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“We all should be,” she whispers back, hearing the tremble in her own voice. “Do the others know yet?”
“I called Sam. Sam is calling Callie now.”
Suddenly it occurs to Emily that it should have been Sam calling her instead of Raven.
“You didn’t call Callie?” Emily asks timidly.
A long pause proceeds Raven’s long sigh.
“Nevermind. Forget I asked.”
“I’m just not ready to talk about it yet,” Raven replies.
Emily smiles sadly. She hates it, but she understands.
The two friends say goodbye and Emily quietly slips back into the bedroom. She lays beside her snoring husband and delights in the steady rise and fall of his chest. She gently combs her fingers through his long beard and admires the gentle smile on his face even in his sleep.
Garrett has always been a calming force for her. A staggering difference from the kind of love Emily knew before him. Watching him sleep now, completely unaware of the war his wife is already sure she is being drawn back into, she is incredibly grateful for his love. She makes a mental note to tell him just that before she leaves today. She wants to make sure he knows what a fantastic man he is and how much he means to her just in case something happens.
Garrett must feel her gaze upon him because his eyes flutter open. Emily smiles at him and he smiles back. She leans in to kiss him. He wraps his arms protectively around her and rolls her body on top of his. A single tear rolls down her cheek as she makes love to him for what she fears could be the very last time.
There is a steady rattling sound coming from the overhead air ducts, only eclipsed by the sound of Callie’s impatient foot tapping the floor and nails clicking the counter as she waits for the receptionist to buzz her out at the front door.
“You’re good to go, Miss Callie,” Ms. Pat drawls out in her strong southern accent as the loud buzzer on the door sounds in Callie’s ears, making her growing headache throb in her temples. Normally, Callie would hang around for small talk. She doesn’t get much of that anymore and she really loves Ms. Pat, but today just isn’t the kind of day for that.
As the cool October air hits her face, she feels her knees weaken and has to work hard to keep herself upright. She runs her fingers through her short red hair and paces along the sidewalk trying to regain composure. She spends all day telling patients how to breathe through their anxiety and she can’t even do it herself. Counselor of the year…
All she needs to do is make a phone call. It’s not that big of a deal, but she just can’t bring herself to do it without breaking out into a cold sweat. From the moment she received Sam’s text, “Call me, it’s important” everything had gone dark and she knows she won’t be getting good news. She doesn’t know what the news will be, but she is certain it will bad. She is also certain she cannot possibly stomach any more bad news at this moment in her life.
She just won’t do it then. She will ignore the text, pretend she never saw it, and everything will be fine. She’s probably blowing this whole thing out of proportion in her own head anyway. It’s probably nothing.
Just like that, her phone vibrates in her hand, a persistent buzz demanding attention. Looking at the screen, she wonders if Sam has read her mind and decided to take things into her own hands. She swipes across the reject call button with a pang of guilt but knows it will ring again and it does.
With a deep sigh, Callie answers the call and waits patiently for the lecture to begin.
“Are you kidding me, Callie? What the actual fuck? I know you’re avoiding me,” Sam immediately spits through the phone.
Feeling like a little girl again, Callie’s cheeks burn red, “I know. It was stupid. I just… I can’t take any more negativity right now and I know that’s why you’re calling.”
“Mmmhmm,” Sam does not sound satisfied with this answer.
Callie stares up at the crisp, clear sky and feels shame rolling through her, “Really, Sam. I’m sorry.”
Her friend rubs salt in the self-inflicted wound, “You are going to feel so bad when I tell you why I needed to talk to you.”
Callie rolls her eyes because she already feels bad and doesn’t really need the reminder, “What is it?”
Sam’s tone changes, “Willow hasn’t been home in three days and no one knows where she is.”
There is an ache in Callie’s heart at the thought of something happening to Willow. She hesitates a moment before asking, “What about Raven?” It hurts to even speak her name.
“She hasn’t had any kind of clue or signal from Willow and that has never happened before.”
Relief floods her soul to know that Raven is unharmed, at least physically, “Is Raven doing okay?”
Sam is blunt and to the point, “No, not really. She needs us right now.”
Anxiety rushes Callie’s senses. She wants to go back but isn’t sure she can, or if she would even be welcome, “I want to be there to help find Willow, I do, but I don’t think seeing Raven is a good idea.”
