Mother's True Love.

Voices From The Past.

Emily, Alex, and Sarah drove through winding roads, the trees lining the path standing tall like silent sentinels. The atmosphere in the car was thick with tension, each mile taking them closer to the unknown—Nathan. But amid the anxious chatter and nervous energy, Emily's mind was elsewhere. She clutched her phone tightly, staring at it like it was a lifeline.

Finally, she took a deep breath and dialed her dad, Bob. The phone rang, each beep amplifying her anxiety until it finally connected.

"Hey, Em!" Bob's voice crackled through the speaker, warm and familiar. "It's good to hear from you. How've you been?"

Emily felt a wave of relief wash over her. "I'm okay, Dad. Just... in town for a bit."

"Really? That's great! I wish I knew you were back. How's everything going? How's your mom?" His tone shifted, a hint of concern creeping in.

Emily hesitated. The thought of explaining everything to him—Jules, Linda's unraveling, the drama that had enveloped their lives—felt like an insurmountable task. "Um, it's complicated. I haven't really seen Mom much. I've been busy with some friends."

"Busy, huh?" Bob chuckled lightly. "I hope those friends are keeping you out of trouble. You know how your mom gets. I've been worried about her since... well, you know."

"Yeah, I know. She's been a bit off lately," Emily admitted, glancing at Alex and Sarah, who were both listening intently. "Actually, I wanted to tell you about something that happened recently."

"What's going on?" Bob asked, his voice suddenly serious.

"Well, Alex and Sarah came across Mom the other day. It wasn't a pleasant encounter," Emily began, her throat tightening. "She... she threatened them. I think she's really lost it, Dad. Like, she's not the same person anymore."

Bob's silence hung heavy on the line. "What do you mean? What did she say?"

"She told Alex to stay away from me, or things would get worse. She's really paranoid, and I think she blames me for everything. I just don't understand what's happened to her," Emily explained, the frustration evident in her voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Em. It sounds like she's struggling," Bob said softly. "But you need to be careful. If she's acting like that... I don't want you getting hurt."

"Yeah, I know," Emily replied, swallowing hard. "That's why I haven't told her I'm back in town. I'm afraid of what she might do. It's just... all too much."

"Just be careful, okay?" Bob cautioned. "I know things haven't been easy since... since Jules. I'm worried about your mom. She might not be in her right mind."

"Yeah, I get that," Emily said, feeling the weight of her father's words. "But I'll be careful. Promise."

"And listen," Bob continued, "when all this settles down, you should come visit me. I miss you, Em. It's been too long."

Emily's heart tugged at the invitation. "I miss you too, Dad. I promise I'll come by after... after everything's sorted out."

"Good. Just take care of yourself, okay? I love you."

"I love you too, Dad." Emily hung up, her mind racing. The conversation lingered in her thoughts, intertwining with the impending confrontation with Nathan.

"Everything okay?" Sarah asked, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Emily nodded, though her heart was heavy. "Just talking to my dad."

"Sounds like he cares a lot," Alex chimed in, glancing over at her. "It's good you're keeping in touch."

"Yeah, but it's complicated," Emily said, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. "He wants to see me, but how can I just show up after everything? I don't even know what I'm walking into."

"Right now, your focus should be on finding Nathan," Alex said, his tone steady. "After that, you can deal with your family stuff."

Emily nodded but felt the anxiety creeping back in. What if finding Nathan only unearthed more secrets? What if it led to more pain?

As they approached their destination, Emily clenched her jaw, determination building inside her. "Let's just get this over with."

The car pulled up in front of a nondescript house, the kind that blended into the neighborhood like a shadow. Emily's heart raced as she stepped out, glancing at Alex and Sarah. This was it. They were about to step into the unknown, a decision that could change everything.