Page 90 of Freefall

Harper

Any chance you can pick up Daisy from school? My shoot is running a little late.

Warmth blooms in my chest as I glance down at my watch. I have a meeting in twenty minutes with a potential new client, right around the time that school gets out.

It shouldn’t feel like a big deal, but somehow it feels monumental. She’s trusting me. Before I can overthink it, I shoot off a quick reply and head in the opposite direction I was going. I push open my father’s office door without bothering to knock.

“Something’s come up,” I say vaguely. “I can’t make my three o’clock with V Corp. Can you handle it, or do I need to reschedule?”

I’ve seen many expressions cross my father’s face over the years. Irritation, anger, even pride when he held my nephew for the first time, but I’ve never seen him quite this stunned.

His fingers hover over his keyboard, frozen in mid-type.

“I don’t…”

“I need an answer,” I say sharply.

He blinks once before clearing his throat. “Yes, of course. I’ll handle it.”

“Great.”

I don’t bother sticking around for the inevitable questions.

Ten minutes later, I’m driving toward Emberfield Elementary to pick up my daughter.

Harper said she would call ahead to give the school permission to release Daisy to me, so when Brooke—Ms. Dawson—waves me over the second I pull into the pickup line, I know something is wrong.

“Park over there,” she calls, and a knot forms in my stomach.

“Hi, Nate…Mr. Caldwell,” she says as soon as I reach her. She lifts both hands in front of her, palms out, like she’s trying to stop my panic before it starts.

“Daisy’s okay,” she says quickly. “But she’s in the nurse’s office.” I don’t wait for her to explain the rest. I’m already stalking into the building with Ms. Dawson hurrying after me.

“Where?” I demand.

“Just past the main office, but listen, Mr. Caldwell…”

I ignore her, shoving through the glass doors, and there she is—perched on a chair, cheeks flushed and streaked with tears, clutching an ice pack to her ankle.

“Daisy girl,” I whisper, dropping to my knees in front of her.

“I’m sorry, Nate,” she sniffles. “I knew I shouldn’t have climbed all the way to the top of the tree, but Jack dared me.”

I lift my head, pinning Ms. Dawson with a look that makes her fidget with her glasses. “Jack?”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you.” She wrings her hands together. “The class earned an extra recess after doing so well on their spelling quiz. Daisy climbed a tree and fell. She twisted her ankle, but I don’t think it’s broken. The school nurse has left for the day, but I’ve been keeping ice on it.”

I stand, towering over her. “Does Jack happen to be the same boy who called my daughter a bitch?”

She looks down at her shoes. Without thinking, I hook a finger under her chin and tip her face back toward mine. “Answer me, Brooke.”

“Yes.” The word is barely audible.

A few awkward seconds pass before I look down at my hand. The contact feels wrong. I let go immediately, glancing over to make sure Daisy didn’t see what happened. Thankfully, she’s staring down at the melting ice pack, oblivious.

“Give me his parents’ contact information.”

“Nate, that’s not…”