Page 194 of Ice Princess

Just then, my phone rings.

It’s mom.

A chill goes down my spine.

My shoulders tighten as if my body senses bad news.

No, everything is fine. Gunner has the team watching mom.

Then I realize the team is at early morning practice.

Uneasy, I pick up mom’s call.

“Hey, mom. Is everything okay?”

“Rebel?” Mom’s voice sounds thin.

“Mom?” I grip the phone tighter, my stomach churning.

“Can you come over for a minute?”

“Of course, mom. Where are you? Are you okay? Do I need to call the police?”

“No… it’s…” She’s breathing hard.

“Mom?Mom?”

There’s a thud and then the line goes dead.

I’m sprinting to the door before I remember that my keys are in my purse and my purse is in the locker where I keep my casual clothes. Panicked, I change directions and head to the locker.

“What’s wrong?” April asks, her eyes wide and frightened.

“My mom. Something is… I have to get to her.”

I keep searching through my purse until I locate the keys. But the moment I get my hands on them, they’re snatched away.

April’s stare is firm. “I can’t let you drive in this state. I’m coming with you. Delia, can you watch Gordie until her nanny comes back?”

Gordie’s eyes light up.

Delia has the opposite reaction. Face pooling with dread, the mechanic squeals, “You’re leaving a vulnerable human being withme?”

I rush to my truck.

“Thanks, Delia,” April says in a whir as she follows me.

I’m about to dial the police and call an ambulance for my mom when her number lights up on my screen. My heart jumps all the way up my throat as I answer.

“Mom, are you okay? What happened?”

“Nothing. I just got a little frightened and dropped the phone. I’m fine now.”

Something’s off with her voice. I can feel it. “Who’s there, mom?”

“S-Stewart Kinsey?”

My heart swells with panic and I taste bile when I swallow. “I’m calling the police. And I’ll be there in, like, ten minutes.”

---