by Carrie Elks
Any other time, she’d want to know more, but right now all she could think about was Josh. It was going to be dark in a few hours, and the weather was so cool. He was wearing a jacket, but that would be no match for the night time air.
Two more cars pulled up, and more people climbed out. “We’re here to help search,” one of the women said. “We want to help find the little boy.”
Mia’s eyes stung with tears as she watched them all get directions from the officers.
“Come on, let’s go inside,” she said to Michael, taking his hand.
“Can’t we go and help the search?”
She shook her head. “They need us here. What if Josh comes back? He’ll want to see us.” She glanced at her watch. “And it’s almost time for dinner.”
“I’m not hungry,” Michael told her.
No, neither was she. There was no way she wanted to eat when Josh could be hungry somewhere.
“Then we’ll wait,” she told him. “Until Josh is back. Then I’ll cook us all some supper.”
“What if he doesn’t come back?” Michael asked quietly. “What if somebody’s hurt him?”
“Don’t say that,” Mia said quickly. “Nobody would want to hurt Josh.” But that was a lie. There were bad people out there. She knew that.
Michael’s phone rang. “It’s dad,” he said. “He knows, right?”
“He was the first person we called.”
Michael nodded. He lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello.” He gave a pause. “No, not yet.” Mia couldn’t quite hear what Niall was saying on the other end of the line. Michael glanced up and caught her eye, his brows knitting together. “You’re not coming? Why not? Josh is missing.”
Mia took the phone from Michael. “Niall, where are you?”
“I’m at work. I can’t take more time off. If I lose this job I lose my house.” He cleared his throat. “And Gemma is pregnant. You know I’d be there if I could.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she told him, ignoring his revelation. That was his business. She couldn’t even find it in herself to be angry with him. She was too scared for that. “We’ll do this without you.”
“But you’ll let me know when he’s found, right?”
She sighed. “Yeah. I will.”
“Thank you.” He sounded almost worried. “I hope he’s okay.”
“So do I.” Mia ended the call without saying goodbye, and handed Michael back his phone.
She’d long since stopped expecting Niall to give a shit about his family. But from the expression on Michael’s face, he wasn’t quite there yet.
Cam’s phone lit up while he was in the line to buy a coffee. His plane was due to start boarding in twenty minutes. He hitched his bag onto his shoulder and swiped to accept the call. “Brian?” he said, nodding the person behind him through. “I’m at the airport. Can I call you when I’ve landed?”
“Um, not really.” Brian cleared his throat. “Something weird has happened in the Audi.”
Cam frowned. He’d forgotten all about Brian driving his car back to Boston. “What is it?” he said quickly. “If the car’s got any problems, drop it at a garage. I’ll cover the cost.”
“It’s not the car,” Brian said quickly. “It’s what’s inside. You know the space between the seats and the back, where there’s a cover to stow bags?”
“Yeah?” Cam said impatiently. He wanted to get on that damn plane.
“There’s a kid in there.”
“What?”
“I just stopped to get gas. That’s when I heard some shuffling. He somehow managed to get into the space and has fallen asleep. It’s one of the kids I gave a watch to. The little one.”
“Josh.” Cam blew out a mouthful of air. “Is he okay?”
“I think so. Should I wake him up? I’m not used to kids. Is he gonna kick and bite or something?”
“He’s not a damn dog,” Cam growled. “Just wake him gently.” He stepped back so more people could order ahead of him.
“Okay.” There was some shuffling, then Brian’s low voice. “Hey kid, you okay there?”
Cam heard a higher voice, and his heart about leapt out of his chest. Josh was okay. He put his hand on his ribcage, trying to breathe as the low conversation continued.
“Um, he’s awake,” Brian said through the phone line. “And he’s okay. Apparently, he wants to see you. He told me he got in the car when I was parked outside your house in Hartson’s Creek.”
Cam’s heart was still running a mile a minute. “Can I talk to him?”
“Sure. Hey kid, talk to Cam.” Brian’s voice echoed, as though he was holding out the phone.
“Hello?” Josh’s voice was small. “Cam?”
“Josh, are you all right?”
“Yeah. I want to see you. Are you in Boston?”
“No. I’m on my way to see your mom and Michael. They’re frantic. They have no idea where you are.”
“They’re both so angry. And Mom’s sad. She keeps crying. I wanted to see you and ask you to come back. I don’t like it when they argue.”
Cam breathed out softly. “I am coming back, pal. And I want to see you, too. Stay with Brian, okay? We’ll get you back home and I’ll meet you there. Don’t go anywhere without him.”
“All right.” There was a pause, then Josh added, “Are you mad at me, too?”
“No, bud, I’m not mad at you. I’m so happy you’re okay. But I need to get you home, and I need to let your mom know you’re okay. She’s so upset.”
Josh sobbed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Everything’s okay. We’re gonna get you home. Can I talk to Brian again? I’ll see you in a few hours, I promise.”
Brian came back on the line. “So what do I do?”
“You turn around and drive back to Hartson’s Creek. To the house you went to this morning. I’ll meet you there.”
“Shouldn’t I go to a local police station or something?” Brian asked. “What if they think I’ve abducted him? I’m too pretty for prison.”
