Abigail closed her eyes for one second, gathering courage she did not know she had. When she opened them, she walked back into the living room with a smile stretched across her face, the kind that hurt her cheeks because it was forced.
“Sophie, sweetheart,” she said, bending down beside her daughter, “we are going for a short ride, and we will be back soon, so put on your jacket for me.”
Sophie looked confused but nodded, trusting her mother without protest. Natalie glanced over while cutting another slice of cake and raised her eyebrows in silent question.
“Everything alright,” Natalie asked.
“Yes,” Abigail answered, keeping her voice light. “I just forgot something in the car.”
Natalie accepted the answer and turned back to her guests. Abigail took Sophie’s hand and walked toward the front door, each step heavier than the last. The hallway felt longer than usual, the music behind them growing softer as they reached the porch.
The moment the door closed behind them, the night air hit Abigail’s skin, and she heard it. Sirens. Not one or two, but many, approaching from different directions, rising and falling like a storm rolling across the sky.
Sophie clung to her mother’s hand.