“Someplace safe.”
“Safe from what?”
My voice rose.
“Did Grant get hurt?”
He said nothing.
“Did he do something?”
“Ma’am, please.”
“Don’t ‘please’ me!”
I leaned forward.
“Just tell me if my son is okay!”
He paused.
“You’ll have answers soon. I promise.”
Then my phone buzzed.
A text from Mark.
I opened it.
Mom, please don’t freak out. Just trust us.
I stared at the message.
Trust us.
After four hours of silence.
I typed back:
WHERE ARE YOU?
The message was delivered.
But it wasn’t read.
I looked at the officer.
“Are they in danger?”
He didn’t answer.
“You know my kid.”
Silence.
Then, quietly, he said:
“Yes, ma’am.”
My heart lurched.
“Are they in danger?”
“No.”
“Then why am I in a police car?”
He exhaled.
“Just hold on.”
Then I looked through the window.
And suddenly, I recognized where we were going.
The police officer turned into a parking lot.
My heart sank.
It was a community center I recognized immediately.
I had spent countless hours there when my children were growing up.
School events.
Sports.
Fundraisers.
Graduations.
I used to sit on those hard bleachers cheering until my voice disappeared.
For a moment, happy memories flooded back.
But they couldn’t drown out the anxiety.
There were cars parked outside.
Several of them looked familiar.
Mark’s SUV.
Sarah’s sedan.
Jason’s truck.
My mouth went dry.
“What is this?”
The officer parked and came around to open my door.
He offered me his hand.
I ignored it and climbed out on my own.
My legs were shaky.
He guided me toward the entrance.
I could see movement through the glass.
People.
Lots of people.
My heart started beating faster.
“If this is some kind of joke…”
“It’s not.”
He opened the door.
The lights suddenly snapped on.
“HAPPY—”
Jason stopped.
Everyone froze.
Mark’s face immediately filled with guilt.
Sarah looked alarmed.
Eliza covered her mouth.
Caleb went pale.
I stood completely still.
Then I saw the banner.
HAPPY 60TH, MOM!
There were balloons.
Streamers.
A huge cake.
Tables covered with food.
And five of my children were standing there.
Five.
I stared at them.
Then I said the only thing I could think of.
“So you were all here.”
Mark stepped forward.
“Mom, wait.”
“I waited four hours.”
My voice shook.
“Four hours.”
Jason rushed to explain.
