I ran through the archway that led into the kitchen and crashed into someone. I fell backward and landed on my ass on the floor. I got to my knees and started crawling toward the window. I tried to scream when I felt hands at my upper arms, lifting me up. No sound came out. I tried again, and all I could hear was gasping. The hands at my arms turned me around, and I saw my dad in front of me.

Oh, thank God.

“I’m having a heart attack.” I managed to gasp out. “Am I going to die?” I felt hot tears start to leak out of my eyes, and I brushed them away.

“Honey, you’re only thirty years old. This is no heart attack. But I’m pretty sure you are having a panic attack.” Dad’s hand was at my wrist. “Your heartbeat is fast, but you’re not going to die.” He scooped me up and carried me to the couch in the living room. He sat down with me sideways across his lap, like when I was a little girl.

“Dahlia, call an ambulance. Better to be safe,” he said.

“I already did. They’re on the way. It’s okay, honey. The paramedics will be here in two minutes.” Calla started to cry. I tried to get up, but Dad held me firmly in his arms.

“Stay still, sweetheart, rest.” I struggled against his hold. I had to get to my baby.

“Calla. She needs me,” I argued.

“Your mama has the baby. She’s okay, she’s okay, everything’s going to be okay, I’ve got you, and you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to my girls,” he crooned as he stroked my hair and pressed my cheek back into his chest.

“Calla is fine, honey. She just needs a bottle. See?” Mom rushed back through the archway that divided the family room and kitchen and sat down on the chair across from the couch.

I could see that Calla was fine and slurping away at her bottle. I nodded and relaxed back into Dad’s arms.

“Am I crazy?” I whispered.

“No, darlin’, you’re not crazy. You’ve had one hell of a day. In fact, you’ve had one hell of a last two years. And I’m glad that you’re here with me and your mom when it all finally hit you. This was bound to happen,” he answered.

“You keep everything inside, Lily,” Mom said. “It has to come out. If you won’t let it, it will force its own way out.”

I nodded as tears crept down my cheeks to land on my chest. I had done this to myself.

The front door burst open, and Cade ran in, followed by Levi and a paramedic I didn’t recognize. Great, Mom called 911, and of course my brothers were going to respond.