Page 119 of Kylie

“Kate!” I shouted, unable to disguise the panic that was setting in. It came on quickly and painfully, stealing the air from my lungs and making my throat tight.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

The panic attack was brutal, but I managed to keep moving. I hurried to the other end of the porch, shouting for my daughter again and again.

“Did you see her?” I asked the kids, the words rasped harshly. “Did you see Kate?”

They looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.

“Trick or treat,” one of the kids said.

I ignored them, heading inside, shouting for my daughter.

Still nothing.

I clutched my throat. I can’t breathe.

“Kylie?”

Spinning around, I noticed Travis standing just inside the house, the screen door closing behind him.

“What’s wrong?” he insisted, his tone hard as he moved toward me.

“Kate’s gone. She’s … she was there. I went to the bathroom. Came back. She’s gone. Oh, God.”

Travis reached for me, pulling me in tight. “She’s on the porch.”

I shook my head. “No. I looked. She’s not.”

He leaned back and cupped my face, looking me in the eye. “Kylie, baby. It’s okay. She’s on the porch.”

I forced air through my restricted lungs, but it didn’t help. The panic held me in a tight fist, squeezing.

Travis’s hands were firm on my face, as though he was willing me to pay attention. I stared up at him, trying to get air. I nodded so he would understand that I was trying. His eyes searched my face briefly before he released my face and put his arms around me.

“Breathe,” he whispered, running a hand down my hair as I rested my cheek on his chest. “I promise. She’s on the porch. Gage is out there with all the kids. She’s not missin’. No one took her. Everything’s fine.”

I nodded, focusing on every inhale and exhale as his words sank in. I didn’t know how much time had passed before the panic released its death grip on me. When I could finally take a full breath, I relaxed against him.

“Where was she?”

“When we walked up, she was chasin’ Houdini.”

I pulled back so I could look at his face. Surely I had heard him wrong. The words didn’t even make sense.

“What?”

“Houdini. The cat.”

“You have a cat?”

“No. We don’t. She’s a stray. Gage named her Houdini because she disappears for days at a time. Every few days, she’ll come back, and Kate insists on feedin’ her.”

I drew more air in, deeper, more cleansing breaths until I felt in control again.

“She’s safe,” Travis whispered, his breath fanning my hair. “You are, too.”

I wrapped my arms around him and let his strength infuse me. I needed it. I needed him. Them. All of it.