Where had Abby gone? And Nora? They were gone!
Panic and fear over losing my children nearly drove me mad.
I collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed.
The room had never felt so hollow and silent.
I couldnât hold back my tears any longer and burst into sobbing.
I didnât notice Calebâs arrival until he enveloped me in his arms, his familiar scent slowly grounding me.
Caleb gently wiped my tears and murmured, âDonât cry.
Iâm here for you, always, No matter what, youâre not alone.
â
His words were comforting, yet they didnât make me better.
I knew I couldnât linger in my sorrow.
It was crucial to find Abby and ensure she was safe.
Nora had been Abbyâs nanny for a while now.
It was hard to imagine that she could be indifferent towards the girl.
Hurting Abby was something Nora simply wouldnât do.
I tried to console myself, hoping to ease my own distress.
Caleb enveloped me in a tight embrace, his lips gently brushing my forehead, then my tear-streaked cheeks.
Once I had regained some composure, I stepped back from his embrace, clutching his hand firmly.
âWe need to find the butler and Andrew.
I need to see them now.
â
The moment I mentioned Andrew, a crease of worry formed on Calebâs forehead.
He fixed his eyes on
mine, his voice filled with concern.
âTell me everything from the start.
What exactly happened?â
Overwhelmed by sorrow, I struggled to speak.
Abbyâs name hovered on the brink of my lips, but I couldnât push it past the tightness in my throat.
Feeling like an utter failure as a mother, I grappled with the guilt of not knowing who took my child or when it happened.
How could I claim to be Abbyâs mother when I had failed so completely to protect her? I felt unworthy of the title.
The mental defenses I had just mustered collapsed, and with them, my body seemed to fold in on itself.
I crumpled, overcome by the burden of my thoughts.
Seeing my state, Caleb realized that now was not the time for questions.
He pulled me close once more and dialed Andrewâs number.
Tears cascaded down my cheeks, blurring my vision.
I couldnât grasp the words Caleb had uttered over the phone.
After he hung up, Caleb kept stroking my back, trying to help me relax.
His voice, tender and reassuring, whispered in my ear, âItâs okay.
Donât be afraid.
Iâm here for you.
â
But my tears didnât obey, flowing even more fiercely.
How could everything be okay? Abby was missing.
Our little one was gone!
With each gentle word from Caleb, my guilt deepened.
I shouldnât have lashed out at him.
I should have brought Abby to the Thorn Edge Pack sooner.
She might have been safe and joyful, growing up in the Thorn Edge Pack.
This disaster was my doing.