I shifted from my prone position on the recliner to look over at Luke as he paced the living room. “I don’t know buddy, he andNico are going to look all over the city. They have friends helping and Nico’s family.”
Luke started to get teary-eyed again. “I really want my dad.”
“Come here, buddy,” I said, lowering my voice, making it softer. I knew I wasn’t the best person to be comforting the scared and nervous family right now, but for Luke, I would try.
Luke walked over and stood next to my recliner.
I pulled him over the arm of the chair and onto my lap, wrapping an arm around his waist and holding him tight. “Let’s FaceTime your dad and see where he’s at, alright?”
“Kay,” Luke whimpered, trying to be brave.
I pulled out my phone and quickly started a FaceTime call with Marcos. He didn’t answer right away, and just when I thought he wasn’t going to answer at all, he did. “Hey buddy,” Marcos said, seeing Luke’s face on the screen.
Luke broke down in tears immediately upon seeing Marcos. “Dad!”
“Aww buddy. I know you’re scared, but your mom’s going to be alright. I promise you we’re doing everything we can to find her.” Marcos tried to reassure him. “I’ll be home by bedtime, ok? Give me a couple more hours and then I’ll come home.”
Luke nodded, seemingly appeased by that. He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. “You promise?”Way to break a dude’s heart, little guy,I thought.
“I promise, Lucas. I will be home,” Marcos said.
“’k.”
“Alright, we’ll see you later,” I said, turning the camera toward my face before I hung up the call. I rubbed a hand over Luke’s back, and the kid melted into my side. I hugged Luke to me and settled in for the long haul.
Elaine put on some mindless action movie, something we’d all seen a million times, and the three of us settled down, trying to relax.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the front door, and I jerked my head at the sound, cursing myself for being so distracted. Looking through the large picture window that took up most of the front wall, I saw Kara and Kevin standing at the front door.
“Auntie Kara!” Luke exclaimed. Kara gave a little wave, and Luke jumped up to unlock the door.
“Hey buddy,” Kara greeted with a sad smile on her face. She immediately bent over and hugged him tightly to her.
Kevin “Rockstar” Adams walked past her into the house, arms laden with heavy grocery bags. I nodded to the man as he walked by. “How’s the wounds?” Kevin asked, and I thought that was more tactful than asking how I was doing. Because anyone would know, I wasn’t doing well.
“Sore,” I answered.
Kevin set all the grocery bags on the dining room table.
“Have you taken anything?” Kara asked, looking over at me.
I shook my head. “Not since we left this morning for the game.”
Kara frowned. “Where are the pills?” She didn’t wait for me to answer though; she headed down the hall and into Maya’s bedroom like she’d been here before.
It took me a minute to realize that Kara probably had been here before. She’d been friends with Maya since college, and even if they had a falling out in the last decade, they had still been close once.
Kevin busied himself in the kitchen, and Luke started helping him unload the grocery bags, keeping up a steady stream of chatter with the other man.
Kara returned a moment later, her long blond hair draped over her shoulder and the bottle of pain pills in her hand. She went into the kitchen and poured a glass of water before shereturned to the living room. “Here,” she said, handing me the pills and the water.
I didn’t argue with her. I downed both pills and the glass of water, drinking the whole thing down in two large gulps.
Kevin entered the living room carrying a plate.
I took the plate that I was handed and looked down at the sub sandwich and chips. “Thanks,” I muttered.
“Elaine, you hungry? We brought dinner.” Kara spoke gently to the older woman.
