Children’s laughter spilled out into the front yard. We kissed Ellie goodbye, reminded her to wash her hands before eating, and to have enough cupcakes for us too. And then we left.
Forty-five minutes later, my phone rang. Ellie’s name lit up the screen. Daniel and I knew that she was too young to have a cellphone, but we also wanted to make sure that she could reach us when we were separated.
So, we’d given her Daniel’s spare phone to carry around for events like this. Now, I answered on instinct, putting the phone on speaker for Daniel to hear. Her voice was tiny, barely holding it together.
“Mommy?” she sniffled. “Can you please come get me? Grandma said I had to go outside.
She said… I’m not part of the family.”
I froze. My hand gripped Daniel’s arm tightly.
“Where are you, baby?” I asked. “I’m in the backyard,” she sobbed. “By the gate.
I don’t want to go onto the sidewalk.”
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