Suddenly, the sound of an elevator beeping caught my attention. I ran forward and turned the corner just in time to see someone in a polka dot dress. Evie’s dress.
Relief and terror collided in my chest as I ran toward her.
Evie walked out of the elevator, her hand held by Jonah in his three-piece suit. His sharp gaze scanned the floor until he spotted me. He immediately registered the panic etched on my face.
My hand flew to my chest, trembling as I closed my eyes. “Evie,” I whispered, my voice hoarse with relief.
Evie wriggled out of Jonah’s grip and ran toward me with a laugh. I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms, holding her tight.
“Mom, this is my friend Jonah,” she announced after I’d squeezed her for what felt like forever.
The knot of anxiety in my stomach eased a little when I saw Evie smile at him so comfortably.
“Hi, Lexi,” Jonah said quietly, his voice careful.
“How do you know Mom?” she asked him, tilting her head.
“She’s a friend,” he said, his tone measured.
“Because you both work in the same office?”
I almost laughed despite everything.
“Yes. We work in the same office, Evie,” Jonah answered.
Evie turned to him, rummaging in her little backpack she’d taken with her. “Do you like Doritos?” she asked, holding a chip out to him.
His gaze went to the chip, then back to Evie’s expectant face. “I do.”
“Then you can have one.” She proudly offered it to him.
I glanced at Evie’s pudgy, slightly grubby fingers and was about to explain that she shouldn’t when Jonah nodded and took it from her messy hand. “Thank you,” he said, popping it in his mouth and chewing.
Evie giggled and plopped down on the floor, picking out another chip. “One for Mom,” she announced, and I took it with a grateful smile. Then Evie proceeded to create what looked like a Dorito picnic for her dolls.
I looked up at Jonah, my eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I found her upstairs on my floor,” he explained. “She must have gotten into the elevator down here, but when it went up and the doors opened, she just walked out. She didn’t know which buttons to press to come back down.”
The reality of what could have happened crashed over me. “Excuse me for a minute,” I managed to say. I turned away from them, and leaned against the wall.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Jonah crouch down next to Evie. He pulled a business card from his pocket and handed it to her. “Can you draw me a picture on the back of this? I’ll be right over there with your mom.”
Then I broke down sobbing. All the horrible scenarios played out in my mind on a loop. Evie alone in the elevator, scared and lost. My hands shook uncontrollably.
Two large hands touched my shoulders and I jumped. I looked up to see Jonah’s face swimming in front of me through my tears.
The scent of his cologne enveloped me, a familiar comfort that made my heart ache with a mix of longing and gratitude. He pulled me close without a word, and I could feel the reassuring rhythm of his heartbeat against mine, a silent promise that I wasn’t alone.
I sobbed onto his chest as he held me, saying nothing but just being there. A few moments and a torrent of tears later, the sobs finally died down. I wiped my eyes and checked on Evie, who was still there, before looking back at him.
“You were working late again?” he asked gently while I took a few deep, calming breaths.
I nodded, biting my lip. “I was running behind on my project documentation, so I made Evie wait with me. God.” I put my hand to my forehead, realizing what a fool I’d been. “I told myself Evie would forgive me later. Once I ace this internship, she won’t remember that Mom was distracted for the past three months. She’ll understand because it means we got a chance at a better life.”
His eyes studied me intently, as though he was trying to understand why I felt the need to work so hard, to push myself so relentlessly.
“Mom, look!” Evie interrupted, holding up two dolls. “They’re best friends!”
