Walking toward the kitchen, I can hear my wife moving around in there. Just before I enter, I hear a loud crash and glass breaking. Turning the corner, I see Shayna leaning against the counter with her head bowed looking into the sink. Walking up behind her, it appears she dropped a plate in the sink which in turn broke a glass. I wrap my arms around her and I feel her jump and tense, then her body begins to shake with sobs.
Reaching around her, I turn off the water in the sink. I grip her hips and turn her around to face me. Her face is streaming with tears as she leans forward resting her forehead against my chest. Gripping my shirt tightly in her fists, she moves into my embrace as I wrap my arms around her.
“Shhhh, baby. I know,” I whisper in her ear. “I miss her too. They will find her. I know they will.”
Lifting her face from my chest she looks at me. I can see the devastation in her face and hear it in her cries. “But… but what if they don’t, Cam. What if she’s gone forever?” she questions.
Taking my hand to cup her cheek, my thumb rubs under her eye wiping the tears rushing down to fall onto her shirt. “Don’t think like that. It’s only been a couple of days,” I try to soothe her. She moves away from me, pushing back to lean against the counter.
“They say the first 48 hours are the most crucial to finding her al–” she cuts herself off. Probably not wanting to think that. She slouches even further against the counter with that thought now prevalent in her mind.
Stepping in front of her, I know I need to take control right now or her thoughts will get the best of her. I lift my hands and cup her cheeks pulling her face up to mine.
“Princess,” I say with a more commanding tone, and her eyes immediately meet mine. “Stop that right now. This is not the time for these thoughts. We will keep faith that the cops will locate her. Got me?”
“Okay. I’m sorry. I’m just worried,” she says nodding.
“I know you are. So am I, but thinking like that will not do anything to help,” I reply.
Leaning down I kiss her forehead softly, letting my lips linger there. I’m worried what is going to happy with Shayna when I have to go back to work on Monday. They gave me the rest of this week off but I have to return next week. I’m terrified to leave Shayna home alone.
Looking over her shoulder into the sink, I see everything was done except that one plate and a glass. Kissing her forehead again, I tell her, “Go sit in the livingroom. I will finish cleaning this up. Then we will head to bed. I think a little sleep will help you.”
She nods, dropping her hands from gripping my shirt and moves around me going to the livingroom. Immediately I begin plucking the broken shards out of the sink of both the plate and cup. As I dump them into the garbage can, I hear something in the front room.
“Dad!” I hear Darian yell loudly. I move quickly with my hands still wet. When I round the corner, I see Shayna on the ground crying, with our son trying to comfort her. I move closer to them and squat down beside them.
“What is it?” I ask, but my wife is inconsolable huddled in a ball hugging her thighs to her chest. Her eyes are pressed into her knees as she cries uncontrollably. I look at her then Darian. Finally, Darian looks up at me.
“I don’t know what happened. She walked to the window,” he says pointing to the main window that faces the driveway, “and then collapsed.” When my eyes go to it, there is a knock on the door. I stare at the door then back to Shayna. Her eyes finally come to meet mine.
“Th-the only t-time they come by in s-situations like ours is with b-bad news,” she splutters out.
“Just a minute,” I yell to the door. Picking Shayna up bridal style, I carry her from the living room. I walk as quickly as possible to our room, laying her on the bed. Kissing her temple, I whisper, “Everything will okay.”
As I’m walking back to the front room, Landon comes out of his room hearing all the commotion. “Dad, what’s going on? Why is Mom crying?” he asks me. Darian is just standing in the same spot staring at the door. There is another knock on the door.
Slowly making my way to the door, I quickly look at Landon. “Bugg, can you go to our room and sit with your mother please?” I say, while reaching for the door handle.
“But–” he starts to argue.
“Now!” I say, in my deep commanding voice. He walks quickly to our room. When I hear the door click shut I open the front door and see a police office in full uniform. The guy has his hand resting on his utility belt. His demeanor does not feel positive. But I can also tell he is very schooled in his facial features. He seems to have done this a lot in the past. His eyes settle on mine then quickly glance behind me, making me turn my head to see Darian still standing there.
I tip my chin up toward our room, instructing my son to go there as well. If this is bad news, I don’t need him here to hear it. He takes a step toward me, eyes holding mine strong. “If it’s about Aunt Lexi, I need to know. I love her too,” he says strongly, yet a slight shake in his voice can be heard. I grip is shoulder giving him a little nod before turning back to the cop standing just outside the door.
“How can I help you officer?” I ask, stepping a bit closer to him crossing my arms over my chest.
“Mr. Lezzaro I presume?” he asks me. He isn’t one of the officers assigned to Lexi’s case, or I would recognize him. But that’s what scares me too. Would they send the ones whom we’ve been working with or someone better equipped to handle grief or whatever they think we will be going through.
“Yeah. That’s me. What can I do for you?” I ask him. I feel Darian step even closer to my side.
“I’m Officer Bailey. How are you doing this evening?” he asks, holding his hand out for me to shake. Which I do unconsciously, but my brow furrows because I’m so confused right now. What’s with the pleasantries?
“Could be better. What’s going on?” I ask, just trying to get him to give me some information. When our hands drop from the hand shake, he looks over his shoulder to where his police cruiser is parked. A female officer steps from the front passenger seat as Officer Bailey steps a bit aside.
The woman takes a few steps and opens the back door to the cruiser and opens it. My heart stops. My blood goes cold yet my entire body feels like it’s heating up. When Lexi steps out of the back seat, my feet feel stuck, rooted to the spot. She looks up at me with a small, warm smile as I eyes lock. I feel a body brush past me and I see Darian jogging toward the edge of the porch and jumping off, over all five of the cement stairs leading up.
He runs directly to her, wrapping his long arms around her shoulders as she wraps hers around his thin waist. He’s tall and thin, but she looks so small next to him. They stand in the middle of the lawn hugging for a few moments, while the female officer stands awkwardly near them.
