Little Lost Things

by Eleanor Chance

  Alec put her arm around Johnny's shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "He's the one that pushed me to become a writer after all the hours of listening to my make-believe stories at bedtime. He'll never be too old for my books."

  "I'll come over Sunday night for storytime if you'll wait,” Johnny said. “What are you working on now?"

  "I'm doing a new series based on these characters. The second book is in production, and I'm almost done writing the third, but I have another project I've been working on for a long time. It’s a secret. Your mom won't like it."

  Johnny sat back and crossed his arms. "Mom doesn’t like anything lately. Even me."

  "Stop that, Johnny. You know she loves you. You know she said the same thing about you before dinner. She thinks you hate her. You two need to call a truce."

  "She said that?" Johnny was shocked when Alec nodded. It bothered him that his mom thought he hated her or anything else. She made him crazy sometimes, but he still loved her. "I'll talk to her tomorrow."

  "Make sure you do," Adam said. "Seeing you two butt heads is getting old. You both deserve better."

  “I promise.” Ryan and Steph came inside, and Johnny said, "Can I go now, Dad?"

  Ryan nodded. "I'll get my keys."

  Grace came out of the kitchen carrying Graham. "That'll take an hour. That man can't seem to put his keys in the same place twice."

  Johnny laughed at her joke, and Grace gave him a surprised look. "We should get him one of those Binki clips Graham used to have." His mom smiled, and he felt a little less guilty for the way he'd acted earlier.

  "I’ll give him a ride, Dad,” Steph said. “It'll give us a chance to catch up."

  “Thanks,” Ryan said and handed her Johnny’s pack.

  Johnny surprised his mom again by giving her a hug and saying “love you" on his way out.

  "Love you, too. Have fun. Check in from time to time, so we know your brain hasn't melted."

  "Always do," he said. "See you Sunday, Auntie Alec. Thanks for the book."

  * * *

  Johnny buckled his seatbelt and took a deep breath through his nose. "Nice. New car smell."

  “I splurged on myself," Steph said. "I’m still getting used to being able to afford a new car instead of old junkers. I love all the toys.” She pushed the start button with a flourish.

  “I can’t hear the engine.”

  “It’s electric. I’m waiting for the day when I can afford a car that drives itself.”

  Johnny nodded in approval. “Seems like you’re over Graydon. I thought you’d be all weepy and depressed.”

  “I was at first, but I woke up one day and realized he wasn’t worth it. I’m learning I don’t need a guy to be happy. So, what's new with you? Dating anyone?"

  Johnny was glad it was dark so she couldn’t see him blush. He pointed at his crutches. "I'm only fourteen and not exactly a prize catch."

  "What, you're like eight feet tall and have rock-star blond hair. Who wouldn't want that?"

  "Only six foot, but will you come to my school and tell the girls that?" He looked out the window at the Halloween decorations on the houses they passed. He'd loved Halloween and was kind of sad that he was too old to trick-or-treat even if he'd never admit that to anyone. It was hard enough to get people to treat him like a normal person.

  Thinking of being normal reminded him of his genetics assignment. He wondered if Steph would be an even easier mark than Dad and decided to test her.

  "How much do you remember about me as a baby?"

  "That was random. Most of it. Why?"

  He told her about his assignment. "I tried to ask Mom, but she blew me off like always. You never do that. What happened to me when I was little?"

  Steph was quiet for a few seconds, and he as afraid she wouldn't tell him the truth either.

  "Jennifer, Mark and I came on the scene shortly before you turned two. I wasn't around much because I was away at school, but I remember when your mom took you home from the hospital. She told me about your coma and how you almost died. You had to go away for some reason before Grace adopted you. Then, you came back, and you’ve been with our parents since then. That’s all I remember. I was too absorbed in college life to pay much attention."

  "But what about my real parents? What happened to them? What happened before I ended up in the hospital?"

  "Dad and Grace are your real parents, but I know what you mean. Like I said, we showed up long after that. Your mom never talked about it much. She was just so happy that you survived and that she got to adopt you. You were such a cute little smooshy-face."

  Steph laughed, but Johnny didn't think it was funny. His gut told him there was more to the story, but he understood his mom not telling Steph what happened. She liked to keep secrets. Not Auntie Alec, though. She couldn’t help but blab about everything. Maybe she would be his next target.

  Steph pulled into Darnell's driveway and turned off the car. "Sorry I don’t know more. Need help getting out?"

  Johnny shook his head. "I've got it. Thanks for the ride. When will I see you again?"

  "I'll come hang out on Sunday. Have fun at the game. Go Ravens!"

  "We're Rams. Ravens are Jessie's school," Johnny said and laughed as he closed the door.

