Chapter 31: The Escape

Cassie cozied against the back of the closet and listened for voices. The wedding dress bag concealed her, but she wasn't confident it would be enough. Minutes felt like hours while she waited for a chance to escape. Finally, Tricia's phone rang, and Cassie said a prayer of thanks.

When Tricia got off the call, she yelled to Chase. "Dad's on the way. He's taking us for ice cream."

"Cool!" Chase replied with excitement.

Thank God! Cassie thought.

Tricia said, "I'm grabbing a sweater."

Shit.

Cassie's heart pounded in her chest, and she wondered how the whole neighborhood didn't hear it. On the edge of a coronary, she leaned back, as tight as she could, behind the dress as Tricia approached the closet. Cassie didn't breathe. She couldn't see anything from her hiding place, and she hoped that Tricia couldn't see her either.