She looked up immediately.
For one wonderful second, relief flooded her face.
“Ethan?”
Then the tears began.
He let go of his suitcase and hurried toward her.
“What happened? Are you hurt? Where is everyone?”
Claire attempted to stand, but pain crossed her face.
“Don’t move,” Ethan said, kneeling beside her. “Please, just stay there.”
He looked toward the bassinet.
Baby Lily was sleeping peacefully, but she wore only a thin cotton onesie beneath the light blanket. Babyhealth monitoring
Ethan removed his coat and carefully draped it over the side of the bassinet to block the cold draft.
“Where’s my mother?” he asked.
Claire brushed away her tears.
“They went out.”
“All of them?”
She nodded.
“When are they coming back?”
Claire lowered her gaze.
“January fourth.”
Ethan stared at her.
“January fourth?”
“They left for Cancún this morning.”
For several moments, he thought he must have misunderstood.
Then he opened the refrigerator.
It was almost empty.
There was half a bottle of water, a jar of mustard, two packets of ketchup, and one bruised apple.
The freezer had been cleared out.
Every container of soup, chicken, pasta, and stew had vanished.
The formula, yogurt, vegetables, juice, and meal-replacement drinks recommended by Claire’s doctor were gone as well.
Attached to the refrigerator door was a note written in thick black marker.
Don’t call Ethan. He is working. Don’t create unnecessary drama.
Ethan slowly removed the note.
