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A Call

Chapter 12: A Call

I wake up to the sound of my phone receiving a text message.

I sit up to grab my phone off of the coffee table and hear cracking in my neck and back.

"Argh! Ouch!"

God, I'm getting old! I can't just crash on the couch like I used to.

I grab my phone.

8:30 AM

I see I got a message from Tam:

Hey, want to go grab some lunch today? We need to go over your schedule for the Australia trip next week.

Oh right, that's next week. Man, what would I do without that girl!

I go to head upstairs to get ready then stop half way up the stairs once I abruptly remember the fight John and I had last night.

Shit!

This is going to be exceedingly awkward. If I'm lucky, he'll still be asleep.

I crack the bedroom door open and peak my head inside to see if he's sleeping. I look around, but can't see him. The bed doesn't even look like it's been slept in.

"John?"

I swing the door open and begin to look all over the bedroom for him. The closet, bathroom, and even under the bed.

What the hell? Where is he?

Maybe he got up before me, made the bed, and left.

Who am I kidding, John doesn't make beds!

I pick up my phone and try to call him. No answer. Straight to voicemail.

As I wander the house searching for any sign of him and consistently calling his cell, I start to panic.

He's keys to his truck are gone. He probably just went out for a bit to clear his head. He was really pissed off last night.

Dammit, I thought he was above this shit. You'd think we could talk it out like adults instead of him running off! Guess not.

Ugh! Dammit, John!

I try to calm myself down by pacing around the house. I can't get myself all worked up and angry. It will only make matters worse when we try to talk later.

I blast some music and go to take a shower. I take my time getting ready and pick up the house a bit before I head to meet Tamra.

• • • • •

"Hey, Tam!"

Tamra: "Hey, hey. Come sit down."

"How are you?"

Tamra: "I'm doing great, thanks. How're you?"

"Pretty good. How's Erika doing?"

Tamra: "Oh she's good! She has a photo shoot downtown today. Where's John at?"

"Oh, uh, ya know..."

Fumbling to think of a lie to hide the fact that I don't know where he is, I say the first thing that comes to my mind.

"Music."

Tamra: "Music?"

"Ya, um, he's in the studio today."

Tamra: "I didn't know he was recording stuff already, that's gotta be nice for him."

"Uh, ya he's real excited. So, anyway, what's the plans look like for next week?"

We order lunch and Tamra goes through the schedule for next week, letting me pick and choose and few things I want to do.

I'm excited to go to Australia. I love it there! Plus it's been awhile since I've taken a trip out of the country. It will be good to get away.

Tamra and I finish talking about business and continue to eat our lunch and chit chat.

We just ordered some dessert when I hear my phone start buzzing in my purse.

"Sorry Tam, can I take this?"

Tamra: "Ya, of course! Go ahead."

I take my phone and head outside to answer it. To my dismay, it's not John, it's only Angela. I answer it anyway.

"Hey, Ang, I can't really talk right..."

I stop talking as I hear Angie's voice break into a cry.

Angela: "Katy... It's dad..."

Her voice shakes as she manages to get out the rest of what she needs to say. My body stiffens. It takes everything in me to not drop my phone.

"Angie, I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as possible."

I run back into the restaurant, throw everything in my purse, give a short explanation to Tamra and sprint to my car.

My mind and thoughts are a daze as I drive to my destination. I can hear my heart beating in my ears as a pull off the exit that says, "UCLA Medical Center - Hospital."