Page 29 of Lost on Ice
I’m safe here. I just need to keep telling myself that..
Still, my anxiety hasn’t fully left me by the time I arrive at the apartment building, park, and hurry inside. I burst through the door, looking around frantically for my baby. Dad and I decided it would be easier for him to watch her here so she can maintain a routine in familiar surroundings, and I’m glad that I’m able to come straight home to her. I need to see Lilah - just see her, and I’ll feel better.
“Lilah?” I call out.
“Mommy!”
She comes running out of the living room and I kneel down, opening my arms wide so she can crash into them. I hug her tight and kiss her head, feeling so relieved to see her and to know that she’s safe and sound that I could cry.
“Hey, sweetheart! You’re home.”
I look up to find my dad standing over us, gazing down at us with a smile.
“Hi, Dad,” I say, quickly hiding the fact that I’ve been panicking. “How’d it go today?”
“Great,” he assures me. “Lilah and I had a wonderful day, didn’t we, sweetie?”
Lilah beams up at me. “Yeah! Papa and I went to the park! I built a snowman!”
“That sounds so fun.” My words are there, but I’m not feeling any of it. I keep thinking about that weird patient. What if he’s the stalker? Maybe I’m being paranoid for no reason, but that was a seriously strange run-in.
I shouldn’t worry, though. I’m in a whole new town. We’re safe. Lilah’s safe. I need to stop worrying like this.
My thoughts are interrupted when my phone starts ringing. Standing, I grab it out of my purse and see that it’s Sophie and hesitate before answering.
“Go ahead and take it,” Dad tells me, picking up Lilah. “We’ll be in the living room.”
“Thank you!”
Dad takes Lilah away to give me some privacy.
“Hey, Soph! What’s up?”
“Hey, girl!” Sophie replies. “What are you up to? Do you want to hang out? I feel like I haven’t seen you at all this week.”
A stab of guilt cuts through me. I’ve kind of been avoiding Sophie because I found out that Jake is staying with her and Carter. I don’t know why the hell he’s been sticking around for so long. He was always so adamant about getting out of this town and staying away.
I know it’s not Sophie’s fault that he’s here, and I shouldn’t ignore her because of it. Unfortunately, I genuinely can’t hang out tonight. I’m supposed to go over to Vivianne’s to meet with her and Sophie’s mom to start planning a surprise baby shower.
“I wish I could,” I tell her. “I can’t tonight, though. How about tomorrow? Maybe Vivianne and my dad can take both kids and you can come sleep over like old times?”
Sophie lets out an excited squeal. “That’s a fantastic idea! Okay, deal! Meet me at the ice rink at two tomorrow afternoon. Chase has skating class.”
“Absolutely,” I agree, happy that I’ll actually have time with my friend and can make it up to her for avoiding her this past week. “I’ll see you then!”
“Love you!”
“Love you, too!”
Hanging up, I make my way into the living room. Dad is sitting on the couch with Lilah in his lap, reading one of her picture books to her. He looks up as I approach.
“Who was that?” he asks.
“Sophie. We’re going to hang out tomorrow night. Would you and Vivianne be able to watch Lilah and Chase overnight?”
Dad beams. “Oh, for sure! Vivianne would love for us to have a sleepover with both kids.”
“Yay! Sleepover!” Lilah throws her hands in the air in excitement.
