What Happened That Night

The ache in my chest burned. “I don’t despise you.”

“But you also don’t forgive me.”

Everything inside me wanted to scream, Of course, I don’t forgive you. How can you expect me to forgive you?

Instead, I simply said, “I’ve got to go. The girls are waiting for me at the cafe.”

Salvador sighed as I’d heard him do a thousand times. “All right. Tell them I said hello.”

His request was a peace offering as he talked to the girls nearly every day. He didn’t need me to relay a message to them. He simply knew his request would move our conversation to safer territory.

Wanting to ease the tension between us, I agreed to tell Brandy and Lia hello from him. Then I hung up the phone and walked to the cafe.

Inside the restaurant, I looked for the girls, expecting them to be sitting at a booth, eating pancakes, and drinking coffee. When I couldn’t find them, I pulled out my phone, assuming they’d texted about their change of plans, but there were no new messages.

A little worried, I called first Brandy, then Lia. When neither one of them answered, my heart began to pound. It’s okay. You’re okay. Everything is fine. Courage, strength, hope.

Intellectually, I knew I was overreacting. Brandy and Lia were grown women who could take care of themselves. I’d taught them to carry mace, always have their phone charged, and follow their instinct. Most likely, they’d simply gone to a different restaurant.

Still, I couldn’t help but worry.