Page 64 of Dream Weaver

My watch said three. The wall clock said a quarter to.

Liselle followed my eyes, then shook her head. “Oh, sorry. That always runs late.”

My eyes nearly bugged out as I rechecked my watch. The few minutes that had ticked by were more like twenty. Shit. Liselle had managed to mind-bend me after all.

With a yelp, I headed for the door. “I have to go.”

“Oh, sorry. Did I keep you too long?” Her voice had a victorious note to it.

I nearly turned to glare, but I didn’t have time. Departing the metal shop at three o’clock gave me a sufficient buffer for picking up Claire. But I was an additional fifteen minutes away here.

The van tires screeched as I tore out of her driveway.

Liselle waved me off cheerily. “I’ll send you that design.”

Witch. Bitch. I cursed all the way to the front gate, where the security guard leaned out of his hut.

“In a rush, huh?” He hit the button that retracted the gate.

I fumed as it inched aside. Yes, I was in a rush. I couldn’t be late to picking up Claire. I just couldn’t. Not just because the school frowned on that, but for myself. I’d sworn my daughter would never experience the utter dejection of being too low in someone’s priorities to be picked up on time. I’d waited hours sometimes. I’d even been completely forgotten, and no amount of kindness from teachers or the police officers they eventually called made up for that.

Damn that Liselle for making me late!

I froze. Making me late…purposely?

I revved impatiently as the gate slid aside, then raced down the road.

Dammit, dammit, dammit. Why would Liselle want to make me late?

My heart twisted. Claire. She would be alone. But why?

I couldn’t fathom why Liselle would care. Still, panic coursed through my veins.

I sped around several corners and onto the main road, blaring my horn. The school would only release Claire to those listed on an official form. That meant me, my sisters, Greg, and Mike. So, Claire would be fine, right?

Still, I grabbed my phone, desperate to reach Pippa, who would be nearest the school. But she didn’t pick up, and neither did Erin, who I tried next.

I darted into the oncoming lane to pass a huge camper, then cursed, trying to think. Who else was close enough to hold the fort at Claire’s school until I got there?

I hesitated, then dialed a different number. A familiar voice answered on the third ring.

“Heavy Metal Sedona. Walt speaking.”

My words came out in a rush. “This is Abby. Can you get me Cooper?”

“Cooper?”

“Yes, Cooper. Right now.”

Walt caught the urgency in my voice. “Is everything all right?”

I sped down the road. God, I hoped so.

Chapter Sixteen

COOPER

The minute Walt called me over, I knew something was wrong. Abby’s breathless words confirmed it.

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