Chapter 57

My phone starts ringing as I leave the restaurant I’ve just eaten at. Daniel and I had a meeting today to talk about the restraining order and other paperwork.

Not only that, but now Daniel knows about Natalie’s claims, as well as our suit against Max.

“I really wish I didn’t have these other problems,” I had said honestly at lunch.

“You getting sexually assaulted in your own office isn’t a ‘problem,’ Esme. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just sorry you have to tell me any of this.”

I really hope the court see’s everything the way Daniel does.

Once I finally find my phone in my bag, I see Derek’s name on the screen. Frowning, I pick up. What’s this about?

“What’s up, Derek?”

“Esme!”

The frantic, terrifying fear in his voice comes through in just my name. Suddenly, I stop on the sidewalk, panicked with what could be going on.

“What? What is it?” I ask, breathless.

“I…I need help, something’s happened. Bea’s run away.”

My heart drops to my stomach, understanding his fears.

“I’m coming home right now. I’m coming, just explain when I get there.”

I hang up with my boss, hurrying to my car. He must be losing his mind right now not knowing where Bea is. Hell, I’m scared now. If anything’s happened to his daughter…

“Nope, not thinking about that right now, Esme,” I command my brain. I need to get home. If ever there was a moment Derek needs a friend, it’s now.

I risk a few yellow lights but make it back to Center City Apartments as fast as possible. All the while, I just keep begging the universe to keep Bea safe.

I get to our floor and rush to the door, knocking furiously while calling out Derek’s name.

He answers after a few seconds.

Disheveled, Derek’s dark brown hair is wild on his head. It’s like he kept running his fingers through his thick hair to calm his nerves. His eyes are wide, panicked, and he’s sporting a 5 o’clock shadow.

Whether we’re just friends, boss and subordinate, or neighbors, seeing Derek like this rips at my heart. I wouldn’t want anyone to be going through this.

“Thank you,” Derek says, letting me in.

“What happened? Did you two get in a fight? Did she have a bad week at school?”

Derek’s still shaking his head while closing the door. He brings me into the kitchen, where he picks up a handwritten note. He gives it to me, and I instantly recognize Bea’s handwriting, which I’ve seen around the apartment and in the notes she’s left.

“I’m running away to have what I don’t.”

I look back at him. “This doesn’t make sense. What is she talking about?”

He sighs, rubbing his dark eyes. “I don’t know. Everything was fine, but then, she started acting strange. I don’t get it; she wouldn’t talk to me. Then I go to the bathroom and come back out to Tris crying and holding this note.”

“Shit,” I murmur. “Where’s Tris now? Does she know anything?”

“She doesn’t. I had to put her down for a nap.”

Derek sits in a stool at the counter. “She kept crying for her sister. Tris wouldn’t stop, even when I told her we’d be okay and find Bea.”

“I’m just not sure why she’s doing this to you. She loves you.”

To my surprise, Derek breathes out some form of a laugh. “She’s been acting out for a while. That’s why I talked to you the other day.”

I think back on what I know about Bea, how she reacts, what she likes, and where it would make the most sense to run away and hide from the world.

“Did you call security for the building? Made sure she hasn’t left?” I ask my boss.

“No. I called you. I couldn’t think of anything else.”

I nod. “Call the front desk, security, any friends you might have in the building or complex altogether. Have the pool on lookout, and anywhere else she might feel she can hide.”

“Okay,” Derek says, nodding but still clearly distraught.

I take a few steps toward him, and only because I see the fear in his eyes, I take his face in my hands. He stares at me with those chocolatey brown eyes, surprise, fear, anger and tears all clouding his vision.

“We’ll find her, okay? Trust me. It’s going to be okay.”

As Derek calls around the apartment complex, I think about the endless possibilities Bea could have gone through to run off. My first thought is that maybe she’s in my apartment, but I haven’t been home, and I always lock up when I leave.

The next thought is that maybe she’s just angry and blowing off some steam somewhere in the apartment complex.

That’s when it hits me. I think I might know where Bea’s gone after all.

“Keep calling around,” I say, grabbing my bag. “I have an idea.”

My boss pops up and rushes over to me. “What? No, I’m coming with you, I need to see her—”

I touch Derek’s arm. “Can you trust me, Derek?”

“Of course I trust you,” he replies without thought. “But Bea—”

“Trust me. Please.”

He slumps over, defeated, and says he trusts me. I know it’s hard to hear me say not to follow, but if he wants Bea to come back, he might want a woman to speak with his daughter.

