Page 72 of Loyal
“We will make it. It’s going to work out,” Savage says before switching topics.
I vaguely notice as the meeting comes to an end, my mind busy with worry.
Just when I think it can’t get any worse, it feels like it does.
It’s another day at the hospital. Today has been a good day so far. Two good births. Another two moms laboring. Honestly, things are moving smoothly.
Which is why I should have known something bad was going to happen. At ten thirty, the shoe drops.
“Sami, you have a call on line one. It’s the school, and they say it’s urgent,” Melissa calls out as soon as I step from my patient’s room.
My heart starts to race as I rush over to the desk.
“Hello, this is Samantha,” I answer.
“Hello. This is Mrs. Lambert, the school principal. Ms. Abrahams, your daughter has been skipping classes two days in a row. Yesterday we spoke to her about it and thought it was handled, but today she left school grounds.”
I rub my head. “So she skipped classes yesterday but stayed at school. Now today she is missing?”
“Yes, ma’am. We sent home a letter with her yesterday and planned to follow up with you today about it, but then this happened, and well, we had to call immediately.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the heads-up. I’ll find her and have a serious talk with her. She’s still not handling the divorce well. I know it’s not an excuse, but this is where we are at. I am sorry for any disruptions she has caused.”
Mrs. Lambert makes a sympathetic sound. “Divorce tends to hit the older kids the hardest because they understand it a bit more. Let us know if there is anything we can assist you with.”
“Thank you.”
As I hang up the phone, I shoot a text to Loyal.
Me: Farrah skipped school. I have to go find her.
I head back to the desk. “Melissa, I am so sorry to do this, but I need to leave. My daughter skipped school and is currently missing.”
“Oh no. I understand. I can call Gina in to cover the rest of your shift. You go ahead and go. Family comes first.”
With that handled, I grab my things and head toward my car. When I get there, I pull out my phone to see a message from Loyal.
Loyal: Want me to come help look?
He is so perfect, but also not the person Farrah will want to see.
Me: No. I think I know where she would go. I’ll let you know if I don’t find her.
I don’t bother calling Farrah. That would only give her the heads-up that I’m looking for her. Instead, I drive around to some of her favorite places. When I finally find her at the park I used to take her to, I park and head over to the swings to sit next to her.
“Skipping school? Really?” I start.
“I don’t want to be there. I don’t want to be here either. I want to move away and find a place far away from you,” she hisses at me.
It hurts, but I ignore the sting.
“When you are eighteen, I will give you the airfare to go anywhere you want, but until then, you are required to go to school. Why are you skipping?” I ask.
“You and Dad don’t understand. It’s embarrassing. All the kids know you are divorced. Tim saw Dad lose it on your new boyfriend at some tire shop a few weeks ago. Now everyone keeps asking if I am going to be a cougar like my mommy or a hotheaded asshole like my daddy. I can’t get away from it.”
“I’m sorry that what we do is affecting you. I never wanted this. Have you talked to anyone about the bullying?”
She snorts. “As if tattling will make it any better. No, it will get better when I get far away from here and the rumor mill.”
