Oceanside

Chapter 43

Silas

My hand brushed back and forth on Odettes thigh. I had my other arm wrapped around her as she sat sideways on my lap. I could hear her heartbeat racing and I didn't need mind-link to know her thoughts were racing.

"Angel you don't have to do it today," I said gently.

She shook her head. "No if I don't do it now then I'll chicken out again."

"It's not chickening out if you're not comfortable or really ready. Especially when you know you can do it later."

"Well it is for me," she denied herself an out.

It had been eleven days since I got back from New Orleans and Odette decided she wanted to contact her parents again. She found their number a few days ago and has been working herself up to make the call.

This morning she pulled me in our office to do it but then stalled. I ended up collecting her in my arms to sooth her racing heart.

It worked but I knew she was still nervous. She was worried her excuses wouldn't be enough, that they would demand more answers or that somehow this would make their situation worse.

I had to assure her a million times that her parents wouldn't be worse off knowing she was alive.

She stared at the office phone. I kept my hands softly moving on her so she wouldn't panic again.

Straightening up she quickly picked up the phone and started dialing.

Her body went completely still as she brought the phone up to her ear. Her gaze flickered over the hardwood floor in front of her as the phone rang.

I could hear it and she knew that. It made her feel better too, making me promise to give her an answer if they asked an unexpected question.

The ringing stopped as a man's voice spoke. "Hello?"

She stopped breathing for a second, blinking to stop fresh tears from building. "Hey—um Hi dad it's me, Odette," she stuttered over her words. She swallowed roughly.

There was no break from her father. "Odette?" His voice was now alert and I heard rustling, like he stood up or sat down. "Oh my—where are you? Baby where have you been we thought—are you okay?"

I rubbed my hand back and forth on her back. She was trying not to cry. "I'm okay dad. Nothing's happened to me. I just, I had to go. It wasn't you or mom. I was stupid and got caught up in a moment."

"Woah slow down," he cut off her ramble. "Where are you? What happened?"

"I'm in California," she spoke softer now. "I chose to leave, to get out. That town was so small and I wanted to go. I know I didn't do it the right way. I should have said something. Dad I am so sorry."

The lies came out thick and wobbly. I knew she wasn't upset about having to lie. Telling the truth would have been harder. She didn't want them to know about what really happen.

He was quiet so she continued, rushing out some of the lies before she lost her words.

"It was nothing you or mom did. I promise. It was me. I decided to travel and I didn't want you to stop me." She shifted the grip on her phone. "Dad I'm sorry."

"I—Odette I don't even know what to say," her father said. "You disappear before morning, take nothing, then don't call. You realize we had the police looking for you? For months I was in the police station trying to get them to find you. Even when they said they couldn't look anymore."

She nodded weakly. "I know. Dad I know I put you and mom through hell. I didn't mean to worry anyone. I should have called."

"Damn right you should have." He didn't sound angry to my ears. His tone was stern but like he was holding back his own tears. "We thought someone took you. That you were dead in a ditch somewhere."