IfoundtheminPalmer’sroom.
She and Hailey were tangled up together in the middle of the bed, wrapped in a cocoon of blankets. Hailey had Palmer’s phone propped up between them, some video playing softly. They were shoulder to shoulder, heads nearly touching. Phantom was curled up in a little ball on top of Hailey, snoozing away.
My insides twisted with dread, knowing everything was about to change.
They both looked up when I stepped into the doorway.
Hailey’s little brow crinkled as she studied me. “What’s wrong, Daddy?”
I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “I’ll tell you soon, okay? But I want to talk to Palmer first.”
Hailey frowned immediately, shooting me a glare of disapproval. “But—”
“Later, Hails.” I gave her a look in return. “Let me speak to Palmer, then we’ll talk. I promise.”
She crossed her arms but eventually pushed herself up from the bed. Phantom begrudgingly yawned and hopped off the bed with her. Palmer handed her the phone.
“You can take it with you,” Palmer said, her voice gentle.
Hailey shuffled past me, clearly unhappy, but she left the room without another word, the kitten trailing after her.
The door clicked shut behind her and the silence settled.
For a moment, I just stood there staring at Palmer, knowing the precious time I had left with her was limited.
How the hell had this happened?
How had she become something I wasn’t prepared to lose?
“Palmer,” I said quietly.
She sat up, careful of her bandaged hands. Her hazel eyes roamed over my face, narrowing. “What’s going on?”
I looked away. An ache bloomed inside me, throbbing like a bruise. I didn’t want to say goodbye to my daughter, and I didn’t want to say goodbye to her, either.
“I’m getting Hailey out of Ember Hollow tonight.” I forced the words out.
Palmer blinked at me. “What…what do you mean?”
“I’m taking Hailey to the safe house.” My jaw clenched. “It’s not safe here after the fire. Especially if Amos Anderson is behind it.”
Her fingers brushed the buttons of her cardigan, but the bandages made it impossible to grip them. She did that when she was anxious, I’d noticed…tugged at her buttons. Her hands fell limply back to her lap.
“Okay.” She sounded dazed. “What about me?”
She was trying to put on a brave face, but there was a hint of panic underneath it.
“I think you should go too.”
Palmer tensed. “Go?”
“To the safe house,” I said.
She blinked at me. “But…isn’t your whole family there? You don’t need me to watch over Hailey—”
I shook my head, cutting her off with a sharp look. “I want you to go so that you’ll besafe, Palmer.”
I stepped closer, but then stopped. It was wiser to keep my distance, where I couldn’t reach for her. Because every bone in my body begged me to hold her one more time before she was gone.
