Rachel groaned.
“This is a terrible idea.”
“Probably.”
“It could ruin my friendship with you.”
“It will not.”
“It could ruin your relationship with your father.”
That possibility frightened me, but I kept my voice steady.
“I need to know.”
Reluctantly, she agreed.
The date went even better than I expected.
Rachel called me afterward.
“Your dad is wonderful,” she said.
“I can’t believe nobody gave him a chance.”
I felt relief rush through me.
“So nothing strange happened?”
“Nothing. He was kind, funny, and respectful. We talked for almost three hours.”
“Did he mention another date?”
“He asked if I wanted to have dinner again next Friday.”
“What did you say?”
“I said yes.”
For the first time in weeks, I slept without imagining the worst.
The next morning, she disappeared too.
I called her before work.
No answer.
I called again during lunch.
Straight to voicemail.
I sent messages asking whether she was all right. None of them were delivered.
