“Your mother is going to really need you to step up,” Joe said to me.
“I know. It’s just us now. We’re alone.”
He put his hand on my shoulder. “You’re not alone, okay?”
I shrugged. “Yeah, I mean, I got family in there, I guess.”
“I don’t mean them, Alex. I mean me.”
I tilted my head, surprised to hear him say that.
Joe continued. “I want you to know I’m here for you, son, regardless of what becomes of your relationship with my daughter. I want you to feel free to call me, day or night, with whatever is on your mind. I know this won’t be an easy road for you. A young man losing a father is devastating. But I’ve been there, and I want to be here for you. If you’re okay with that.”
I met his eyes. I could tell he meant it. I was startled by the sudden swell of emotions that began to bubble up inside of me. I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded. But I also couldn’t fight off the tears that were starting to form in my eyes. I tried to stop myself. The last thing I wanted was to cry in front of Taylor’s dad. But I couldn’t help myself. Especially when I saw Joe’s eyes suddenly grow wet. That’s when the damn burst. So I let go and allowed every emotion I’d buried inside me to pour out. Joe put his hand on my shoulder, pulled me in closer, and held me like I was his own son.
I heard a dinging noise come from my backpack. A phone message alert. But it wasn’t my phone, which was sitting on the bed right next to me. Getting up, I fetched my backpack, unzipped a front pocket, and pulled out Joe’s cell phone. I had shoved it in there earlier after returning from the village. While the phone was locked with security, I knew the password because Joe had dozens of children’s apps and movies on it for my girls to enjoy whenever we were out to dinner together—which was at least twice a week. I typed in the password and found a dozen or so new messages waiting to be addressed. Most looked like normal business emails. Joe had been an attorney his entire professional career. Although he called himself retired now, Joe still represented a few cases here and there from his home office. Out of curiosity, I did a quick scan and noted that most of the messages were indeed related to various legal matters. But the latest alert that had just arrived was a text message from a number not in Joe’s contacts.
Call me ASAP. I think we’ve been found out.
Greta
My eyes narrowed on the message. There was no text history between them that suggested they’d previously exchanged messages. I think we’ve been found out. What did that mean? My thoughts were interrupted when my own phone rang on the bed next to me. Taylor. I leaned over and grabbed it.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Anything?” she asked.
“No. Still nothing.”
She sighed. “This is excruciating.”
“I know.”
“Olivia wants to say good night,” Taylor said.
My seven-year-old jumped on the phone. “Hi, Daddy!”
“Hi, baby girl. Are you about to go to Nanny’s room?”
“Yes!”
“Don’t be too much of a wiggle worm, okay? Nanny needs to get a good night’s sleep tonight.”
“I won’t. Good night, Daddy. I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetie. Good night.”
Taylor was back on the phone. “Nicole is out like a light. There’s no stirring her without getting the monster in return.”
The monster was what we called Nicole when her sleep was interrupted before she was ready to get up. She had a deep growl for a tiny girl. It was no fun dealing with the monster.
“She went nonstop all day long,” I said.
“Yeah. I’ll bathe her in the morning.”
A lull of silence. I could hear Taylor nervously breathing.
“Try to get some sleep, babe,” I said.
“My mind keeps going to the worst possible places.”
“I know.” I tried to think of something comforting to say but felt lost for words. So I simply said, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hung up and felt my eyes grow moist.
SIX
I left my guest quarters and walked the orphanage property to see if someone had dropped off a ransom note somewhere. How would they even leave a note? Would someone tape it to a door? I had no idea. I first checked the front doors of each of the buildings and then the exterior of the security gate before I settled into a weathered rocking chair tucked in the night shadows near the front of the main building and watched the dirt road. There was no reason to stay in my bedroom. I wouldn’t be sleeping anyway. I perked up a few times when I spotted headlights approaching. But each time the car would pass by the orphanage without slowing down.