Silent Run

bears on the front."
    â€œI got it."
    â€œOh, and if she gets really cranky, she likes the sound of the vacuum cleaner."
    Jake nodded. “Vacuum cleaner, right."
    â€œApplesauce. That’s her favorite after-dinner snack."
    â€œYou wrote it all down, Sarah."
    Sarah kissed Caitlyn on the cheek, tears welling in her eyes and streaming down her face as she said, “I love you, baby. But you need to go with your daddy."
    Caitlyn’s tiny hands cupped Sarah’s face. Her daughter had no idea what was happening.
    â€œMama cry,” Caitlyn said, wiping her hand across Sarah’s wet face. “Mama sad."
    â€œI’m okay. I’ll see you soon, baby,” Sarah said, her heart breaking in two. With one last tight squeeze, she handed Caitlyn over to Jake.
    Caitlyn, God bless her, gave Jake a happy, trusting smile, not realizing that he was about to take her away from her mother.
    Jake stroked Caitlyn’s curls as he looked at Sarah. The pulse in his neck was beating fast. “You’ll see her tomorrow, you know. I’m not going to keep you out of her life. I wouldn’t do that to you."
    â€œI know. It’s just difficult. We still haven’t talked about how we’re going to take care of her in the future. There’s so much we haven’t discussed. This is happening so fast. I’m not ready."
    â€œWe’ll talk when you get to San Francisco.” Jake cleared his throat. “It’s going to be all right. We’ll work it out."
    â€œDrive carefully,” she said.
    â€œI will.” Jake put Caitlyn into her seat and strapped her in. When he got out of the car he gave Sarah a reassuring look. “Don’t worry, Sarah. She’ll be safe with me."
    â€œI know that. I trust you. I do."
    Jake started to say something and then changed his mind. He walked around the car and got in. He started the engine and pulled away quickly, giving her no chance to beg him to stay.
    Catherine and Teresa came down the path. Sarah saw the questions in their eyes. They didn’t understand her actions, but they would support her anyway. “I have to give him this time. I owe him."
    â€œYou’re so strong now,” Catherine commented. “The little girl who used to crawl into my bed at night is all grown-up and braver than I could ever be."
    â€œI’m not brave. I’m really not.” But Sarah waited until Jake’s car had turned the corner before she sank into Catherine’s loving arms and cried her heart out.
    â€œIt will be all right,” Catherine said soothingly.
    â€œYou’ll figure out a way to make it all work. Jake seems like a good guy,” Teresa put in. “And if he tries to take sole custody from you, we’ll kick his butt."
    â€œHe is a good guy,” Sarah said, sniffing as she tried to pull herself together. “He’s the best. I ruined everything. I had the perfect family."
    â€œOh, sweetie,” Catherine said with a sad smile. “Don’t you know yet that perfect doesn’t exist?"
    â€œI still want it to."
    â€œCinderella and the prince -- your favorite fairy tale,” Teresa said. “How about we get some breakfast before I drive you to LA?"
    â€œAre you sure you want to do that? I can rent a car."
    â€œDo you actually have an ID?” Teresa asked.
    â€œCome to think of it, no, but I do have cash.” And now she remembered where she’d gotten the cash. She’d never put any of her paychecks into the bank. She’d cashed them and kept the money in the heater vent with her IDs. She wondered what it would be like to live her life above ground again, to be able to walk freely down the street, not be concerned whether anyone was following her. She couldn’t even imagine it.
    â€œI’ll drive you,” Teresa said. “It will be fun. A road trip."
    â€œI’m coming, too,” Catherine said.
    â€œI don’t know why you’re both being so nice to me.” Sarah shook her head. “I don’t deserve it."
    â€œYes, you do. You’re a good person,” Catherine stated firmly. “Don’t forget that. Every decision you made, you made out of love."
    Before Sarah could reply a car came around the corner, a very familiar car. She straightened in alarm.
    Jake pulled up in front of them and jumped out of the driver’s seat. He dashed across the sidewalk.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Sarah asked as he