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“Have you heard anything else about your brother?”
“No.” Wide, pain-filled eyes met mine. “I’m afraid he might’ve done something to himself. He’s got some... issues.”
I sucked in a surprised breath. “Oh, Sofia. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah.” Her gaze dropped to her lap where she was picking at her thumbnail again. “It’s been really rough on him since our parents split up.”
I let her fall into my embrace with her head on my shoulder as I rubbed her arm. It was really the only comfort I had to offer since I had no words. My parents were together and happy, and my brothers were healthy, so I knew anything I said would probably sound like an empty platitude.
“It sounds like you’re close,” I ventured.
“Not as close as we used to be when I still lived at home, but yeah, I think so. I love my brother more than anybody else in this world.”
Tears burned behind my eyelids at the pain in her voice. “He’s lucky to have you.”
“We’re lucky to have each other.”
I nodded as I held her, understanding the feeling. I wasn’t sure what I’d do without my own brothers, and I couldn’t imagine her sorrow not knowing where he was or if he was safe.
After a few minutes she yawned and pulled away. “I guess we should go to sleep. I’ve got early classes tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I stood and stepped back. “You need anything else?”
She shook her head as she settled under the blanket. “Thanks.”
I flipped off the lamp, making one last check of the front door locks before checking on Elizabeth again and heading to bed myself.
There were a couple more texts from Vanessa and Harper, checking in as well, so I sent a group message to everyone, letting them know the police had been there and everything was good.
As I brushed my teeth, I studied myself in the mirror and realized how exhausted I looked too. Dark circles under my eyes made my pale skin even more ghostlike, my makeup long gone. I spit and rinsed, then brushed my hair out, my mind wandering to earlier.
Had Sofia really seen a man trying to get inside? If so, who was it? The same person from the park? Her shithead ex? And, if not, was there something more going on with her that I needed to know about? After all, she worked for me... babysat my little girl.
My mind was spinning with a million thoughts as I tugged on my pajamas and sank into bed, only slightly comforted by the thought that my father had insisted I take his old shotgun for protection, and it was tucked away in my closet should I need it. I hadn’t told Sofia that when she mentioned she was hiding in there, but I guess I could have...
I closed my eyes, ready for a long, restless night, but I was out within seconds.
My eyes shot open from a deep, dreamless sleep and I took a moment to reorient myself as I stared up at my ceiling, trying to figure out what had woken me up.
The house was silent and only the faintest gray light was peeking in from under my blinds so it couldn’t be much past dawn. As the events of the previous night settled back in, I reached for my phone and checked the time. Just after six a.m. I probably had a little while until Elizabeth woke up and I was tempted to try and go back to sleep, but I was suddenly restless, so I shoved off my covers and got up.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, I threw on my robe and slippers, slid my phone in my pocket, then cracked open my door to peek down the hall. I decided to chance it and made a silent dash toward the kitchen for the coffeemaker.
Sofia was curled up on the sofa in a fetal position with the blanket nearly covering her head. She didn’t move a muscle, so I figured she was sleeping soundly like I had at her age.
I breathed a sigh of relief and got the dark roast brewing as quietly as I could, then leaned against the counter to scroll through the texts and listen to the voicemails I’d missed from last night.
Harper: Hope all is well. Call me or Levi if you need anything at all!
Genevieve: We can come over if you need us...
Silas: Eden told me about some shit going down at your place. You need me to come kick somebody’s ass?
And last, a voicemail from Whitney: Hey, girl. I know you texted that all was good and the cops were there or whatever, but I’m still worried about you. Are you sure you don’t want me to come over? I don’t mind. But I’m sure you won’t call me because you’re too strong and independent and shit. Just don’t forget to call me when you’re up tomorrow so I can hear your voice. Love you!
I was smiling at Silas’s message, but full-on grinning with Whitney’s message. These people. I was lucky I was so loved and cared for... even if it wasn’t exactly the kind of love I’d envisioned for myself when I came home alone with just my daughter most nights.
The coffee finished brewing, and I poured myself a big mug, doctoring it up with a touch of sweet cream before moving to the front window to peek out at the sleepy world outside. I was greeted by a downcast day, the gray light from my bedroom softened by the thick clouds that promised rain and the hovering fog that coated the grass and trees like fine cobwebs. Even my car seemed like a ghost in the driveway, swallowed up in the ethereal mist.