  * * *

  Mara was late getting back to the surgical unit where she was scheduled to assist the orthopedic-spine surgeon in a lengthy procedure after her break. She glanced at the TV in the surgical waiting room as she hurried past. Late or not, she skidded to a halt when she saw the image on the screen. Oblivious to the anxious family members seated behind her, she moved closer to the TV to read the closed captioning scrolling across the screen.

  Her eyes hadn’t deceived her. It was Alec Covington, or Alec Emerson now according to the scrolling words! It can't be her, Mara thought, but there Alec was, being interviewed on a cable news network. Mara grabbed the remote off an end table and turned up the sound. As she listened, her lips curled into a sneer.

  Interviewer: "My children love your books. They were thrilled when I brought this latest one home." The news anchor held up a shiny children's book. "Will there be more in this series?"

  Alec: "Yes, the next one is in production, and I'm writing the third. The release for that one is on hold because I've been working on a different project that has taken me several years to complete."

  Interviewer: "Another children's series?"

  Alec: "No, this one is a biography of my dear friend, Grace Ward Walker, and her son, Johnny. Many remember their story from twelve years ago, but I felt compelled to get the truth out to the public. Grace is a remarkable person. She's been a role model and mentor to me, and she's my biggest cheerleader."

  A grainy picture of Grace from a news clipping popped up in the corner of the screen.

  Alec: "You asked about my rock-climbing accident earlier. I would have given up after I broke my back from that rock-climbing fall if it hadn't been for Grace and Johnny. It's because of them that I got out of bed and learned to walk again. It's because of them that I became a writer when I couldn't be a nurse anymore. I think it's important for women, well, not just women, anyone really, to know the inner strength they have to succeed against seemingly insurmountable challenges. We don't need to be victims of our circumstances."

  A recent picture of Grace and one of Johnny came on the screen. Mara moved closer to get a better look. There he was, her boy, her angel. He was so handsome and tall. She wanted to reach into the TV and stroke his silky blond hair.

  Interviewer: "Sounds intriguing. What's the title and when will it hit bookshelves?"

  Alec: "It's titled Baby John Doe and will be out in time for the holidays. It's available for pre-order at all major retailers."

  Mara pressed the off button and let the remote slip from her fingers to the floor. The back popped off when it struck the tile, and every eye in the room turned toward Mara as the batteries popped out and rolled under a chair. She ignored them and stormed out of the waiting
room. She ripped off her staff ID badge as she passed the information desk and tossed it into the garbage. Fighting to quell her rage, she raced out of the entrance and headed for the parking lot without looking back.

  Chapter Three

  Grace found Ryan watching a movie in his man-cave when she got home from giving a lecture at the hospital. She checked to make sure Johnny wasn't home before tearing off her coat and climbing onto Ryan’s lap.

  When she came up for air after planting a passionate kiss on him, Ryan said, "Welcome home. What's gotten into you?"

  "You were so seductive in your stained t-shirt and ratty sweatpants that I couldn’t resist. Want to go upstairs? Is Johnny in his room?"

  Ryan leaned forward. "He wasn't here when I got home. I assumed you said he could stay out late. Where was he going tonight?"

  "He didn't ask to go anywhere. He was here when I left." Grace jumped up and grabbed her phone to check the tracker app. "He's at Damien's."

  "Probably just playing video games."

  Grace shoved the phone in her pocket. "Still think the tracker was a bad idea?"

  "Yes. We could have just called and asked."

  Grace shook her head. "He knows he's not supposed to leave without telling us where he is. He's pushing boundaries."

  Ryan held out his arms and motioned for her to come back to his lap. She hesitated before giving in. She wanted to be mad at Johnny but knew Ryan would coax her out of her anger. He always did.

  "He should be pushing boundaries, Grace. He was a prisoner to a wheelchair for ten years. He wants his freedom. He's just a few blocks away. Call and calmly tell him it's time to come home."

  Grace took some slow breaths. “Everything he does makes me so crazy. It’s not like me to lose my temper. He’s an expert at pushing my buttons. How will I survive four more years of this?"

  Ryan chuckled. "Marie was the same way with Mark and look how well he turned out. This will get easier as Johnny gets older, but you've got to loosen your grip. He's a good kid, but he’s not going to be perfect."

  "I'll have to trust you on this." Grace leaned her head on Ryan's shoulder. "You call him, but put it on speaker."

  Ryan tapped Johnny's name in his list of recent calls. It only rang twice before he answered.

  "What's up, Dad?" he said, over the noisy background.

  "Your Mom and I are wondering where you are and when you're coming home. It's getting late and I’ll bet you didn't think to take your meds with you."

  "I told you I was going to Damien's. Didn't you hear me?"

