Page 26 of Isolation

“Later? What’s happening?” I reached for his arm, but he pulled away from me.

Mateo grabbed his keys from the hook by the door, and the door slammed behind him. Minutes later, I heard his car backing out of the driveway.

Mason’s bottom lip was trembling. “Is Daddy mad at us?”

I crouched to his level. “No, Daddy said he forgot something important at work.”

“But he broke the glass and yelled.” Mason’s voice was small.

“Grown-ups get worried or scared too sometimes, but it wasn’t about you. I promise.” I smoothed his hair away from his forehead.

Mateo had never lost control in front of Mason like that. Suddenly, I knew I couldn’t wait for his half-ass explanation. I needed to know where he was and what he was hiding.

“How about we go get that ice cream now?”

“Can I get sprinkles?”

“Of course. Go put your slides on.”

I grabbed my phone and opened the Find My app. Years ago, when Mateo would travel with the team, we set it up so I could see where he was. He probably forgot I could track him, although he’d never given me a reason to.

The blue dot was the location, and it wasn’t moving to the practice facility but in the opposite direction. My hand shook as I pocketed my phone.

“Let’s go.”

After buckling Mason into his booster seat, I drove first to the ice cream place. I watched the blue dot as we went to the drive-thru for Mason’s ice cream, which I got in a cup so he could eat in the car.

Mason chattered happily during the ride. I glanced at the blue dot. It looked like it quit moving. I looked at the address, and it was Mt. Carmel Hospital.

“The T-Rex goes ‘rawr’ and eats all the bad dinosaurs.” Mason was entertaining himself in the backseat.

“I need to drop something off to a friend. It won’t take long. I promise.”

I pulled into the parking lot and found Mateo’s black Audi among the other cars. I parked several rows away and angled where I could see him but he couldn’t see me.

“Is your friend sick?” Mason asked.

“Just a little. They will be better soon. Listen, I need you to stay in the car for a minute while I run this paper to my friend, okay? I won’t go inside. I promise. You’ll be able to see me the whole time.”

Mason frowned. “You never leave me in the car alone.”

Shit.“I know. Hey, my friend is right there. I will get out for one minute, and you will be able to see me the whole time.”

“Okay.”

I walked over to Mateo’s car, and he was slamming his fist on the steering wheel. His head dropped against the headrest with his eyes closed like a man defeated or a man making a decision.

I wanted to confront him and demand answers. I should have done something, but what?

Instead, I returned to my car where my baby watched me.

“All done with my ice cream, Mommy.”

“Okay, baby. Let’s go home.”

I drove away, leaving Mateo to his guilt or secrets. One thought was on my mind as clear as ice. What was I going to do now?

Yesterday,I almost had a mental breakdown, and I was glad Danica went to the gym to give me a few minutes of solitude. I glanced at the clock on the microwave. It was 9:47 p.m. Danica wouldn’t be back for at least another hour, and Mason had been asleep since 8:00 p.m. It was just me and my thoughts, which were dangerous as hell considering what I was about to do. I entered our bedroom closet where the safe was tucked away behind Danica’s designer purse collection.

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