Page 96 of Finding Mercy

Liam carriesme into the house and lays me on the couch. I’m surrounded by darkness, my sweet girl, gone because that bitch decided she wanted her. They took her away because she was not a good mom. In fact, she was abusive. The court decided it wasn’t in Ivy’s best interest to be there. And now she violates that order and snatches her from the playground. And how could the school let this happen? Someone had to have been on that playground with kids. You don’t just allow a bunch of kindergartners to run free without supervision.

My world is spinning, and I feel sick.

“MERCY!”

I shake my head and look up at Liam, “Why are you yelling?”

“I said your name six times, baby. Do you want some tea or anything?”

“No, there’s only one thing I want,” the tears fall, and I swear I could fill an ocean with them. My chest hurts as if someone smashed it in. The pounding of my heart echoes in my ear drums. “Liam, what if-”?

“Nope. No, what ifs. We aren’t doing that.”

He sits on the couch and pulls me into his arms, “They are going to find her and soon.”

Liam’s arms are usually my safe place, but not today. Today there is no safe place. Nothing will make me feel better.

“Do you want to take a bath?”

I shake my head, “Not until she’s back.”

“I texted Elle, her and Isabella would like to come over.”

After a few minutes, he asks, “Is that okay?”

I shrug, “I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.”

I shuffle my body and lay my head down on his lap while he strokes my hair.

“I’m glad you kept the butterflies,” I say as I stare at them on the wall.

I sit up and get off the couch, unsure what to do with myself. I pace for a while and then walk to Ivy’s room.

I lay down on her bed and held her favorite Elsa stuffy.

Elle and Isabella come in, but I’m facing the wall and have no plans of turning around.

I feel their hands on my back as Elle whispers, “Do you need anything, babe?”

“I just want to be alone.”

The weight of the bed shifts as they move off the bed.

“We’ll be in the living room if you need anything.”

“Baby girl.”

“Liam, I need to be alone.”

“I thought…” He clears his throat, “Okay, whatever you need.”

I know I’m being a terrible friend, and even worse fiancé’ but I can’t see through my heartbreak.

Ivy is gone, Linda has her, and is doing God knows what to her. Please be safe, sweet girl. I know Ivy is terrified right now, and heartbroken that she isn’t with us. What if she kills her? I’ve heard of horrific things like that happening.

The door is open to the bedroom, and I can hear them talking.

“I don’t know what to do. How do I fucking fix this?”

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