Chapter 12 - Life

Michelle’s car was missing, along with her phone and purse. Cam called the number, but it rang out and into voicemail every time.

“She’s probably just taking a bit of time out,” Caroline suggested from her seat on the couch, trying to remain calm. She was trained for that: keeping calm in a conflict, or a time of great pressure. But this was different; this was her little sister’s panic, and her niece and nephew’s mother who was missing.

“You didn’t hear her,” Cam argued, turning away from the window and back to her sister. “She sounded…I dunno, I just, I’ve never heard her like that.” She tried the phone again: same thing. No ring, just straight to voicemail. She’d given up leaving messages. What was the point? She just had to hope that Michelle would at some point feel able and would reach out.

“I am sure she will be back any minute,” Caroline encouraged, because what else was there for her to do right now?

“It’s been three hours, Caroline. I think if she had just popped out then she would be back by now, don’t you?” Cam snapped, raising her voice in frustration. “Sorry,” she huffed. “I know you’re just trying to help.”

“It’s fine. Did you call Angie, Kate? Has anyone heard from her?”

“I’ve called everyone, including her parents, her brother, even Janice. Nobody’s heard from her.”

“I still think it’s too early to start panicking.” Caroline tried a thin-lipped smile, but it soon faltered away as Cam’s phone rang. The screen lit up with the image of Michelle.

“Michelle, where are you? Are you alright?” Cam was frantic as she jumped up from her chair and paced.

There was no reply immediately, just the sounds of her breathing hard, trying to catch her breath. But finally, she said, “I’m okay.”

Cam let out the breath she had been holding and ran her hand through her hair, ruffling her fingers through it fast as she tried not to sound anything but calm. “Thank goodness. Where are you?”

“I…I don’t know…I just…” Her breath shuddered as she tried to control the sob. “I needed to leave. It wasn’t safe for them.”

“Alright, okay. Can we talk about it?” She could feel her heart racing inside her chest. Caroline had come to stand beside her, her hand gently resting on Cam’s shoulder, but she didn’t feel soothed by it. What did she mean that it wasn’t safe for them?

“I just…I need a few days. I need to think and…Cam? I’m sorry…I should have said before… I tried, I did....”

Camryn dropped down to her haunches. Her hand covered her eyes. “Just come home, Michelle, please. Just come home,” she pleaded. She would drop to her knees and beg if she had to. “I’ll come get you, just tell me where you are?”

Michelle sniffed, her breathing ragged. “I can’t…I don’t…”

A sudden and awful thought entered Cam’s mind. “Promise me you won’t…you’re not going to do anything…”

“I won’t, I promise…I just need some time.”

It took several seconds before Cam realized that Michelle had hung up. Her face scrunched up as the tears fell and she crumpled to the floor, quickly followed by her sister. “Cam, what did she say?”

Cam wiped her face and gulped for air. She squeezed her eyes hard and tried to stem the tears. “She needs some time…she won’t tell me where she is.” She felt anger bubble up. “She left our kids! And now she won’t talk to me?”

“It was just for a few minutes, and both Noah and Darcy are alright. That’s what you have to keep reminding yourself,” Caroline said, reaching out for her sister.

“It only takes a few minutes, Caroline. She could have waited till I got home, or brought them to me, or told Maria? Why didn’t she just tell Maria?”

“Because she isn’t thinking straight. Come on, sis, it’s Michelle. You know the woman she is, and you know that if she did this, then something serious is happening for her. This isn’t usual behavior.”

Cam rubbed at her face. “I know, I just…what the fuck?”