And that was when my phone rang.
“Hello?”
Dad didn’t have any grandchildren besides Emma.
A breathless woman answered. “Is this Emma’s mother? I’m Claire. Noah’s aunt.”
“Yes. He’s safe. He’s here with us.”
“Oh, thank God. Noah left me a note, but I didn’t see it until I got home.”
“I’m sorry. Emma should have called first.”
“No. I’m sorry. I’ll come get him.”
That kid scared the hell out of me.
***
Twenty minutes later, Claire stood on my porch looking exhausted.
“Noah!”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Claire.”
She pulled him into her arms. “You cannot disappear like that.”
“I left a note.”
I’ll come get him.
“A note I found two hours later.”
“I was hungry.”
Her face tightened. “I know, baby.”
Emma appeared beside him. “He can take the rest of the cake.”
“Absolutely.”
You cannot disappear like that.
