“Maybe she was just late and in a hurry,” I say, wondering if she misinterpreted the situation.
Ella shakes her head. “She drove off before we even got buckled. And she kept looking in the mirrors.”
That has my muscles tensing. “Wait. She drove off before your car seats were buckled?”
“Uh huh.” Ella nods. “What do you think scared her, Daddy?”
“I don’t know, angel. But I’ll find out.”
“Will you fix it, Daddy?” she asks.
“Absolutely. Thanks for telling me, honey. I’ll take care of it, okay? I don’t want you to worry anymore about it.”
“You promise, Daddy?”
“I promise. Now go to sleep.” I kiss them both and tuck them in. “Goodnight, girls.”
When I return downstairs, I find Grace in the kitchen, wiping down the counters. I wrap my arms around her, kissing her neck. “You okay?”
“Yes, just cleaning up.”
“Ella told me what happened today.”
“She did?”
“You want to tell me about it?”
She stares at the counter, her motions slowing.
“Grace?” I turn her around, take the cloth from her hand, and toss it in the sink.
She rubs her upper arms. “There was a man following us. I didn’t like the way he looked.”
I search her eyes, and something tells me I’m not getting the full story. “That’s all there was to it?”
“Yes.”
“This have anything to do with that guy from the other day?”
She won’t meet my eyes. “It may have been the same man.”
I study her, then glance to toward the stairs that lead to the girls’ room. I hesitate to suggest what I’m about to suggest, but I want them to be safe. “Do you know how to fire a gun, Grace?”
“A gun? No. Of course not.”
“I don’t like the idea of having them anywhere the girls can get to them, but if you’re really concerned, I could get one for you to carry in your purse.”
“I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
“Then I could get a prospect to escort you when you go out.”
“That’s a little excessive, isn’t it?”
“You tell me. I don’t want you to be afraid, Grace.”
She looks away, and God, I wish she trusted me enough to tell me everything.
I sigh. “Just think about it. You can let me know in the morning.”