I head out, rushing my way through the complex. My legs are not having it, and I can feel them swelling up as I run.

“Slow down, idiot, you’re pregnant!” My mind shouts at me, as if I can forget. God, is this what it’s going to be like when my kid is Bea’s age?

If my hunch is correct, then there’s a chance I know why Bea’s run away. And my baby could very well go through the same thing.

I finally make it to my spot, looking around to see if Bea’s anywhere nearby. Come on. I have to be right about her hiding here.

I smile at the store clerk when I enter the flower shop. It’s my first time I’ve been here, but I know it’s not Bea’s.

And there, right in the back corner next to the orchid’s is a little girl with black hair, crying quietly. I stop and allow myself to take a breath, relieved that my hunch was right. Then, slowly, I make myself known to Bea.

“Orchids are my favorite flowers.”

The seven-year-old sniffs, rakes her arm across her face and then she’s looking up at me. “Daddy sent you?”

“Actually,” I crouch down to be closer to eye-level. “I figured out where you were myself.”

“That’s because you’re a girl,” she replies, turning away with a wobbly voice.

“What does being a girl have to do with it?” I question.

Still not looking at me, she crosses her arms.

“Bea,” I coo, reaching out my hand to brush some tears off her face. I wonder how long she’s been crying here. It hurts my heart to see her so destressed. But I don’t know how to help her unless she opens up just a little.

Sighing, I scooch a little closer. “You can tell me anything. You know that, right?”

That gets her head to move a bit toward me. Her hands clutch something, which I’d missed before.

“Your dad is really worried about, sweetie. I don’t know what you’re going through right now, and I won’t pretend I know until you talk to me. But the happiness in your family means something to me. I came here to make sure you’re safe because I’m worried, too.”

Bea shoves the item in her hands at me. I take it softly, looking down at what she had. A picture of a beautiful redhead with a bright smile stare back at me. I see two small girls surrounding her. Bea can’t be more than three, and the baby wrapped in blankets held by the woman must be Tris.

“Is this your mommy?” I keep a tenderness in my voice. Bea has this massive smile on her face, her little pigtails on her head while she holds onto her mom’s shoulders. She and Tris really could be twins.

“I miss having a mommy,” Bea finally lets out. “I’m going to be eight and Mommy hasn’t been to see us in so long even when I beg Daddy.”

Bea’s tears start to increase, and it’s clear she’s trying not to cry in front of me. Such a strong little girl, wanting so badly to be in control of her heart.

I reach my hand out and take Bea’s little fingers in my palm. “You play pretend a lot? Pretending that the pain doesn’t hurt all the time to make Daddy happy?”

She finally looks completely at me. “How did you know that?”

I push my blonde hair out of my face, sighing. “Because I left my husband after he cheated on me with my cousin.”

“Your cousin?” She’s clearly shocked.

“It hurts still,” I admit. “But he’s not a good guy, and neither is my cousin. It’s not fun to have a hurt heart. But this hurts your dad, sweetheart. He’s scared and worried.”

Bea shakes her head. “Then why won’t Mommy come see me? Doesn’t she love me?”

Now my heart is snapping at her words. But I don’t even know her mom’s name, let alone what actually happened with Derek other than a divorce where he got custody.

“Can I give you a hug, Bea?” I ask quietly.

I expect an argument or pushback, but instead, the young girl leans into me, wrapping her arms around me as she cries harder on my chest.

“You know how strong you are?” I stroke her hair. “You can be honest, admitting the truth to your heart. I don’t know your mom, but I do know that she’s so proud of you.”

“How?” She asks between her tears.

“Because I see how grown up you are, and how mature you have become. You take care of your sister, you’re a good kid to your dad, and you’re nice to me and Sammy and all the people you’re around. Your mom might not be in the picture every day, but that doesn’t mean your dad isn’t doing his best to be your whole world.”

Bea holds on tighter, and something in me does the same. I feel the fear, the appreciation, and even the love.

“You can always come over and talk if you need to. I’m not your mom, but I still care about your health, happiness, and you.”

We walk through the front door to Derek’s apartment half an hour later, Bea’s hand in mine.

“Oh, thank God,” he says, and I swear there’s a hint of tears in his eyes. “Bea, you’re okay, you’re okay.”

He picks her up in his arms, spins her around and holds her close.

“I love you so much, baby.” The tears come pouring out his eyes, and she hugs him back.

I say nothing, but Derek opens his eyes to look at me while still holding his eldest daughter. I see the relief, the decompression, the happiness and above all, the love for his daughter.

Without speaking, he mouths two words for me.

“Thank you.”