Page 28 of Call Back

I was surprised when he answered back within seconds.

Not even your boyfriend?

I sucked in a breath as tears flooded my eyes. I considered protesting that Brady wasn’t my boyfriend, but that was a minor issue.

I haven’t told ANYONE.

I didn’t wait long for a response.

Keep it that way. I left you a present to help you remember.

Terrified, I started to cry as I called my mother.

“Magnolia?” she asked, sounding like I’d woken her from a deep sleep. “Is everything okay?”

I took a breath to pull myself together. How did I explain this call? I suspected there was no way to hide my tear-filled voice, so I decided to go with a semi-truthful explanation. “I had a nightmare that something happened to you,” I said, surprised when a sob followed. She might be okay now, but very soon she would be gone, one way or the other. “I just got you back, Momma. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Oh, Magnolia,” she said softly. “I’ll always be with you.”

I leaned over my legs as a new sob stole my breath. “It’s not the same.”

“I know, but it’s the best we have.”

I tried to get control of my emotions. My mother was the one who was dying, and I was crying like a baby.

“Why don’t we go out to lunch this afternoon?” she asked.

My surprise at her request ebbed my tears. “Really?”

“Does it seem that crazy of an idea?”

“No. It’s just that we haven’t done anything just the two of us since I came back.”

“That’s my fault,” she said. “But I want to fix things. Before it’s too late.”

“I want to fix things too.”

“So lunch today,” she said, sounding hopeful. “How about we go to Puckett’s? We can meet and then walk to the catering kitchen together.”

“Yeah. I’d like that,” I said. I knew Ava had plans for me, but I’d tell her I was leaving at lunchtime. If she didn’t like it, I’d quit and move out of the apartment. I wasn’t sure where I’d go, but I’d figure out something. “I’m sorry I called and woke you.”

“I’m glad you did. It’s nice to know you still need me.”

She hung up and it was a stark reminder that I’d still need her even after she was gone.

Momma might be safe, but I still needed to check on Belinda. It was way too early to call her, so I sent a text.

I know it’s the middle of the night, but I felt a powerful need to check on you. Text me when you can.

After I sent the message, I worried that my brother would see it and punish Belinda. I should have waited to text her, but the week before, my stalker had sent me a photo of her—paired with a threat. What if he’d hurt Belinda to punish me?

Then someone else came to mind—someone the stalker might target. If he knew I was staying with Brady, he probably knew about Colt. I liked to think that Colt could take care of himself, but what if he was caught off guard?

When you get this, please let me know you got it. I’ll explain later.

I had no idea what excuse I’d give him for texting, but I was too worried to care. I’d think of something later.

I made a cup of tea since I was way too keyed up to go back to sleep. What had my stalker meant by his threat? The last time he’d decided to send me a reminder, I’d found a dead cat on my doorstep, carved with the same mark he’d left on my leg. Would he escalate this time? I was worried about Belinda, but as much as I detested my brother, I had to believe he wouldn’t let anything happen to his wife in the middle of the night.

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