Page 56 of An Endless Memory

Her laughter rang through the bar. To other patrons, we might look like we were flirting. I should go home.

The idea sounded better the more I thought about it. “I’m gonna take off. Nice talking to you.”

Disappointment filled her eyes. “I almost didn’t believe you tied the knot.”

Me neither. I wiggled my ring finger. “Like you said, it’s good that I got out of town.”

My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out to look at it. Lily. A jolt of electricity went through me just seeing her name. “Excuse me.” I popped up and went toward the exit. It’d be quieter outside.

“Talk to you later, Eliot,” Jodi called after me.

The call dropped just as I stepped into the cool night air. I frowned at the screen. Lily’s number registered as a missed call. Another call lit the phone, then disconnected. Worry ignited the knots in my gut from earlier.

I called Lily.

A little girl’s voice flowed over the other line. “Hello?”

“Cali?” There was crying in the background. Alarm drowned out the drone of the cars driving by.

“Eliot?”

The burn in my gut grew stronger. “What’s wrong?”

“Mommy’s puking.”

I started for the pickup. The crying on the other end didn’t die down. “She’s sick?”

“I think so. I puked last weekend. So gross.” She dropped her voice to a whisper.

Lily didn’t mention Cali had been sick. “How long has your mommy been throwing up?”

“I dunno. All day, I think.”

For fuck’s sake. Why wouldn’t she call me? “How’s Kellan?”

“He’s in his swing.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s hungry. His bottle’s on the counter.”

But Cali couldn’t feed him without supervision and Lily was likely in the bathroom. Had she called her family? My gut said no. She’d try to do it all herself.

Lily

The room spun. How could such a tiny bathroom go in circles like this? Should I call Mom?

I should’ve called her this morning when I worried I wouldn’t get Cali to school or Kellan to daycare. I had called in sick from work.

So damn glad I had sick days.

At least I’d gotten Kellan fed and to bed—with Cali’s help.

I should’ve called Mom. This wasn’t a pride issue, it was a safety matter.

Cali was in her bed, probably with her tablet and watching a show. She might fall asleep watching a movie, but I’d have to take the Mom of the Year entry tonight.

A bark sounded in the house.

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