Stolen Love

CHAPTER EIGHT:

Isabelle

"It's been almost forty-eight hours that she's been missing, Mark." My body racked with sobs as I held my face in the palms of my hands. My hands were beginning to get wet by the rivers of tears that flowed from my eyes.

I felt a soft hand touch my back. "The police are on their way over here now, they might be able to help." Mark's soft voice filled my ears in attempts of comforting me, but nothing was helping. My baby is missing and the last time we talked, was over some stupid argument. It was my fault.

I cried harder. "We were too hard on her, and now she's gone!"

Mark cleared his throat. "You can't blame this on yourself, Isabelle. This is not your fault."

"What if she's dead? What if she rotting behind some dumpster? What if she's been trafficked and getting r-"

"Stop that." Mark cut me off and cupped my face. He raised my head to meet his gaze and frowned. "We can't think like that. Jessica would want us to think positively, that's how she always is."

I looked up at my husband in desperation, "But what if she-"

Mark opened his mouth and cut me off once again, "We have to be strong for her. We don't have a choice in the matter. The police will be here soon, they can help us look for her. They are the most capable people of finding her." He reassured me, his voice calming my nerves that bubbled up from my stomach.

I wrapped my arms protectively around my body and sniffled. "I can't get our last conversation out of my head."

Mark nodded and looked away for a moment. His jaw tensed and he sighed. "I know."

"What if she thinks we hate her? I can't stand to think about my baby out there all alone and scared and thinking of the last conversation we had." I felt the tears spring up back in my eyes, blurring my vision once again.

"She doesn't think she hate her, it was just an argument." Mark sighed. "I said some things that I shouldn't have too." A small tear slipped out of Mark's eye. I had no seen him cry since our wedding day. He did not often cry, it was a rare occurrence for him and it only sent me more into a spiral.

My brain drifted off into another direction, which only caused me more heart ache. "I should call her father."

Mark snorted. "Why? So he can ignore your calls some more?"

I shook my head and closed my eyes. "Maybe this will be different."

Mark laughed. "He shouldn't be only answering your calls and texts when his own daughter goes missing."

I sighed heavily and wiped my eyes. "He should know what's going on, Mark."

Mark stood up from the couch and shrugged. "I'm going to make you some tea and you can do what you want, but he probably won't show up, like usual." I watched Mark retreat back into the kitchen, his wide back walking away from me.

I was left in a thought of confusion as I tried to decide whether or not to reach out to my ex-husband. I knew that it would be a surprise if he did answer, or if he even care about Jessica. I had no idea anymore. We have not spoken in years and he never reached out to Jessica. Mark had tried his best to fill that father role that she needed so desperately in her life. I thought he did a fine job, but sometimes he could be a little demanding.

I closed my eyes in thought as I heard the door bell ding.

Jessica

I stepped out of the shower, my toes pressing up against the fuzzy carpet that was laid out in front of the glass doors. It felt good to shower, but more importantly it felt better to get away from Noah for a small period of time.