Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“My appointment was at three. I watched him put that in his calendar.”
“We know that now. He went to the appointment but was told you were already done and gone. He tried to call you, but his cell phone wasn’t working. He came back here, confused as hell as to how the mix-up happened. I was on the phone with IT for our software program when the fire alarm went off.”
“Christ,” Gabby declares.
“We were able to get everyone out, but it was difficult. The place was pretty busy already and one of the yoga classes had just started.”
“I can’t believe this,” I whisper, watching as the firefighters start to pull out of the building.
“We’re pretty lucky,” Chase says. “They say it started in the girls’ locker room. Towels and an accelerant.”
“Arson?” This from Gabby.
“Looks that way.” He sighs.
“We need to find Harrison.” I glance around, trying to figure out where he’d be. Clearly if he’s out looking for me, he’s going to check all the obvious places first. Our place, my parents, even Gabby’s.
“We can’t call him. His phone is still jacked up,” Chase says, just as a contraction takes hold. I lean over slightly, grabbing my stomach and trying to breathe deeply through the pain.
“Gwen?” Gabby steps up beside me. “Shit, we have to get you to a hospital.”
“Harrison?” I ask, gasping through the most intense contraction I’ve had yet.
“I’ll find him,” Chase declares, taking me in his arm and starting to guide me toward his truck. “Mine’s closer. Take it and get her to the hospital,” Chase adds, pulling his keys from his pocket and handing them to my sister.
“Her car is in the lot by the hardware store,” Gabby replies, racing toward Chase’s big truck.
When we reach it, another contraction takes hold, this one refusing to let up. I moan loudly, fighting through the pain. It’s so intense that it’s hard to breathe, let alone think. Chase has the door open and is getting ready to help me up when I feel it. Wetness runs down my leg as I make eye contact with my husband’s best friend. The fear in his eyes sends me into a full-blown panic.
“Gabby, my water broke!”
Chapter 19
Harrison
* * *
My heart races, the heavy rhythm beating like a bass drum against my chest. This day was already fucked up, but to make it worse, I missed our appointment. Someone is fucking with us, to the point someone changed the time on my calendar. I’ve never missed an appointment, and guilt and sadness weigh heavily on me for not being there. Now I don’t know where she is. I’ve tried calling her, with no luck. No one has seen her.
Fear takes hold as I press the accelerator a little farther to the floor. Maybe she’s at home, sleeping. She’s a week away from her due date, and I worry constantly. What if something happened? What if she’s hurt, what if…? I shake my head and press the accelerator even harder. I won’t be able to ease this fear until I find her.
With my tires squealing, I pull into our driveway. I hit the button for the garage door. Her car’s not there. I still rush into the house, calling out for her with no reply. I search every room and come up empty-handed. “Fuck!” I reach for the house phone that I told her years ago we didn’t need. She argued it might come in handy one day. Today is that day. My cell phone is jacked. The screen is locked or some shit. I can’t get it to unlock. I can’t answer or make calls, send texts. All I can do is stare at the now worthless piece of shit. Just another pile of shit on this fucked-up day.
Quickly, I dial her number, and it again goes straight to voice mail. “Damn it, Winnie, where the hell are you?” I say, crashing the phone down on the receiver. Stalking to the garage, I slam the door, and race to my truck. I barely remember to hit the button to close the garage doors. Not that it matters. Someone could rob us blind, but I don’t give a damn. All that matters is finding my wife.
I’m aware that I’m a maniac, and that chances are she’s fine, but there’s been too much shit happening the last few weeks. The list is ever growing, and now I can’t find her. I know she was at her appointment, but that’s it. Turning my truck toward Gabby’s house, I’m cussing myself for not trying to call her when I had the chance. I also should have called our parents, but hindsight and all that. I’m not turning back, losing ground. I need to find her. I need to see with my own eyes that she and our baby are okay.