Page 57 of Valentine's Daddy To Go

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About an hour passesand still no word from my girl. Brenda already left for the day. She was getting concerned, but I told her not to worry and that Nellie probably just lost track of time.

That’s it. She’s just a little absentminded today.

Even with that in mind, maybe it’s time to call her.

I take out my cell and dial her number. It rings for a little bit before going to voicemail. I try her one more time, but the same thing happens. Why isn’t she answering? I know every so often she gets busy and can’t get back to me right away, but it’s been multiple hours now, and I haven’t heard from her.

I decide to try Colt next. Maybe Amy checked in with him, and Nellie just assumed he passed along the info.

Colt answers on the second ring.

“Hey, Buddy. What’s up?”

“Have you heard anything from Amy or Nellie? I’ve been calling, but Nellie isn’t picking up.”

“Um well, Amy is here with me. She was here when I got home.”

I pause, astonished.

“She was?”

“Yeah,” Colt says. “Give me a second.”

I hear him yell out Amy’s name, though it’s muffled. He’s taking to her in the background, but I can’t quite make out what they’re saying.

“Nash, you still there?”

“Yeah.”

“Amy said she got home an hour before I did. Nellie left the restaurant before her, saying she needed to get home and prepare some surprise for you.”

“Okay, and that’s all Amy knows? Nellie didn’t say anything else? “

“Yeah, they went shopping, got food, and that was their day. I mean, Amy did a few more things by herself, but she thought that Nellie was going straight home after lunch.” I can tell Colt wants to help more, but if that’s all they’ve got, then that’s all they’ve got.

“Thanks. I’m going to try her cell a few more times.”

“Do you need me or Amy to do anything?”

“No, but if you hear from her, can you guys contact me immediately?”

“Of course. We definitely will. Good luck.”

I hang up on Colt. This means that Nellie should have been home hours ago. Knowing her, she wouldn’t get me this worked up for a surprise. Something is going on.

I try calling Nellie a few more times, but everything goes to voicemail.

Goddamnit!

I send her a text saying to call me back.

Jesus Christ, I don’t need this stress. I already had a laundry list of shit Nellie and I had to discuss, and now, I’m wondering if she’s a missing person.

I can’t jump to the worst case scenario. It’s a very slim chance that she’s in danger.

But there’s still a chance.