Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

AINSLEY

T he next afternoon, as I waited in the elementary school pick-up line on a rare occasion when the kids didn't have any after-school plans, my phone rang. A glance at the screen told me it was Glennon.

"Hello?"

"Hey, babe. How are you?"

"I'm okay," I said through a yawn. "Just picking up the kids from school." I slowed to a stop in the pick-up lane and leaned back to grin at Maisy as she opened the car door. I mouthed, "Hello," and pointed to the screen. She smiled and waved at me as she climbed into the vehicle and joined her brothers in the backseat. "Auntie Glennon's on the phone, say hi!"

"Hi," came the echoed response.

When they shut the door, I turned back to Glennon. "Sorry, is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah, definitely. I wanted to check in. I can call back later."

"No need to, what's up?"

"I, um, well, it's fine. I'll call you back."

"Ah," I said, turning off the Bluetooth from the car and moving the phone to my ear. "Okay, you're off Bluetooth now. It's just us. What's really up?"

"It's nothing important. I didn't want to worry the kids. I was calling to see if things are getting better between you two?"

"Peter and me?"

"Yeah," she said with a dry laugh. "Who else?"

"Oh, yeah, I guess so. I don't know. Things feel so strange right now. I mean, it's fine, of course. It's just… We're in a weird place." I met Maisy's eye in the mirror, and despite my attempt to code what I was saying, she seemed to have figured me out. I changed the subject. "It was so nice to get to see you guys, though. We enjoyed ourselves."

Glennon was silent.

"You there?"

"Yeah, I just, uh, it may be the last time you see us, together…"

"What do you mean?" I asked. "Why would it be the last time?"

She sighed, and I heard the tears in her voice when she responded. "I'm leaving Seth."

"You're what? Wait, why? What's going on? You guys seemed so great."

"Yeah," she sniffled, "well, looks can be deceiving."

"What's going on, Glen? Tell me."

"I don't want to bother you when you're with the kids. I figured they were out with friends or something, and I wanted to catch you before you got home. I'm sorry, I'm just…I'm a mess."

"Where are you? Are you at home?"

"Yeah, I am. I'm getting ready to go stay at my mom's for a few weeks—maybe a few months—until we get things sorted out."

I gripped the steering wheel. "Wait, so this is, this is real? I mean, you're moving out? Now?"

"Yeah. I've been debating for a few weeks, but I can't pretend anymore. I'm moving in with Mom, and he'll stay at the house until we can sell it. Neither of us can afford to buy the other out, so it's the only way. With no kids and the house being our only asset, I think it'll be pretty simple. I don't want any part of his company or income. I just want out."

"But I don't… I don't understand. What happened? Why didn't you tell me any of this?"

"I've been waiting for you to have less going on. I didn't want to be a burden, but I wanted to tell you before it's official." She was crying again. "You're like my sister, Ains. I love you so much, and I never want to hurt you or lie to you. I want you to know what's going on…"

"I'm not mad at you, Glennon. You don't have to worry about that. You never have to tell me anything until you're ready. I'm having trouble understanding. Did something happen or… I mean, did you grow apart? Where is this all coming from?"

She was crying again, sobbing actually. "I'm…sorry…"

"Shhh," I tried to soothe her. "Listen, I'm coming to you, okay? I'm going to drop the kids off at home with Peter and head your way. I'm about fifteen minutes away from the house—"

"No, no! You don't need to do that."

"I want to," I said.

"You should spend time with the kids."

"You need me—hey, Glennon, can I call you right back?" I asked as I was interrupted by an incoming call from Peter. "Peter's calling me."

"Yeah, sure."

"Okay, I'll talk to you in a bit." With that, I ended the call and switched to the one that was incoming. "Hello?"

"Hey."

"Peter?" I asked. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm almost home. Did something happen?"

His tone was dry. "Uh, yeah, you could say that. You haven't heard the news?"

I felt a knot growing in my stomach, my heart beginning to race. I knew by the tone of his voice, whatever it was couldn't be good. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, bracing myself.

"What news?"

"It's all over the place."

"What is? What's going on?" I asked, pressing my lips into a thin line as I forced myself to breathe.

"It's Illiana De Luca," he said, pausing. "She's—Ainsley, she's missing."