Page 35 of Dreaming Without Heartache

Five more minutes pass and no Kara. That’s plenty of time for her to be out. “Come on, Maisie.” I motion for her to get out. “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

On our way inside, a girl around Kara’s age hollers over to Maisie and waves. Maisie waves back.

“Do you know her?” I ask.

“That’s Kara’s friend Beth. They used to cheer together.”

“Let’s go talk to her first. Maybe she knows something.” We start over toward the dark-haired girl. She’s talking to her friends. “Beth,” I call her name politely. “Could I talk to you for a moment, please?” I don’t want to embarrass Kara, but I’m worried.

Beth looks at me in confusion as she slowly walks my way. “Hi,” she says, cautiously.

“I’m Kara’s aunt. She lives with me now.” Beth seems more at ease knowing who I am. “Have you seen her since school let out?”

Beth shakes her head. “I’ve got last period study hall with her, but she wasn’t there today.”

Panic sets in. Has she even been at school today? “Did you see her before that?”

“I saw her at lunch, and in passing between classes before study hall.” Beth backs away. “I’m sure she was in school somewhere and I didn’t see her.” She seems to realize that maybe Kara’s going to be in trouble now. “I’ve got to go. Sorry.” She walks toward the parking lot as a boy rushes up to her side. He glances back at me while talking to Beth.

I take Maisie’s hand, guiding her inside the school, only to be told by the office that she’s been marked present all day, even though she can’t fully be accounted for in study hall. I’m beyond pissed. When I get back to the car, I call Sam as I drive.

“Hi there,” Sam says. I can almost hear the smile in her voice.

“Is Kara with Olivia?” I get right to the point, needing answers, because the worry won’t subside until I find her.

“No. What’s wrong?” Her tone changes immediately.

I blow out a frustrated breath. “She wasn’t at school when Maisie and I got there. She wasn’t in her last class according to a friend. She doesn’t have a phone because I took it from her. I’m on my way home now and praying she’s there.”

The phone rattles on Sam’s end like she’s moving around. “I’m putting my shoes on now. I’ll help find her.”

“Wait,” I say, pulling onto the road near our neighborhood. “I see her. Let me call you back.”

Kara’s on the sidewalk walking in the direction of the house. My anger flares. I pull ahead of her and to the side of the road, park and get out. “What the hell are you doing?” I barge toward her. “Where have you been?”

Kara stops walking to glare at me. “I had a friend drop me at the end of the road since you were late picking me up.”

“Late my ass! Come up with a better excuse next time. You don’t get to just leave school with whoever you want, whenever you want. That’s not how the world works for a fourteen-year-old.”

“Whatever,” Kara says, stomping toward the car and climbing in the back.

I get back in the car to drive the short distance home. I glance back at Kara. “Don’t ever do that again.”

“What. Ever.” Kara rolls her eyes.

I park the car in the garage and get out as quickly as Kara, knowing she’ll be rushing to get away. I grab ahold of her just as she reaches inside the door of the house. “Don’t roll your eyes. Stop disrespecting me. This isn’t a game.”

Kara yanks her arm from my grip. “Sorry your life sucks. Join the club.” She disappears through the house. I don’t understand what’s going through her head. Why she would do such a thing is beyond me.

Maisie! I turn back to the car, realizing she never got out. But she did, and she’s standing with Sam behind the car.

“I wanted to check on you all,” Sam explains as she walks Maisie to me, her hands placed gently on her shoulders.

“Maisie, go inside and I’ll be there shortly. I need to speak with Sam for a moment.” I squeeze her shoulder reassuringly as she passes by.

I shut the door for privacy, then follow Sam out of the garage toward the front of the house. “Is Olivia okay?” I ask, not seeing her in the vehicle.

“Yes. She’s with my mom right now.” Sam takes my hand. “Are you okay?”