Page 145 of That First Flight

I pull out a bin of crayons, markers and craft paper I picked up at the store. I love hanging out with her, and since it’s one of my favorite things to do with James, although his coloring is just scribbling all over the page, I wanted to try it with her too.

“Look, I got all these at the store the other day for you.”

“You got that for me?” Mackenzie asks.

I look around the room, peeking under the kitchen table sarcastically. “I don’t see any other nine year olds in the room.”

“I’m not nine… yet.” She giggles.

“Close. You act like you already are anyway. Plus, there’s only two months left and you’ll officially be nine.”

“I can’t wait,” she shrieks.

“Alright, come draw with me.” I wave her over to the table.

Mackenzie settles next to me and pulls out the colored pencils and the blank sketch pad. She starts drawing flowers and a scenic image. She’sgoodfor her age. She really has a better view on art than I have in my pinky toe.

“I need you to draw me something,” I ask her.

“Like what?”

“Can you draw me a flower? Your favorite kind.”

“Oh, yes! I can totes do that for you,” she says before she pulls out three different colors and gets to work on drawing the best flower she can.

My phone buzzes on the counter across from us.

I leap up and grab it, noticing it’s Macey.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Oliver?” A voice that isn’t Macey’s says through my speakers.

My stomach bottoms out and my legs feel weak all of a sudden at the thought that something happened to her.

“Yes,” I choke out the word. “This is him.”

“Hi, it’s Jan. I work with Macey…” She pauses. “We had a situation come up at work.”

“What kind of situation?” I ask quickly as I begin pacing back and forth in the kitchen.

“It’s better if Macey tells you. Can you please come get her? She’s in no condition—”

“I’ll be right there,” I cut her off and hang up.

“Fuck,” I mutter. My eyes land on Mackenzie whose eyes are so wide they might fall out of her eye sockets. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to curse. I have to get your mom from work.”

She stands quickly. “Is she okay?”

“She’s… she’s fine. I just have to pick her up.”

My hands shake as I grip my phone, trying to figure out what to do. I don’t know what I’m about to be walking into and I don’t think it’s the best idea to bring Mackenzie with me to pick her up.

I dial the person who lives closest to me.

“Hello?” she answers on the first ring.

“Emiline. I need you.”

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