah okay?Shouldn’t he have called HER to find out already?
“Yes,” I said through my clenched teeth.“Are YOU?”
Silence for a moment, and I almost asked if he was still there.
“Yeah, I’m fine.We’ve just had a busy couple of days.This is the first chance I’ve had to make a call out.Where we were … the reception wasn’t great.”
Where the hell had he been?Underground?!How could he not have found a location that had service?Even just to call for a couple of minutes?
“I’m glad you trust me enough not to call and check on Sarah, but she needs to hear from you.”And I need to know you’re alive.
“You’re right.I’m sorry.”
An apology.Damn him.That took the fight out of my sails.I had expected him to argue.At least snap at me and tell me I had no business telling him what to do.
He sounded tired, I realized.As if he hadn’t slept in three days.
“Are you okay?”I blurted before thinking that one through.
A deep sigh on the other end only added to the fatigue in his voice.“I’m good.Just tired.I need to get some sleep.I’ll call tomorrow evening.Tell her I called, would you?And that I love her and should be home by the time she wakes up on Thanksgiving morning.Don’t wait up for me.It’ll be late the night before when I get home.”
So, he wasn’t going to make me leave in the middle of the night.That was nice of him.I rolled my eyes.I didn’t have the energy to give him a snide response.The anxiety that had built when we didn’t hear from him zapped me of all snarkiness.
“The decorations look great.Thanks for that.It makes Sarah real happy.”
I frowned, staring at the garland and lights over the mantel.How did he know what they looked like?Was he talking about the decorations in the bags he’d brought inside?He thought they had looked great then?
“Just wait until you see them put up.They’re even better,” I replied, thinking that must be what he was saying.
“The red berries on the mantel are very festive,” he replied, and I swore I heard a trace of humor in his tone.
I hurried back to the living room and scanned the area.Was he here, punking me?
“You’re not gonna leave Sarah on the sofa all night, are you?”he asked.
I spun around in a circle, completely confused.Where was he?
“Wilder, this isn’t funny.If you are here, then come out,” I hissed into the phone.
A low chuckle came over the line then, making my body warm in a way it hadn’t been in a very long time.
“I’m not there, I swear.”
I wasn’t convinced.“Then, how—”
“As much as I trust you, did you honestly think I’d not call my daughter to check on her for three days without being able to see for myself that she was okay and happy?Give me some credit.”
I threw up my free hand, exasperated, then placed it on my hip, getting annoyed by the second.“Is there a camera in this house, Wilder?”I asked him, my horror growing as that idea sank in.
Had I walked in front of it in my panties and bra?
“Oakley, I specialize in cyber data security technology.My house has the best security system that money can buy.Yes, there are cameras in the house that I can pull up on my phone at any time.But not in your bedroom or bathroom, if that is what you’re thinking.”
Gripping the phone tighter, I swung my gaze around the room, wishing I knew where the camera was so I could glare at it.“Security?Like websites and stuff.Not as in your house is wired.What if I decided to walk through the house in my underwear when Sarah wasn’t here?”I asked tightly, stalking out of the room and away from his creepy camera.
“Have you?”he asked.
I thought about it and then shook my head.“No.”
