Chapter 35
Chapter thirty-five
Emma
Sunflower…
~ Two Days Later ~
My phone rings just as I set it down beside the coffee machine.
I look at the screen, and a name I wasn’t expecting shows up.
Claudia. They said they wanted to be more involved with Gracie, and we were happy about that.
I just didn’t expect them to try so soon.
I guess I’m just too used to broken promises when it comes to parents.
I pick up the device tentatively, placing it to my ear as I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Hi, Emma? This is Claudia… We met at Gracie’s birthday party. I’m her…” She seems hesitant to call herself grandmother, so I finish for her.
“Her grandmother, yes. I remember you. How are you?”
“I’m doing well, dear. I had some free time today, and I was wondering if I could see Gracie.
I feel like with everyone at the party, it was hard to really get to know her, and I’d really like to.
If the offer still stands, of course. I don’t want to intrude if I’m not welcome.
I would understand if you have changed your mind.
” I can sense the worry and honesty in her voice.
“Of course, we really just want what’s best for Gracie.
And I think having you and Simon in her life is part of that.
Did you have something in mind?” I question, biting my lip.
I know I should probably ask Greyson first, but he’s told me before how happy he was that they’re taking an initiative to be in her life.
“I could come to you, if that’s all right?”
“Umm… yes, that would be great. What time were you thinking? We don’t have any plans for the day, but I do need to drive Greyson’s parents to the airport later,” I inform her.
“That’s fine, dear. I’ll stay until you need to leave. Say, in one hour?”
“That’s perfect. I’ll send you our address. See you then.”
“See you then. Oh, and Emma? Thank you,” she says with gratitude.
I smile. “It’s my pleasure.”
We hang up and I lower my phone once more with a sigh.
As happy as I am with all the love Gracie is receiving, I can’t help but feel like an outsider from time to time. Gracie isn’t mine, not biologically. Yet people always ask for my opinion or my permission when it involves her, and I always feel wrong giving it, like I may be overstepping.
But if I were, wouldn’t Grey have said something already?
“You’re amazing for being okay with this.” Nancy’s voice pulls me out of my train of thought, and I turn to look at her on the opposite side of the island.
“I’m trying, it just feels… weird. Shouldn’t Greyson be the one who gets a say in all of this?” I ask, chewing on my lip.
“You’re as much her parent as he is, love.
You take care of that girl, day and night.
Just like a mother does. And if my son wasn’t okay with you taking charge when it comes to Gracie, he would have already put his foot down.
But he trusts you and your judgment, and he knows you’ll do only what’s best for Gracie. ”
I smile, hoping she’s right.
“You know, for a big expensive house like this, you’d think the insulation would be better… not into role-play, my butt,” Andrew adds in, completely out of context with the conversation we were just having.
Nancy sighs deeply and rolls her eyes while I laugh wholeheartedly. “I was waiting for a comment like that,” I tell him with a shake of the head.
I watch Claudia play with Gracie in the living room, hip pressed against the kitchen island.
She arrived two hours ago and has been spending every moment with her.
Every now and then, I see her stopping to take Gracie in, her eyes roaming over Little Tulip’s features.
Most likely looking for a sign of her daughter, but Gracie is all Ford from head to toe.
I turn my head in time to see Andrew and Nancy rolling their suitcases over, ready to head home. “All packed up. If we forgot anything, it will give us an excuse to come back sooner,” Nancy says with a giggle.
I can’t help but smile. They’ve truly become family, and seeing them every few months isn’t enough. “You’re always welcome here, even without an excuse,” I tell them genuinely.
I walk over to Claudia just as she stands with Gracie in her arms. “I was thinking, maybe I could take Gracie to the park while you drop them off at the airport? I saw a really nice one on my way over and think she’d really like it.
But only if you’re comfortable with that.
I’m just really enjoying my time with her, and I’m not ready to say goodbye.
Or I could go have lunch somewhere and come back when you’re home. ”
I bite my lip, looking from Claudia to Little Tulip and over to Nancy and Andrew for guidance. They both shrug with a smile. Gracie would have much more fun at the park rather than sitting in a car for hours.
