Could he feel my panic? The way my body shook with fear?
He sniffled. “Can I have candy?”
I sighed. “Yes, but only two pieces, and nothing with red coloring in it. You know how it makes you go crazy.”
He pouted. “I wanted the Swedish Fish.”
“Well, you’re gonna get the yellow gummy bears instead.”
He made a face. “Nobody likes the yellow.”
“Hey, I like the yellow ones!” I argued, earning a grossed-out stare from Ben as I looked down at my phone, willing it to ring. Willing my heart to stop racing.
I tried calling her again.
And again.
And then, when I’d started losing all hope—she answered.
“Colby?” I yelled. “Where are you?”
“S-sorry.” Her voice seemed far away. “It’s been a hard day.”
“‘A hard day,’” I repeated. Seriously? That was all she had to say? “Colby, Ben was worried.” I had been worried, but I didn’t say that. “I called, I texted. What the hell?”
She made a noise that sounded like she was in pain, and then the sound of something dropping hit my ear.
“Colby? Colby!” I yelled.
Nothing.
The line went dead.
What the hell was going on?
I didn’t even have time to figure it out because Viera started bawling from her room. I ran up the stairs to grab her.
Viera’s room was a mixture of pinks and purples, with twinkle lights next to her big-girl bed. Another thing that Colby had added, because she thought the glow of the lights would make Viera feel safer.
“Hey, baby girl.” I reached for her just as she raised both hands out to me, then lifted her from the crib as she clung to my neck. She started sobbing all over again. “Hey, hey, it’s OK…”
“Where’s Aunt Colby? I want Aunt Colby.” Me too, my heart pounded, even though I was pissed at her, I wanted her too. My stomach sank to the ground.
“She’ll be home soon,” I lied. “Let’s go get a snack, OK?”
I pulled her into my arms and carried her down the stairs. Ben was already eating his fruit snacks and playing Roblox on his iPad when we made it down to the kitchen.
I had set Viera in her high chair and was going to grab something to eat when my phone finally rang.
I snatched it up. “Hello?”
“Is this Rip Edison?” asked an unfamiliar female voice.
“Yes.” My heart started to pound out of control.
“Oh good, I’m calling from Mercy Grace Hospital. There’s been an accident. I’m calling for Colby Summers.”