Callie didnât expect her dad to care about this detail.
She glanced at Nicole and said, âA nice lady.
She even called the police to help.
â
Brett was older so he was naturally more cautious than Callie.
Skeptically, he asked, âCallie, are you really okay?â
âIâm fine.
Iâm not hurt, all thanks to her arriving just in time.
â
Callie was immensely grateful to Nicole and saw her as a hero now.
âAlright, be careful on your way,â Brett said nothing more and ended the call.
Nicole felt a wave of relief wash over her, knowing Brett was in Ardlens and sheâd see him soon.
Callie, now calmer, managed to start a conversation with Nicole.
âMiss, how did you end up there? Itâs such a deserted place, and youâre really brave.
â
Nicole simply replied that she was passing by and didnât share more.
Facing such an innocent Callie, Nicole felt a pang of guilt and found herself at a loss for words.
Nicole recalled how much Callie adored her as a child.
Callie used to cling to her, and Nicole always made time to visit.
However, as the school took over Nicoleâs time, their contact became less frequent.
Also, Callie wasnât being treated in a hospital in Ardlens then, so Nicole only saw Callie during Christmas.
Technically, Callie should have recognized Nicole, but the shock and the dim Light in the car probably kept her from realizing who Nicole was.
Nicole was thankful that Callie was in the back seat, making it harder for her to be recognized.
If Callie had recognized her, she wouldnât have known what to say.
Even though she felt guilty for using Callie, she had no regrets.
Nicole was desperate to uncover the truth about what the last person to see her dad before he died had witnessed and why he had vanished in Ardlens.
She needed to know the truth by all means.
Callie gazed at Nicoleâs reflection in the car window and suddenly asked, âMiss, whatâs your name?â
Nicoleâs hand trembled slightly on the steering wheel, and she replied, âMy name is Evita.
â
Nicole lied and spouted a name.
Callie listened and murmured, âEvita, you look like someone I know.
â
Nicole could tell that Callie was talking about her.
With a slight smile, she said, âI have one of those faces that people often confuse with someone else.
â
Callie fell silent for a moment and then continued looking at Nicoleâs reflection in the car window.
âThe nice lady I know was so kind.
When I was little, sheâd bring me gifts and candies Iâd never seen before.
My dad wouldnât let me have them because of my health, but she would secretly let me lick them just to taste the sweetness.
She told me that if I followed the doctorâs advice and got better, I could eat all the sweet candies I wanted when I grew upâ¦â
Nicoleâs grip on the steering wheel tightened.
She was surprised that Callie could recall these things so vividly.
She chuckled and asked, âDid you follow her advice and take good care of your health?â
Callie nodded and responded, âI do whatever the doctor says and receive some treatments.
Now the doctor says I can live for many years.
â