192

ROMAN

I went back to my room and played the recording and when I heard what was on it, tears rose in my eyes.

I couldn't believe it. I spent the entire night listening to it again and again and I couldn't help but feel like a fool.

Falling asleep to her voice, I waited till morning till the other kids went to school.

“Dad, why didn't you wake me up for school? Where's Ethan?”

“Belle, you're not going to school today. We need to talk."

She looked at me then immediately took off her bag and searched through it.

“You have my phone, don't you?”

I dropped it on the table and she gave up, and sat on the chair.

“Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

“Okay, but you have to promise not to be mad at mum, okay? She did it because she was scared and she didn't want anything to happen to us.”

What in the world was my six year old saying?

“Belle, I've been looking for your mum for a month. I just want her back home. I'm not mad at her and I would never be. Please just tell me.”

By the time she