Page 204 of Losing Faith

“Sire.” He shakes his head gently.

“She’s fine, August.” His voice breaks now.

I watch Isaac carefully as he pulls out his phone. He brings a hand to his mouth before the twins rush over to him. I hold my breath as I sit up.

Sage looks over at his phone first and it must be a picture because she breaks into a sob as she turns to Liam’s chest.

I go still.

August shakes his head next and when he hugs his mom something in me breaks.

“No.” Sire shakes his head and he’s still across the room, but at his siblings’ reaction, his knees go weak. My vision blurs as Vidia tries to hold him up and they both end up on the ground.

“Is it her?” I choke out, but no one answers me. “Is it her?”

Hazel rushes over and leans over to see the phone. Her shoulders sag before she shakes her head. “No, it’s not.”

Sire picks his head up and you would’ve thought Lisette just walked into the room from the relief on his face.

I press my palm against my eyes as I try to catch my breath. I keep telling myself she’s fine, but countless thoughts storm my mind, convincing me she’s not okay.

When a scary one comes into my head, I rush to my feet. Walking into the kitchen, I tap the counter in a soothing beat before letting out a breath.

I look back into the living room and everyone sits in silence, but I can’t take another minute with my thoughts. Pulling out my phone, I look through the album I made of Lisette.

I’ve been looking at it every day since she left. Swiping through the entire album is a new compulsion and it brings me the most peace.

I focus on the first picture of her where she’s reading to a sleeping Isabelle. I smile as I remember how immersed into the children’s book Lisette was that she didn’t notice her fast asleep.

A few pictures down is one Belle made us take together as we baked for her class. Lisette offered to frost the cupcakes for her and they all look like flowers. I smile at the shock on Isabelle’s face. Lisette spent that entire night teaching her how to frost flowers and I remember how surprised we both were by Lisette’s artistic side.

When my eyes land on the picture of us from Thanksgiving, I find myself staring at her for several minutes. She’s carrying Isabelle in her arms and as she throws her head back with a laugh, Lisette stares down at her, a perfect smile on her face as she gazes down at my daughter. Her brown dress hugs around her perfectly, her long hair draping down her back. Beside her, I’m staring down at her in awe.

My heart sinks as it hits me just how long I’ve been in love with this girl… not long.I wanted so much more time.

I finish swiping through the album before calling her. A part of me knows she won’t answer, but I need to at least hear her voicemail.

“Hey, JJ.”

My brows furrow at her cheery voice. I rush to my feet as I hurry into the living room. “Hey, Lisette.” Everyone turns to me and I put it on speaker when they all gesture for me to do so.

“What are you up to? Do you want to get lunch?”

I look over at Sire and he nods before mouthing,she’s high. Just agree.

“Yeah, do you want to come over and I’ll cook?”

There’s a honk on her end. “I’m going, calm down.”

“Are you driving?” I look over at Sire when I see him shaking his head. He closes the distance between us and puts the phone on mute.

“If she is, don’t scold her for driving intoxicated. Don’t put any blame on her. Just go along and find her.”

“Of course, I’m not driving.” Lisette pulls our attention back to my phone. “I found a perfect parking spot in front of my apartment, I’m never moving it. Listen, I’m shopping right now, but I’ll be at my place in an hour. Can you meet me there?”

I’m still trying to shake off the shock of hearing her voice after processing that she was dead, but Sire taps my arm and I snap back in. “Yeah, sweetheart. Of course.”

“Okay, can you just do me a favor and tell Sire I’m okay?” Her voice is quieter now and when I look over at Sire, I can see the hurt he’s drowning in. “Don’t tell him you’re going to see me. I’m going to see him tonight, but I just want a few more hours before I get yelled at. I blocked all of them a few days ago and I’m in for a headache. Harmony has also been asking a ton of questions and I just need a few more hours of peace.”

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