I put my hands behind my head and start walking around, but my lungs don’t expand as much as I want them to. This is too much. For Ma, for Dad, for me.

“Hey,” a soft voice says behind me. I turn the moment I realize Wren followed me up the stairs. “It’s going to be okay.” She has her serious work face on. It’s reassuring. It reminds me precisely of why I wanted to hire her in the first place.

“I’m responsible for them. For her,” I breathe, my eyes stinging. “What if she’s lying in a ditch somewhere?” All that while I was fucking working on some stupid project. I should’ve been there. I should’ve quit even before today. Maybe Ma was late to pick her up, and if I’d been there, she’d be safe and sound at home.

“Aaron, stop it.” Her voice is harsh. It takes me out of my panic, at least a little. “I’ll help you find her. And we will find her, okay?”

It feels so good to hear her say it. Like someone actually believes it. I nod.

Eyes right on mine, she says, “Take a deep breath.” I do. “Another.” I follow her instructions. “Good. You’re okay,” she says, so convincing.

And suddenly, I’m not so bad.

“I’ll figure a plan with you, okay? You’re not alone in this,” she says.

I don’t know how she does it. She’s not a clairvoyant. She doesn’t know what will happen. But somehow, I believe every single word that’s coming out of her mouth.

If Wren says it’ll be okay, then it’ll be okay.

Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Wren

“Follow me,” I tell Aaron as I grab his arm and drag him downstairs.

Do I know what I’m doing? Not really. But someone needed to take control of the situation, and with the deer-in-the-headlights face Aaron was making seconds ago, I knew I had to be that person. Plus, I can think clearly in situations of distress. Kind of an ironic gift considering my future condition, but right now, I’m thankful for it.

Aaron follows me blindly as I tell a panicked Martina and a distressed Dennis that we’ll be back with Callie, then head out the door, my thin coat quickly thrown over my shoulders. Aaron stays silent, and when I turn to him, I find him flushed and breathing fast, gaze lost in space.

“Do you have any friends who could help us look for her?” I ask him, which makes him focus on me. Good. As long as I keep him busy, I’m pretty sure I can keep him in a functional state of mind.

He acquiesces. “Yeah, I have, um, a friend who can help.”

“Good. Call them.”