Page 71 of Here With Me

fourteen

She’d always believed that nightmares couldn’t come to life—she’d been wrong. Sadie pressed her hand to her chest as she struggled to breathe. She had to find Lottie.

“Lottie!” Sadie’s voice scratched on her throat as she called for her daughter again. She checked her watch. It had been thirty minutes. Thirty minutes of calling. Thirty minutes of searching David’s house, and thirty minutes of David searching outside.

Thirty minutes of nothing.

Sadie wrapped her arms around her chest and stood on the front porch, looking out over the property. The shadows had grown longer as the sun sank into the horizon, the chill of the night making a shiver run down her spine. And Lottie was out there somewhere in only her black ballet leotard and tights.

What kind of irresponsible mother let her daughter leave home without a jacket at this time of year? Easy—one who didn’t deserve custody. Maybe Doris was right, and she didn’t deserve to raise Lottie. One who was fighting for custody should never ever do something so…careless. So stupid.

David had a long tube tucked under his arm, and his warm hands gripped her arms. “We need to call for help.”

She had no doubt he was trying to sound calm, but his words confirmed that this was bad.

Sadie pulled her phone from her pocket just as it began to ring, and her father’s face flashed on the screen. Maybe they’d heard from her. “Do you have her?”

“Who?”

“Lottie’s missing. The light’s almost gone. I thought?—”

“Where are you?” Panic laced her dad’s voice.

“I’m at David’s—his grandparents’ farmhouse.”

“Where have you looked?”

“Everywhere. And, Dad, she’s not wearing a coat.”

“We’re on our way, and I’ll bring people. There are a lot here standing around that will help.”

“What?” But he was already gone.

Sadie hung up and walked toward the house with more purpose. People were coming, she had to get organized. “Dad is bringing help. We need a plan in place when they arrive.”

David lifted the tube and slid out some papers then unfurled them across the hood of her car. “I found the plans for the property a while back. I figured they’d be helpful. We can divide the property up into zones. I added the fairy house I built Vangie there.” David pointed to a spot close to the pond. Then he ran his finger over the area of the pond. “I moved the fire pit back from the water, but Lottie wouldn’t have gone closer to the pond, would she?”

“No. She hates swimming, hates being in the water. There’s no way…” Sadie’s voice dropped off. She couldn’t say the words.

They would find Lottie. She had to believe that.

Nate’s motorcycle was the first to pull in the driveway, then a sedan, followed by a truck. Nate climbed off and hurried over to them.

“Have you devised a plan? Because practically the whole town is coming.” He motioned to yet another car turning in. There had to be ten cars now and more were still arriving.

“Word travels fast.” Sadie wiped her face.

“Helped that we were all together when you talked to your dad. But Lottie is more important. Now where have you looked so far?”

David gave Nate the rundown as more and more cars pulled into the driveway. There had to be close to thirty people already waiting for instruction, and they were all carrying blankets and flashlights. Nate took charge, zoning off the property and sending people in different directions.

“Nate’s got this part under control. I’m going to go check the playhouse again.” David squeezed her hand then pulled her close, resting his forehead against hers. It was so easy to lean into him, into his strength. To soak in the warmth he offered. “Why don’t you stay close to the house, so you’re here when we find Lottie.”

Words seemed to clog in her throat.

“We will find her.” His warm breath fanned her face, and he pressed a quick kiss on her forehead before jogging off.

“He’s right, Sadie.” She turned to see Nate still leaning over the map on the hood of her car. “We will find her. God is in control of all of this. He already knows where Lottie is. Do you want to pray with me before I head out?”

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