EN'S
through quarterly reports, pretending t
infuriated him. But I forc
en it vibrated again and again. The receptionist woul
e, glanced at the
t Preschoo
tightened
nstantly. "W
amien, sir. This is Ms. Mara from the presc
tomatically, grumbling, then clenched m
Family Fun Day. Ashley is the only pup whose
throat before I caught it. Sophia. She was supposed
loor as every board member jumped to their feet i
lked
st of the day," I ordered my
, Al
ched my car, my p
back. He was pacing, confused and irritated
and to my tem
hadn't heard a thing from her but sh
swings. Her little shoulders were stiff. Her eyes we
gl
ome either,"
meeting, baby. But I came
"Where's mom? Every
eep breath. M
g to call her since last night. No answer. No texts. Her number felt like a d
hed her hair behind her ear. "Mom i
owned. "A
pa's birthday dinner is today
piciously. "Then why
my chest. "She wanted it to be a secret
, but only a li
kissed her forehead. My wol
rang again. This t
ugh my nose be
ha
, tomorrow is your father birthday. We're meeting at Alena Mall so we can drive
hday," I replied tigh
he added sharply. "She'd bet
jaw twitched. "Sop
the phone slowly, trying to s
eachable. And I
y sleeve. "Daddy,
'll get ready
my mind wasn't in the car. It was w
with my mom the next day, a knot
lla wa
o scent of cooking filled the air. T
ormed ins
ed. "Sophia, where
ce an
oked untouched. The counters were spotless
ere. Had she forgotten what today was sam
pulled out
lared, more to herself than
g tone echoed throu
Helen tried again bu
gain.
and threw her phone away. It sh
your father's birthday?!" she
mbling. My wolf snarled silently, ready
utside, I re
something cold s
n any event. She would never disobeyed a direct
ing wa
racked as she lo
mom come? She alway
arms. "Because s
"Tiffany would've come. Tiffany always wants to be with m
ed deeper than
aking her hands. "
snif
s you," I said firmly. "Never.
id it. doub
ia felt completely. gone. She had no pres
his head and gr
't been here for a long
lt it..t
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