Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK EMMA UP
Damian did not chase the car.
He did not confront Celeste again.
He called 911.
Then he wrapped Emma in a dry blanket and sat beside her on the living-room floor while she clung to him.
Celeste remained near the kitchen.
Her confidence came back quickly.
She said Emma had thrown a tantrum.
She said the suitcase belonged to her.
She said Damian had misunderstood what he walked into.
Then the doorbell rang.
A woman stood outside beneath a black umbrella.
Damian knew her immediately.
Allison’s older sister.
Lauren Whitaker.
He had not spoken to Lauren in almost two years.
Lauren looked from Damian to Emma.
Then to Celeste.
“What happened?”
Damian’s eyes narrowed.
“Why are you here?”
Lauren frowned.
“Celeste said you asked me to come.”
Silence.
Celeste closed her eyes.
Damian felt Emma tighten against him.
Lauren stepped inside slowly.
“She called me yesterday.”
“What did she tell you?”
Lauren looked at Emma before answering.
“That things had gotten bad between you two.”
Damian stared at Celeste.
“What things?”
Lauren’s voice became uncomfortable.
“She said Emma had been asking to stay with me.”
Emma shook her head immediately.
“I didn’t.”
Lauren looked stricken.
“She said Damian agreed it might be better for a few weeks.”
“I never agreed to anything.”
Celeste finally spoke.
“She needs space.”
Damian turned.
“From what?”
“You.”
Emma flinched.
That was the first thing the responding officer noticed when he entered.
The second was the soaked child-sized suitcase.
The third was Celeste’s packed bag already sitting near the stairs.
The officers separated everyone.
Emma remained with Damian.
Lauren explained that Celeste had asked her to arrive at four thirty and take Emma back to Dayton.
Celeste had specifically told her not to knock until Emma was already outside because “a goodbye would only upset Damian.”
Damian checked the time.
Four twenty-six.
He looked at Celeste.
She had not improvised when he walked in.
May you like
She had been following a schedule.
And if Damian had arrived five minutes later, his daughter would have been gone.
