Chapter Thirty-Seven
Blake
After the first call, we’d run four more calls and put out three fires. Having spent the previous night searching for Nina, I was exhausted. So, I was sound asleep in the bunkroom when Tony shook me awake. It was early morning and still dark out, so I assumed we had a call and quickly jumped out of bed and followed him toward the garage. Halfway there, it struck me that the station was quiet and no alarms were going off.
“Tony, what the hell—” I said, as I rounded the corner and saw Remy standing in the kitchen crying as two of the guys tried to console her. When she looked up and saw me, her whole demeanor changed.
“Blake Gaston, where in the HELL IS MY DAUGHTER!” she screamed, as she rushed toward me, swinging her fists. Two of the guys caught her before she could connect with my body. They held her back as I moved out of range. Remy continued screaming, “Let go of me, you idiots! I’m going to kill him!”
“Remy, calm down,” I said, knowing that never in the history of calming anyone down had that phrase worked. “Listen to me.”
“I swear to God, I’m going to petition the court and get sole custody of Nina, you son of a bitch,” she growled, as she dropped her fists and stood clenching them at her sides.
“Remy, I have done everything possible to try and find Nina,” I said. “She disappeared last night, and I wanted to call you, but I didn’t think it would do any good to worry you before you got home.”
“So you thought me finding out about my daughter going missing would be better relayed by a call from the police?” she cried. “You’re such a bastard! WHERE IS NINA?”
“I don’t know, but everyone on the police force is looking for her,” I sighed, rubbing my chin with my hand as I tried to think of a way to explain things to my crazed ex-wife. “I searched everywhere for her before I came into work. I checked every hangout and every place the kids hanging out in those places told me about, but Nina doesn’t want to be found.”
“Oh well, that’s just great, Super Dad,” she said in a caustic tone. “So, you thought coming to work and sleeping soundly would make her magically reappear?”
“We’ve been fighting fires all shift, Remy,” I said wearily. “I spent last night searching for our daughter before I came to work. I couldn’t stay awake any longer.”
“That’s just like you,” she spat. “You always could sleep soundly even when things were going to hell in a handbasket.”
“That’s not fair, Remy,” I protested.
“Not fair? You’re suddenly worried about not fair?” she laughed. “You go on a date with your new girlfriend, and our daughter goes missing, and now you’re accusing me of being unfair?”
“Yes, I went to the Celtics game with Emily, and during the five hours I was gone, Nina went—” I began, then stopped. “Why in the hell am I justifying anything to you? You picked up and went off on some fly-by-night business trip with your latest boyfriend, and you’re accusing me of being irresponsible? I’d suggest you look in the mirror, lady.”
Remy’s enraged scream reverberated through the station as she swung at me again screaming, “How dare you accuse me of being irresponsible! I’m working 70 hours a week to make sure there’s money in the college fund so our daughter won’t be saddled with unending debt for her education! What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m working my ass off to pay for all of the things she needs now,” I yelled, as I shook off the guys who were holding my arms and walked toward Remy. “I’m sick and tired of your judgmental attitude, Remy! You know I would move heaven and earth to get Nina anything and everything she needs. So, get down off your high horse and do something to help me find our girl!”
Remy stared at me for a moment, and then sunk into one of the kitchen chairs as she began sobbing.
“Where is she, Blake?” she cried, as she looked up at me. “What if she’s hurt? Or worse?”
I knelt down next to the chair and put my arms around my ex-wife. I could feel her shaking as she cried harder. I patted her back and whispered, “Shh, shh, she’s fine, Remy. Nina’s fine. We’ll find her. I promise.”
“But…but…but what if you don’t,” Remy choked.
“We will,” I said, projecting a confidence that I didn’t entirely feel. I hoped I was right and that we’d find Nina safe and sound because if we didn’t, I wasn’t sure how Remy would hand it.
Or how I would.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Emily
The next morning, I woke up and found Nina sitting on the living room couch, wrapped in a thick quilt with Howard in her lap as she tapped out messages on her phone.
“You need to call your dad,” I said on my way to the kitchen to make coffee. “Now, Nina.”
“Do I have to?” she whined, as she put the phone down and followed me. She perched on a stool as Howard jumped up beside her and began head butting her to get her attention. Nina giggled and began petting him.
“Yes, young lady, you most certainly do,” I said. “He’s worried about you, and you need to tell him you’re safe.”