Chapter 195

Ollie POV

My stomach felt funny. Papa’s bag—the one he took to work every day—it wasn’t on the chair where he usually put it. His work clothes weren’t hanging in the closet.

Papa had already left for work.

No. No no no. I couldn’t be too late. I couldn’t miss him.

I ran back downstairs, my mind racing. Papa’s office was downtown. The big building with his name on it. If I could get there, I could find him before his plane left.

But I didn’t know how to get downtown. It was too far to walk. And I couldn’t call Mama—he’d just bring me back here. He’d say it was too dangerous, that I needed to wait, that Papa needed space.

But Papa didn’t need space. He needed me. And I needed him.

I went to the kitchen and picked up the house phone. My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped it. I didn’t know very many phone numbers, but I knew how to call for a car. Mama had shown me once, in case of emergencies.

This was an emergency.