Page 102 of Surrender

“Time’s running out. Seeing as I turned that information over to law enforcement, the two of them will wind up in neighboring cells soon enough.”

“I’m so glad you’re sane.”

“It won’t be much longer.” Alice’s voice sounds serious as the bitterness bleeds away. “Multiple agencies are looking for him at this point. You said yourself that Jack is close to the police in your town. Everyone’s got an eye out for him.”

“Right. He can’t do this forever.”

“He’s stupid to try.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat and ball up my trash. “I hate to leave this conversation in a shitty place, but I have to run. I’ll see you Saturday night.”

“I’ll text you when I’m in town. I’m staying at the cozy motel. Maybe I’ll meet my own blue-collar man.”

I laugh. “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

We hang up, and I pack up my lunch, returning to the second half of my shift.

At four fifteen, I switch into my boots and slip on my coat. The weekend is finally here. That means extra time with Jack and seeing my best friend for the first time in a month.

There’s also the Powell New Year’s Eve party to look forward to Sunday night. Unlike Christmas, I agreed to attend this adult-only event.

At Jack’s insistence, I had a new little black dress delivered. His sister, Bree, and Juniper assured me it was the right call. They’d all be dressing up too. Bree hired her babysitter, Scarlett, to watch our kids at Jack’s house, and all the adults each pitched in a hundred dollars to ensure her evening would be well compensated.

An icy wind whips against my cheeks as I step out of the hospital. I tuck my hood tight around my face. The twilight sky is a deep lavender mixed with a cloudy gray in the sunset. I can’t wait for the days to get longer again, although it’s easy to convince the kids it’s time for bed when the sky is dark out at an earlier hour.

Kicking on the heat in my car, I tear open the fun-sized pack of M&M’s Jack left on my console this morning. A treat I forced myself to save until after work. The frozen milk chocolates melt in my mouth as I put the car in drive and head to the daycare.

A bell rings above the door. The wind abruptly cuts off at my back as the door swings shut behind me. The room beyond the security glass seems quiet. The daycare closes in half an hour, but a few more kids are usually wandering around. With the way Bennett’s nose has been running all week, I wouldn’t be surprised if an illness is going around.

The receptionist, Jen, looks up with a wide smile at my approach. “Did you guys forget something?”

“Forget something?”

Her smile remains firm. “You must have your schedules crossed. The kids were picked up an hour ago by their dad.”

My steps falter. “I’m sorry, what?”

Her eyes blow wide, and the expression falls from her face. “I-I, their dad showed up. Didn’t you know?”

Their dad? No. There’s no possible way. She must mean Jack. “What was his name?”

I have my head down, digging my phone out from my purse. The numb cold overtaking my fingers makes me drop the device twice before I finally pull it out.

“I don’t remember.”

“You let my kids go home with some strange man, and you didn’t get his name?” I snap, pressing the ringing phone to my ear.

“He had the proper information,” she says, but the words don’t register.

“Hey, babe,” Jack answers.

“Did you pick up my kids?”

“No,” he replies immediately.

“Jack,” I whisper.

“Whitney, what’s happening?”

---