“If you go to a police station that’ll take time. Mia needs to see her son.” Cam raked his hand through his hair. “Just drive carefully and within the speed limit. Josh is important to me. I’ll call Mia and the police to explain.”
“Okay. You’re the boss.”
“Yeah, I am. How long will it take you to get back to Hartson’s Creek?”
“About four hours if I put my foot down,” Brian told him.
“Drive carefully, Don’t rush,” Cam told him sharply. “Just take care of him.”
“I’ll treat him like he’s the Vince Lombardi Trophy,” Brian promised. “But please make sure I don’t get arrested.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“Hello?” Mia lifted the phone to her ear. She was standing on the porch with Michael, Sam, and one of the police officers who was staying with her while everybody else searched. “Cam? Are you on the plane?”
“Just about to board. Listen, I just got a call from Brian. You met him earlier, right?”
“Your assistant?” Mia swallowed hard. This morning felt like a lifetime ago. “Yeah, he came around this morning.”
“Well, he stopped for gas and found a stowaway behind the seats. Josh is with him. He’s completely fine, I spoke to him, but he’s worried you’re all upset. Brian is turning around and driving him back to you now. He should be there by late evening.”
Mia’s hands started shaking uncontrollably. The tension in her chest seemed to heighten, a low sob escaping her lips. “He’s okay?” she whispered, her voice wavering. “Josh is okay?”
The officer standing with her turned his head to look at her. “Ma’am?”
She covered the mouthpiece. “He’s been found in the back of my friend’s car. He’s fine.” The officer nodded and passed along the news through her radio. Lifting her hand from the phone, Mia asked Cam, “Can I talk to him?”
“Yeah. I’ll text you Brian’s number. He should have his phone on Blueto
oth. He’s absolutely petrified he’s gonna get arrested for child abduction.”
“Why was Josh in the car?” Adrenaline was rushing through her like a drug. She couldn’t think straight.
Cam cleared his throat. “Apparently, he wanted to see me. He wants you and Michael to stop arguing.”
“Oh god.” Mia covered her eyes with her free hand.
“It’s okay,” Cam said softly. “He’s coming home. And so am I. Just hang in there, and we’ll be with you before you know it. I have to board my flight in a few minutes, and I won’t be able to call you until I land, but if I can buy some WiFi I’ll be on messenger.”
Tears were flowing down Mia’s cheeks. He was okay. Her baby was coming home. “I wish you were here now.”
“So do I, baby, so do I.”
“Will you come straight here from the airport?”
“Wasn’t planning on doing anything else. Can you talk to the police, explain about Brian and Josh? I don’t want to miss my flight. I need to see you all.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’ll tell them now.”
“Thank you.” His voice was soft. “And tell Michael I’ll see him soon. That I’m looking forward to catching up with him.”
“I will.” Her voice was thick. “Cam…”
“I know. I love you, too.”
That was all she needed to hear for the tears to start flowing. All the fear and tension that had been wrapped up inside her started to escape, wracking her body and making her reach out for Michael’s shoulder to stop herself from falling.
“Don’t cry,” Cam crooned. “It’s okay. Hang in there for a few more hours.” She could hear the echo of an announcement. “I’ll see you real soon.”
She was still crying as he ended the call. Wiping the hot salty trails from her cheeks, she turned to Michael, who was staring at her, his eyes watering, too.
“He’s really okay?”
“He really is.” She gasped in some air. “He’s coming home.”
“Let’s go inside. You can tell me everything in there,” the officer suggested. “I’ve already let my partner know to call off the search.”
“We were about to leave to start another search,” Becca called out, running up the stairs, her eyes wide with hope. “Is it true what the police said? Is Josh okay?”
Mia nodded, her chest too full to say anything else. Becca threw her arms around her, pulling her close as Mia sobbed into her shoulder. “He’s okay. He was in Cam’s car that Brian was driving to Boston.”
“How the hell did Brian not notice?” Becca muttered. “No, nix that. Brian always plays music way too loud. He’s a damn metal fan. I’m surprised he isn’t completely deaf already.” She blew out a mouthful of air. “How far away are they?”
“Cam said a few hours.” She checked her watch. How had the time gone so quickly today, and now it was only a minute since Cam hung up? She wanted time to speed up, to hold her baby in her arms.
To see Cam again. Because right now she didn’t know what to do without either of them.
“Ma’am, shall we go inside?” the officer asked.
“That’s a good idea.” Sam nodded. “It’s cold and you two need to eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” Michael said, his eyes rimmed red.
“I know, son, but you need to eat. For Josh’s sake. He needs you both to be strong for him.”
“Do you want me to come, too?” Becca asked Mia.
“It’s okay. You guys have done enough.” Mia hugged her again. “Thank you for everything. All of you. You’re an amazing family.”
“So are you guys,” Becca told her. “And you’re a part of our family, too. With or without Cam.”
Mia blinked back more tears. She needed to wash her face before Josh came home. She was a mess, and he didn’t need to see that.
“Call me if you need anything,” Becca said, walking down the steps. “Any time at all. And Logan’s heading to the airport to meet Cam. All your boys will be home before you know it.”
