A local woman missing- Mary Kubica

Bea stops me there. She takes charge as Bea does; relief
overwhelms me. I admire Bea’s can-do attitude. She’s a problem
solver. She says to the kids, “I’ve had my heart set on pizza for the
last hour, but there was no way I can eat a pizza all by myself, and
Miss Kate’s at work.” She looks pleadingly at Delilah and Leo. “You
think you could help me out with this?”
There’s nothing my kids love more in this world than pizza. Delilah
screams, “Yes!” Leo nods his head.
“God, Bea,” I say, setting a hand on her arm, “you’re a lifesaver. I
can’t thank you enough for this.”
She tells me, “You’d do the same for me.”
The four of us walk back to our house. Delilah and Leo gather a
few of their things to bring with them. I say I’ll walk them back, but
Bea says no. “I’ve got it from here. You need to go,” she says, and I
do. The phone in my pocket pings every few minutes. It’s my client.
She’s in the passenger’s seat of her husband’s car, texting updates.
On the expressway. Traffic.
“Give me a hug,” I tell the kids. “You’re going to stay and play with
Miss Bea today.” The kids do as they’re told. Bea grabs them each
by a hand and leaves. Leo has no qualms in getting left with Bea. He
goes with her willingly, without a backward glance in my direction. It’s
telling. Something about Charlotte’s house has him spooked. Seeing
Leo with Bea warms my heart. I feel at peace, watching him walk
voluntarily away, blue blankie dragging through the grass.
The birth is quick. My client nearly delivers without me. Sometimes
this happens.
As I’m leaving, Josh calls. He’s on his way home from the baseball
game. “Oh,” he says. “I didn’t think you’d answer. I was going to
leave a message.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, wondering why he didn’t think I’d answer his
call.
“You’re at a birth,” he says. I find my car in the hospital’s parking
garage. I get in and lock the doors. I keep my eyes peeled to the
rearview mirror. I don’t like not knowing what’s behind me, if anyone
is there.
“Just leaving,” I say. I start the car and shift into Reverse, glad to
be moving. “How did you know?” I ask. I would think that he’s