Page 111 of Gabriel & Skye

Panic races through me now, too. I do as he says, pulling into a parking space along the main street.

“Is everything okay?”

“The school just called. They said some woman was hanging around the gate, talking to Trin specifically.”

“Oh, she never said anything.”

“Can you ask her what happened? They weren’t really sure. The woman took off before the teacher could find out who it was. I’m heading home soon.”

“Of course. I’ll call you when we get back.”

“Okay, thank you.”

We hang up, and I turn to Trinity. She’s stroking Daisy’s head as I give her a soft smile.

“Daddy just told me a woman came to the gate at school, honey. Can you tell me who she was?”

Trinity shakes her head. “Nope. But she didn’t know the password. Do you know the password, Skye?”

My heart feels a little relief that she remembered that. “Yes, sweetie, I do. It’s cupcake. And when she didn’t know the password, what did you do?”

She thinks for a second. “I ran back to the teacher and told her.”

“Very good girl. Because we know that nobody is allowed to talk to you or collect you except for me, Daddy, Geraldine, and who else?”

She claps her hands. “Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Georgia!”

“Anyone else?”

“Uncle Book, and Uncle Gray-Gray and Uncle Bow-Bow.”

“Good girl, and anyone else is a stranger, and we mustn’t talk to strangers. What you did was a very big girl thing. You always go get the teacher.” Adrenaline runs through my veins. I mean, who would be hanging around the gate trying to talk to her?

“Can you remember what she looked like?”

“Yep! She had bouncy curls like yours, but hers was yellow.”

“Oh, she had blonde hair? Like Aunt Celeste?”

“Yep! Can we go now? I’m hungry.”

I nod, reaching down to my purse in the console and I pull out the snacks. “Here you go, honey. Just choose one, as we don’t want to spoil dinner.”

The whole way home, I’m nervous about this stranger. And while it may be nothing, it still feels weird. It’s not like you can be too careful these days.

Trinity hums and sings and eats her popcorn snack while I drive the rest of the way back to Gabe’s.

I no sooner get in, letting Daisy out into the yard, when Gabe’s calling me again.

Trinity tugs on my shirt. “Can I color on the iPad?” she whines. As I need to distract her, I set it up.

“For fifteen minutes, then we’re going to make Geraldine’s cake,” I tell her. Then to Gabe I say, “Hey.”

I leave her at the table where I can see her and go outside to fetch Daisy who’s wrestling with a pot plant.

“Did she say anything? The school is totally useless — they’re going to go back on the security footage.” He’s agitated and I get why.

“She didn’t have the password,” I tell him, knowing he’ll be proud. “So she ran to get the teacher.”

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