All her boys. She liked the sound of that. Liked the thought of being surrounded by the people she loved so much it hurt. And after today – or the past weeks if she was being honest – she was going to hold them all so tightly.
It was time to have her family back. That was all she wanted.
“Hello? Mia? Is there any news?”
She’d thought about not phoning Niall. Or at least delaying her call for a little while. But that wasn’t her style. Even if he was being an asshole, she didn’t need to stoop to his level.
“They’ve found Josh,” she said, keeping the emotion out of her voice. “He’s okay.”
There was silence for a moment. “Are you sure he’s okay? Where was he?”
“In a car. He’d climbed inside to try and get to Boston.” She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. “It’s a long story.”
She expected him to ask for more information. Because she’d be demanding it. She’d be desperate to know exactly where and why Josh had tried to get to Boston.
“Well that’s good. I knew it would all be okay. I’ll give him a call over the weekend.”
The difference between his response and Cam’s spoke for itself. And it made her heart hurt. Not for herself, but for her boys. Niall wasn’t even a part time father. His role in his children’s lives was a little more than a cameo part.
“Maybe you shouldn’t call him.” The words escaped her lips before she could think them through.
“What do you mean?” There was a frown in his voice. She remembered too late that Niall hated being told what to do. Even when she was right.
Especially when she was right.
“What I mean is you can’t just flit in and out of their lives and not be there for them when they need you. Michael called you today, he was so upset. And you couldn’t even be bothered to make him feel better. He needed you, Niall, and you weren’t there. The same way you haven’t been there for him for years.”
“I only left a year ago.”
Physically, sure. But emotionally? She’d been a single parent for as long as she could remember.
Mia swallowed hard. “If you want to be part of the boys’ lives, then you’ll need to commit to regular contact. And maybe you need to do some therapy with them.”
“You can’t tell me what I need to do. I have rights…”
She wanted to laugh at his rights, but she was afraid it’d come out as a hysterical scream. Right now the emotions were getting the better of her. “You do,” she said, keeping her voice as even as possible. “But you also have two young men who are confused about your place in their lives, and you aren’t making it any better for them. If you want to be their father, then great, I’ll support you. Damn, I’ll make it easy for you. But if you hurt them then I’ll fight you with every breath that I have. Those boys deserve better than a father who can’t be bothered when the going gets tough.”
Silence blasted down the phone line. Mia inhaled a ragged breath, leaning on the kitchen counter. Michael was in the living room, thank goodness, not able to hear this call.
“I…” Niall sighed heavily. “I don’t know what to say.”
Say you’ll be their father. Say you love them. Say you’ll fight for them.
“Think about it,” she suggested. “Let me know what you want.”
Niall cleared his throat. “I’ve never been good enough, have I?”
Mia ran her fingers through her hair. “For me? No. You never were. But you’re the boys’ father. And you’re going to be a father again. It’s up to you to work out if you’re good enough. Nobody else.” She blew out a mouthful of air. “I need to go.” She didn’t want to talk to him any longer. Didn’t want to beg him to be the parent that Michael and Josh needed him to be. If he walked away, they’d deal with it, the way they’d dealt with it when he left.
They’d do more than deal with it. They’d thrive, because her kids were amazing.
“Bye,” Niall muttered, as thoug
h he couldn’t wait for the call to end.
“Bye.” She swiped the screen with her finger, and shoved her phone into her pocket. Whatever Niall decided to do didn’t really matter. They’d be okay. Because she’d make sure they were.
The same way she always did.
They were sitting in the living room when lights swept over the window. Even though it was dark, Mia hadn’t closed the curtains. She was too desperate to keep a watch on the road outside for that. After she’d explained the situation to the police and then spoken to Niall, she’d called the number Cam sent her, her heart pounding against her chest as Brian answered, and Josh’s voice echoed down the phone line.
He’d sounded so young as he kept saying sorry over and over. She hated that she couldn’t hold him. Because he didn’t need to be sorry – that was her job.
Michael was the first to jump up from the sofa when the headlamps hit. He had better reflexes than she did, but it was only a heartbeat later that she was joining him at the window, her breath caught in her throat as she saw Cam’s blue Audi pull into the driveway. The police officer joined her, and all three of them stared out of the window.
“He’s here,” Michael shouted. Sam lifted his head up, blinking. He’d fallen asleep about an hour earlier.
They rushed into the hallway, Michael yanking open the door and running onto the porch, Mia right behind him, followed by the officer. Then Brian climbed out of the car, opening the rear door so Josh could hop out, and the tears started stinging at her eyes again.
Josh looked tiny next to the car. He had a bottle of water in his hand as he stared wide-eyed at the three of them standing on the porch. There was a wary expression on his face, as though he wasn’t sure what his reception would be. Mia held her arms out, and his face crumpled as he ran the distance between the car and the steps, taking them two at a time.
His body collided with hers, the force winding her, but she ignored the pain and wrapped her arms around her son, hugging him tight.
“Oh my god,” she whispered. “Oh Josh. You’re here.” It was hard to breathe.
“I’m sorry,” he sobbed into her chest. “I’m so sorry.”