“Then he planned it.”
“Mom,” Liam whispered. “Stop.”
But I didn’t stop.
***
The next morning, I saw Natalie in the school parking lot, talking to an officer. Mitchell was gone too, but I stormed over before John could stop me.
But I didn’t stop.
“Where did your son take my daughter?”
Natalie turned slowly. Her face was pale, but her voice stayed calm.
“I don’t know where they are.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“They’re in love, Camila,” Natalie said.
I stepped closer. “Don’t you dare say that.”
“I don’t know where they are.”
Liam grabbed my arm. “Mom, please.”
Natalie looked at him with pity.
That made me angrier.
“You think you’re better than me,” I said.
“No, Camila. Just louder when you’re afraid.”
John caught my wrist.
That made me angrier.
“Enough.”
People were watching.
“My daughter is gone,” I said. “And your family did this.”
Natalie didn’t answer.
She just looked at Liam again.
For 11 months, I lived inside that sentence.
