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“Riddles!” Dad exclaimed the moment Ridley opened the back door of Kayne’s Antiques and stepped inside. Something hit the floor in the main part of the store before Dad came hurtling through the back room and wrapped his arms around Ridley. “You’re okay,” he breathed into her ear. She brought her arms up around his back, squeezed tight, and breathed in the familiar scent of his aftershave. “Where have you been?” he asked, pulling back but not letting go of her. “Why didn’t you answer my calls? Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been?”
“Dad, I’m so—”
“Meera said you were fine, but the two of you ended up separated in the crowd outside the school after everyone evacuated. She couldn’t find you, and we both tried calling, but you weren’t answering.” He eased back a little further, an
