The Love We Missed novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Pickup

I called him from the car with the engine off.

He picked up on the first ring this time.

"Enjoy your night?" he said.

"You were standing in an alley at six in the morning taking pictures of me."

"Bria couldn't sleep. We went for coffee." His voice was smug and easy. "Imagine our surprise."

"You don't get to take her because I had a night."

"A night with my brother, while we're still married. You said it yourself. Nobody's signed anything." He let that sit. "Monday. I'm picking her up from daycare, and she's coming home with me. I'm on the list, Aileen. I'm her father."

He hung up before I could answer.

I sat there with the phone in my lap until my hands stopped shaking.

Then I drove back to Lawrenceville and ate Halloween candy for breakfast on the floor with my daughter.

I didn't tell her anything.

She was four, and it was her candy.

On Monday, I left the hotel at one, still in my whites, and was in the daycare parking lot by one-forty.

Pickup started at five.

I sat in the car for three hours.

At ten to five, the black Audi pulled in.

Patrick got out in his good suit, without Bria.

I got out of my car at the same time.

We met at the front door and didn't hold it for each other.

The lobby was full.

It was Monday pickup, and it was cold, and every parent in Highland Park was in that room in their coats.

There were little cubbies along the wall with names on them and paper turkeys taped over every one.

The teacher brought the Ladybug Room out in a line, holding hands.

Nellie was fourth, in her rain boots, with Pickles under her arm.

She saw me and her whole face lit up.

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