: Part 6
Ace continued, "I have something to do this morning, the boys will be here in a few minutes, and I want you to be here when I come back."
I couldn't break my gaze from his intense eyes, feeling overwhelmed by what he was saying.
Oh my God.
I was in the middle of making Ace's bed when it happened. The phone started ringing, and I chose to ignore it, not wanting any distractions. But soon after, the answering machine on one of the heavy, dark wood nightstands clicked on, and an electronic voice requested the caller to leave a message. And that's when things took an unexpected turn.
Her voice came through the machine, and I found myself frozen in place, mid-pillow-fluffing. She sounded hesitant, probing, and unsure, addressing Ace, "Honey, I hope everything's okay. You didn
