I Thought the Ice Cream Man Was Just Being Kind to My Daughter, Until He Gave Her a Note and Said, “Make Sure Your Mom Reads This”

Ellie’s mother?”

“Yes.”

I kept my voice neutral.

I also positioned myself slightly between him and my daughter.

He nodded slowly.

Then he said:

“Sarah?”

Every hair on my arms stood up.

I had never told him my name.

As far as I knew, neither had Ellie.

“Do I know you?”

He gave a nervous little laugh.

“Probably not anymore.”

That answer somehow felt worse than if he had simply said yes.

Probably not anymore.

Meaning there had once been a time when I might have known him.

“What does