Claudia senses my hesitation and speaks up again. “I’m sorry, I’m overstepping. Forget I said anything. I’ll just come back another time.” She smiles sadly and goes to hand me Gracie.
I place my hand on her arm and my other on Little Tulip’s back, stopping her. “No, no. It’s okay. Yes, I think that will be perfect. Gracie really enjoys going to the park, and it’s a beautiful day. You should take her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It should take me around three hours, with traffic. I’ll leave you a key to get into the house while I’m gone. I should be back before Greyson,” I tell her, then kiss Gracie’s head. “I’ll go make you a bag for her quickly.”
Ten minutes later, we’re all out the door. I place my car seat inside Claudia’s car, making sure it’s well secured, then strap Gracie in. Nancy, Andrew, and I take turns kissing the little girl goodbye before going our separate ways, with Claudia promising to call if there’s anything she needs.
Worry creeps in when I arrive back at the house and Claudia’s car isn’t in the driveway.
I head inside, calling out for them just in case she had parked on the street and I somehow missed it.
But the house is quiet and lifeless. I quickly take out my phone from my purse to see if I have any calls or texts, but there’s nothing littering my screen.
I pull up her contact info and dial her number. Straight to voicemail. I leave one, asking where she is and to call me back, then I hang up and call again. And again. And again. I call so many times and leave so many messages that her voicemail fills up within minutes.
Grey hasn’t come back from his meeting with sponsors, but I know he will any minute, and if I don’t get this situation under control quickly, he’ll lose it.
My mind races with a million reasons why she wouldn’t be back yet, why her phone would be off. I feel sick to my stomach with the possibilities of what could be happening. But I don’t give up. I keep calling and calling and praying she’ll pick up.
This can’t be happening…
GREYSON
I enter the house, ready to spend time with my girls before we leave for Carolina in the morning. But the moment I step through the threshold, I can tell something’s off. The atmosphere feels heavy and somber.
I take cautious steps farther into my home, looking around for anything out of place. I can’t tell what this feeling is, but I don’t like it one bit. I find Emma standing in the kitchen with her phone pressed to her ear, her back to me with her shoulders hunched up.
She turns slightly to the side, and I notice her hand to her mouth as she bites on her nails. The look on her face instantly tells me something’s wrong. “Bunny?”
Her head turns to me promptly, and the dam breaks the moment her eyes find mine. Tears spill down her cheeks, and sobs rack her slim body. I quickly step up to her, taking the phone from her hand and setting it on the island, then cupping her cheeks with both hands.
“Baby, breathe. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“She-she’s not answering h-her phone, and I don-don’t know w-where they are. They should ha-ha-have been back by n-now…” she mumbles through her sobs.
“Who?” My phone rings in my pocket, but I ignore it. Whatever is happening right now is more important.
Emma takes a few deep breaths quickly, trying to calm herself down to speak properly.
“Claudia. She took Gracie to the park when I was dropping off your parents. I called her phone at least thirty times, but it goes to voicemail every time. I tried calling Simon, but Claudia said he was on a business trip in Tokyo, and it’s like 4:00 in the morning there, so he’s not picking up either. ”
My heart stops in my chest, and my lungs squeeze in unbearable pain. I try to breathe through it, try to keep my mind focused until I know what I’m dealing with. I’m calculating the distance to the airport and back, the time it could have taken Emma. And I don’t like the total I’m coming up with.
“How long? How long has it been?”
She cries again. “Close to f-four hours… There was more traffic than I thought. I just got home maybe twenty minutes ago…”
“Four hours?!” I shout, quickly losing control.
My phone rings again, but I don’t have time for that.
My daughter has been gone for four hours without any news of where she is.
“Emma! No one-year-old child stays at the park for four fucking hours!” I abruptly let go of her and reach for my phone that won’t shut up as panic overtakes my mind and body.
I answer the call with anger. “What, Aubrey?! I don’t have time to fucking talk, Gracie’s missing.”
She gasps loudly. “Oh God! I’m on my way.” I don’t say anything more, I simply hang up and call 9-1-1 as I pace the room.
“What are you doing?” Em asks from behind me.
I spin toward her with a glare. “Calling the cops—what the fuck do you think I’m doing!? My child’s been missing for hours, and it didn’t fucking occur to you to do it?!”