Seventy

ARABELLA POV

“Emma, please can you bring Bruno back home?”

I recoiled from the phone and turned back to see Bruno playing with the triplets. He seemed happy and more himself with his peers. I wasn’t sure I wanted to hand him over just yet to Mia, but the distress in her voice when she called was disturbing.

I turned back and spoke into the phone. “Is anything the matter? Aren’t you supposed to be having some alone time with your husband?”

She hesitated, and in that small time frame, I knew something was wrong. The children squealed as they played but I was already standing from the sitting room sofa and mouthing to the nanny who stood nearby.

“It’s alright,” I added quickly. “You don’t have to say anything. I’ll be there soon.”

Mia exhaled shakily. “Thank you, Emma.”

I hung up the phone and quickly changed into my clothes and grabbed my car keys. She sounded distraught, as though seeing her child would somehow reassure her. I wondered if anyone from the hospital told her. Not that th