“We are now,” I said. “Someone called us from my phone. I don’t know how or exactly when they got it, except it had to have been when I was at Violet’s because I had it this morning. He wants some file of Will’s, and you know that’s crazy, right? And plus, it’s been over a year since he died. Why now? I don’t know anything about what he investigated or his cases, and I never did. And Trevor hasn’t called me back yet.”

Dad carefully took the phone and put it in a bag. “You’re moving into the house. Today. No more staying at Gram’s. You can move back there after I figure out what is going on.”

I nodded. I’m no fool. I was also a great big scaredy-cat. Plus, Dad had guns and an epic alarm system and the town’s entire police force at his disposal. I needed all hands on deck. I needed bodyguards. But what I really needed was someone to talk me down from this edge of panic I was teetering on.

Rose turned back to Dad, and I felt myself start to slip into a panic mode, where everything was in sharp focus but also strangely muted by fear.

“Snap out of it, Lily. You’ve got that panicky, crazy look in your eyes. Nothing will happen to you or the kids. Focus on me, on Dad. It’s going to be okay.” Rose hugged me quickly, then headed back to her car.

“Rose is right, honey. Everything will be fine.” Dad gave me a reassuring smile. “I talked to Trevor. He’s on his way down with the kids. I told him he can stay at your Gram’s house. I don’t like this. There is too much weirdness going on. This just caps it all off and tells me I made the right decision about you moving in with your mom and me.”

“Trevor? Why didn’t he tell me himself?”

“We’ll talk about that later,” Dad said.

“I should cancel my date with Luke. I can’t leave the kids at a time like this.”

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. You’ll be safe with Luke and the kids will be safe with us. You’re all covered. Go with Luke; try to get your mind off all this. We have a reason to worry, but I don’t want you to…” He looked away from me for a second, then added, “I’m taking care of it. So is Trevor.” He didn’t want me to lose my mind and freak out is what he didn’t say, he was hoping a date with Luke would distract me.

I wished I was a stronger person, like Rose. I wished I didn’t overthink and overreact and make everything seem worse than it was. “Thanks, Dad.” I hugged him quickly.