Page 151 of A Temporary Forever

I dial her number.

Answering machine.

I dial again.

Nothing.

I dial three more times, scrambling to quiet the uneasiness spreading through my chest. Where the hell is she?

I call Peter. “When did you drive Celeste to the ICE offices?” Jesus, she must have been so nervous and scared.

“I didn’t drive her anywhere since I brought her back home from the hospital.”

I hang up without another word and dial her again.

Nothing.

Where the fuck is she?

We haven’t been together that long. Why are you making it harder than it has to be?

She didn’t. She wouldn’t. Fuck.

I pace around our bed and call the concierge. “Did you see my wife leaving?” I bark.

“Good morning, Mr. van den Linden. I called a taxi for Mrs. van den Linden two hours ago.”

“Where did she go?”

He hesitates. “Didn’t she tell you?”

Oh, fuck the privacy.

“If you want to keep your job, you’ll tell me where she went,” I growl at him, hoping to God I won’t need to strangle him for the information.

He clears his throat, but after a beat, he makes the right decision. “She went to JFK, sir.”

I hang up and march to the bathroom. Her makeup bag is gone, and so are most of her toiletries.

Returning to the bedroom, I sink to the edge of the bed.

She fucking left me.

Chapter 40

Celeste

By now, I should have boarded my plane.

The constant, unending hum of the airport feels like a physical weight, crushing me. The plastic seat is as comfortable as a pebble in a shoe.

I clutch my boarding pass in my hand like it’s a lifeline. It’s not.

By now, I should have boarded my plane.

In case Caleb gets the crazy idea to come and search for me. He must be with Mia. That’s where he should be.

By now, I should have boarded my plane.

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