Page 4 of One of Our Own

“I can’t think of anything, but that doesn’t mean much. People are always sending stuff around. Was it a TikTok video? Which grade?”

“I don’t know exactly what it was,” I said, quickly realizing the futility of our conversation. I needed more information before I could ask sensible questions. “Can you just pay attention today? Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary?”

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. “I guess. Why are you being so weird? What’s going on?”

I pulled him close for a hug, squeezing him tight. I wanted to tuck him back inside my body, where I could keep him safe. “Oh nothing. It was just something someone referenced in the mom group chat. Don’t worry about it.” I held him close, breathing in the scent of him. So grateful he wasn’t the girl on the phone. He was okay. Here. Alive. Safe. My heart swelled with love and gratitude.

CHAPTER THREE

My deposition was grueling. Nobody ever wanted to talk to family law attorneys, and my client’s husband wasn’t any different, but somebody had to help people get divorced, and I was determined to help these two do it with dignity. That’s how I’d built my practice—Divorces with Dignity—over the last ten years, trying to keep an already painful process from getting ugly. Some days were harder than others. This was one of them.

I was halfway through my questions when my phone buzzed with a call. Normally, I tucked it away so I wasn’t distracted or bothered by it, but I’d had my phone on me since leaving the call center, hoping the girl would reach out. I’d been obsessively checking it to make sure I hadn’t missed anything, switching the volume on and off. I even had my assistant call me to see if it was working, as if it’d suddenly broken or something. It was irrational, but I was irrationally worried about her.

Had someone hurt her? Had she hurt herself? Could she be dead? My thoughts chased themselves in circles.

The opposing counsel was going on and on about the assets she believed her client’s wife was hiding, but I couldn’t pay attention to anything she was saying. All I wanted to do was answer my phone, but there was no way to do it, especially not with this attorney. Shewas as nasty and as high-maintenance as her client. The phone finally stopped vibrating against my thigh. I waited for the follow-up buzz, alerting me that I had a new voicemail, but there was none.

The next forty-five minutes were brutal. Each one dragged. As soon as we were done, I quickly thanked everyone and dashed out of the conference room. I whipped out my phone to see the call I’d missed. It was an unknown number. I broke out in a cold sweat.

Could it be her?

Calm down,I told myself, trying to steady my nerves. It was probably just a stupid sales call. But what if it was her, and she needed me? I hurried to my office and quickly shut the door behind me. I logged onto my computer and stared at the blank screen like I’d been doing all day, trying to figure out a way to find her. But it was impossible—the only detail I knew about her was that she went to Buckley. It was a small school, but even so, there were still over a hundred and fifty female students. I anxiously tapped my fingers on the desk, and then suddenly, a text alert. An unknown number again, but a different one than the missed call. My heart skittered against my chest.

It’s me

I jumped up from my desk and let out a whoop, dancing around my office. She was alive! The tension in my neck released. I quickly texted before I lost her again.

The girl from last night? The one who called in?

I asked just to be one hundred percent certain.

Yep

Such a nonchalant, normal response. Good. Maybe she was feeling better.

I’m so glad you reached out. I’ve been so worried about you. Are you okay?

Idk

Are you safe?

Yes

Are you sure? It sounded like someone was chasing you at the park.

She inserted a laughing emoji.It was just some dog but it sounded like a person so I totally freaked out. Just my luck to get kidnapped by some weirdo when I’m trying to—This time she inserted the squirt gun emoji—myself.Another laughing emoji.

Oh, thank god. As long as she was safe and alive, there was still hope. I furtively glanced at my office door like someone might come in and know I was doing something wrong. I had to remind myself that all I was actually doing was texting. I stared at the phone. Now that I had her, what did I say? There weren’t any protocols for this.

Are you at school?

I faked sick and stayed home

She inserted a sick emoji at the end. My head spun. Was it good she stayed home? Or would it call more attention to the situation? I had no idea.

How are you doing? Are you feeling any better?

I tiptoed around the things I wanted to ask; I didn’t want to spook her. Empathetic and supportive. That’s what I’d be. Just like I was at the call center.

---