But they were safe.

They were going to be all right.

I made absolutely certain of that before I let myself ask anything else.

And only when both of my children were settled, and calm, and out of any danger, did I let myself ask the question that had been burning in me since the truck.

“Lily,” I said, gently.

“Why didn’t you call me sooner, baby?

You could have called me hours ago.