Page 93 of Sawyer
I hit the number and wait.
“Anything?”I ask, like I didn’t just call the sheriff ten minutes ago.
“Not yet.You left?”
“I’m in the air,” I tell him.
“I’ll call the minute we have something.I have a feeling it won't be long,” he says, ending the call just like last time, and I grip on to my cell a little harder.
As soon as the seat belt sign is switched off, I’m up, walking to the back of the cabin and pushing open the bathroom door, emptying my stomach.Retching for my penance.
Wiping my mouth, I look at my reflection in the mirror as I turn on the tap, filling my mouth with cold water and splashing it on my face.I feel like a failure, like I’ve let her down.I hold on to the small basin as I move farther and farther away from her.
The sheriff asked me to trust him.Asked me to leave it to them.I have no idea how many men he has or where they’re watching from, but I need to try to take solace in the fact that their eyes are on Annabelle.
I walk back to my seat, my knee jumping, adrenaline pumping, and I pull at my shirt collar.Still wearing a fucking suit, the whole thing feels restrictive for the first time in my entire working life.I rip off my tie and pull the jacket from my frame, throwing them on the seat next to me, undoing the top few buttons of my shirt, needing air.
I grab a bottle of water, drinking the entire thing, then I look at my watch.We’re circling at about an hour out of Whispers, still close, but too far away for my liking.It’s almost been an hour and a half since I left Annabelle’s place.I roll my neck, releasing a groan from how uneasy I am.
Looking down at my lap, I take in another deep breath before my eyes spot something.I look closer, the sparkle on my leg flashing me in the light, before I see another and another.Noah’s glitter spray remnants shimmer on my suit pants brightly, and my jaw twitches with emotion.
I can’t do it.I can’t do it anymore.I jump up from my seat and stalk through the jet, straight to the cockpit.
“Sir?”the copilot asks, looking up, surprised to see me.I never disrupt them when they fly.
“Turn back around,” I grit out, and his brow furrows.
“Sorry?What?”he clarifies.We’re meant to circle for another hour, but I can’t wait that long.
“Back to Whispers.Now!”I bark, adrenaline rushing through me, panic now building, wanting to get back there right away.
“Yes, sir,” he says, nodding quickly.“Everything alright, sir?”
“No, everything is not fucking alright,” I seethe.I shouldn’t.It isn’t their fault, and I mutter an apology before I walk back to my seat.
It was a stupid idea.I can’t leave her.It’s like leaving a lamb at the slaughter.She needs me, she relies on me, she trusts me.I can’t let her down.
I sit in my seat, and the jet makes a sharp turn around, cutting through the night sky, nothing but black as far as the eye can see, and I pray I’m not too late.
43
Annabelle
Kevin sits on the sofa, baseball on, but he’s no longer watching it.
“There, all done.”I try to be upbeat, even though I just added yet another lock to the door, taking the tally to three.There’s no way that Sawyer won’t notice when he comes home, but while I put up a strong front for him when he left, I’d be lying if I say that I’m not completely scared out of my mind.
With Noah already asleep in my bed, I walk around the house, checking if the baseball bat is beside the front door and there’s a knife now under my mattress.As I do, I grab the small pocketknife usually reserved for trimming the lavender and put it down my bra.Call me crazy, but I want to be prepared, because even though Sawyer didn’t say anything, I know exactly what’s going on.
He's trying to draw them out.Whomever is behind this only comes when Sawyer isn’t here, and there’s no way Sawyer would leave me for work, not now.Also, I saw it in his eyes, the extreme hesitation he had, the poor excuse of a business client, the way he didn’t pack anything like he normally does.I may not have gone to college, but I know things.I know he loves me and my sons, and I know this is the only way we are ever going to get them.I roll my shoulders, my stomach feeling raw.I’ve got it.I can do this.
“Can’t we call Sawyer?Or Sutton?Or Tanner?”Kevin asks, the panic in his voice evident.I should’ve sent him to have a sleepover.But Sawyer didn't tell me he was leaving until the last minute, and it was too late to organize anything.
“We’ll be fine, honey.No one’s getting in here with all these locks.But if you would feel better, you can have a sleepover with Sutton tomorrow night, if Sawyer isn’t back.”I walk over to sit with him, brushing his hair back off his face.
“I’m not leaving you, Ma,” he says firmly.
“I’ll be fine.Besides, I’m sure Sutton has some of that candy you boys like so much.”
