phone call from a mother-in-law

"John?" its her mother goddamn it.

"Hi Mrs. Whitling."

"Has Stephanie contacted you at all?" I wished she'd shut up. "I called her twice and she hasn't answered a single call or text in hours."

"No she hasn't, I was actually about to call you about the same thing." I rested my back against the basement wall. My hair dark from the rain. "It's getting dark out and I'm a bit worried."

"Do you think we should call the police? I'm not overthinking things?" I knew that was the first thing her small brain would suggest.

"Her phone probably died and she got caught in the rain,"

She sighed. "You're probably right."

"Let's wait for the rain to stop and then if she's not back, we'll call."

"Alright." She paused probably fretting her wrinkled fingers off the bone. "But call me right away if she contacts you."

"Yes mam."

"Thank you John."