Page 67 of Anything For This Love

Without the diversion of Jacob as a buffer, my mind starts racing on my drive into work. I worry about my mom relapsing. She seems so different now that I’m afraid it’s all too good to be true. What if she decides to use one last time and overdoses? My grandmother would be devastated. She’s finally gotten her daughter back. She wouldn’t survive losing her. What if she decides to take off again or starts using and robs my grandmother blind?

There are so many scenarios playing out in my head that I’m on the verge of a panic attack by the time I arrive at the training class. I haven’t had this overwhelming feeling in a long time, but the reemergence of my mother stirs up all these old emotions. The only thing I’ve ever found to alleviate this level of stress is running or hiking until I’m too exhausted to think. Maybe after I finish my training, I can go for a quick hike to relax before I head back to Jacob and Chloe. I don’t want to go back to them like this. I want them to enjoy this trip and not have to tiptoe around me and my bundle of nerves.

I make it to work with ten minutes to spare before our training starts. Stopping in the restroom, I use the facilities and wash my hands, turning the water to cold once my hands are clean. I splash the cool water on my face to see if it will help. It doesn’t do the trick.

I’m antsy all through the two-hour class. I barely touch the lunch they provided, only picking at my sandwich and chips. I send Jacob a quick text on our last break to check on Chloe. The picture he sends of her at the park brings a smile to my face. I type out a quick message that I’ll get done here in about thirty minutes, but that I’m going to get in a quick hike while I’m out. My favorite trail is close by, so it won’t take long to get there.

I drive straight to the trailhead and park. Grabbing my cell out of the cupholder, I grab it along with my keys as I pop the trunk where my backpack is. Before I can reach in and pull out the pack, I’m grabbed from behind and lifted off my feet. Panic fills me as a large hand clamps over my mouth and I’m dragged backward. I flail and kick, trying to scream even though my mouth is completely covered.

“Stop fighting or I’ll gut you right here.”

I freeze, the familiar voice sending a bolt of icy fear coursing down my body.

Caleb!

I grapple for my keys and phone, anything to help me out of this situation, but they’re not there.

Oh, no. I must’ve dropped them when he ambushed me! I have no weapon and no way to contact anybody.

Tears prick my eyes as I realize I won’t survive this. He’ll kill me this time. I’ll never see my family. I’ll never get to hold my daughter or kiss Jacob again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jacob

Chloeand I have a blast at the park. The sun is high in the sky, warming our skin. We stay about an hour before heading to Ama’s. I need to pick up Abby’s birthday present while she’s at work, and Chloe is already growing fussy. She falls asleep with Ama holding her as she bids me goodbye. The sporting goods store has trouble finding my order, so my trip takes much longer thananticipated. I need to get back to pick up Chloe soon. When Abby’s text comes through saying that she’s going to take a quick hike before coming home, I breathe a sigh of relief. That gives me a little extra time.

When the clerk finally locates my items, I thank him and load them into the back of my Range Rover. On the way back, I decide to surprise Abby and join her on her hike. Chloe is in perfectly good hands and will probably nap for a little while longer. I suspect I know which trail she’s chosen since it’s her favorite, and when I pull into the parking lot, I spot her car over by the trailhead. The lot is nearly empty with only one other vehicle in sight. I pull up and park in front of Abby’s car. She’s not in it, but the trunk is open so she must be grabbing her supplies. I quietly get out and creep up the rear end of her car.

“Surprise! I thought I’d-”

The words fall from my lips when I find the spot behind her car empty. I glance around, looking for any signs of her, but she’s nowhere to be seen.

That’s odd. Why would she leave her trunk open and not take her pack?

Maybe since it’s supposed to be a short trip, she doesn’t need it. Still, she wouldn’t have left the trunk up.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and a knot forms in my stomach. Something is wrong. I look out over the trail again, stepping closer to try to see if I can catch a glimpse of her through the sparse tree line bordering the parking lot. I take a couple steps in that direction before I kick something that makes a jingling sound. I bend down to find a set of keys on the blacktop. Next to it is a purple cell phone.

Abby’s phone.

My eyes follow the direction in which the items lead and find drag marks through the dirt and loose pebbles at the edge of the blacktop. Panic slices through me.

Oh God, what happened to her?

I start to take off down the trail before remembering that Abby keeps a revolver in her pack for protection. I double back to her trunk and search through it but come up empty handed. She must’ve taken it out.

“Shit!”

I’m running out of time. If someone has her, they could be hurting her right now. Out of sheer desperation, I grab the tire iron and take off down the trail, listening for any signs of her or another person. If the person who has her is smart, they won’t stay on the trail. They’ll diverge from it to keep from having a hiker stumble upon them accidentally.

My heart pounds harder in my chest with every step I take, and my breathing grows ragged as I dial nine-one-one.

Dear God, please don’t let anything happen to her.

I grip the tire iron tighter in my hand as I storm through the forest.

Where is she?

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