  Ryan gave Grace a sheepish look. "I didn't. Next time make eye contact so you know I heard you."

  "But you’re right about my meds. Can I have thirty more minutes?"

  His question was in the whiny, sing-song voice they'd never been able to resist when he was younger. Grace hadn't heard it in ages and smiled at the fond memory.

  "Hi, sweetheart. It's Mom. Thirty minutes but no more. Should we come get you?"

  "Nah, Jason said he’d take me home."

  "Love you," Ryan said. "See you in a few." He put the phone down and grinned at Grace. "Please don't leave me."

  Grace laughed and kissed him. "We both screwed up. I'll never figure out this parenting thing. I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions."

  "Disaster averted, but I hope you'll reconsider removing the tracker."

  Grace smiled without agreeing to reconsider. "Want to go upstairs and make out for thirty minutes?"

  Ryan stood her up and took her hand. They were up the stairs in record time.

  * * *

  Grace pulled up to Johnny's physical therapist office the following Monday afternoon and said, "I'll get you checked in but then I have errands to run. I’ll be back before you're finished." She opened her door but Johnny didn't unhook his seat belt. "You need to hurry. You know Tony doesn’t like it when you’re late."

  Johnny didn't move. "Tony will have to deal with it. I'm sick of PT. Can’t I miss just once?"

  Grace set her purse down and faced him. "What's wrong? You hardly said a word on the way here. Did something happen at school?"

  "No, I'm just tired, and PT hurts. Why can't I be like a normal kid who doesn't have PT three times a week for the rest of his life?"

  "I know it hurts. Trust me, I know, but don't think about the rest of your life. Just focus on this session. What does Tony always say?"

  "One step, one day at a time," Johnny said, mimicking Tony's gruff voice.

  Grace bit her tongue to keep from laughing. "Is he right?"

  He furrowed his brows. "Maybe. I don't know."

  "Let's go in and see where it goes. Tell Tony you're not feeling up to much. He knows how hard you usually work. Maybe he'll go easy on you."

  "Tony? Right. He's never gone easy on me."

  Grace undid Johnny's seatbelt, wishing she could just take him for donuts instead of forcing him to go to PT, but as much as he hated it, it was vital that he go. "Come on, buddy. No backing out."

  Johnny groaned but reached for his crutches and struggled out of the car. After Grace checked him in, she walked with Johnny to the warm-up area. Tony met them with his usual enthusiasm.

  "My favorite patient," he said and held his fist up for Johnny to bump. Johnny gave a half-hearted effort and let his hand drop. "What was that? Forget your energy pills this morning?"

  "Johnny's not feeling it today," Grace said.

  "You sick?" Tony asked Johnny.

  "Just tired," Johnny said, without raising his eyes.

  "You’re entitled to be tired now and then. Let's start with the tank and stretching today. We'll see what you've got in you after that."

  Johnny perked up slightly. He loved getting into the warm, miniature pool that Tony called the tank. As Tony led Johnny to the pool, he turned and gave Grace a nod. She mouthed a thank you and heard him ask Johnny if he'd seen the latest episode of their favorite show. Johnny told him he had and rattled off his opinion on it. Grace breathed a sigh of relief and left them to it.

  She was grateful to Tony for the magic he'd worked with Johnny over the years. He'd been vital to Johnny's success in progressing from his wheelchair to crutches. None of them would have had the strength to stick to it without him.

  Grace was lost in her thoughts when someone bumped her as she walked to her car. Grace glanced up to apologize and froze when she recognized the eyes staring back at her. She’d seen those eyes only once before, on the day Johnny was abandoned in the ER, but they were indelibly etched on Grace’s brain.

  Before Grace recovered from the shock, the woman spun around and tore off down the street. Grace threw her purse in the car and sprinted after her. She’d never been a fast runner and was outdistanced in a hurry. By the time Grace rounded the corner, the woman had vanished. While Grace frantically searched for her, a blue sedan sped around the opposite corner with tires squealing. Grace didn't even have time to get her license plate.

  She leaned against a tree to catch her breath and try to make sense of what just happened. Had it been Mara or was her mind playing tricks? Why would Mara dare come back to Richmond and risk getting caught? Had she known the time and place of Johnny’s PT appointment or had their encounter been a coincidence?

  Grace’s hands shook so hard as she limped back to the car that it took three tries to unlock the door. Once in the driver’s seat, she took out her phone to call 911 but decided to try Ryan first. He'd know what their next move should be. She dialed his number, but it went to voicemail, and she remembered he was giving a safety protocol presentation to other rangers that day. A safety presentation of all things, she thought. His phone would be turned off for hours. She’d have to figure it out on her own.

  As she relaxed against the seat and tried to clear her thoughts, the dry-cleaning ticket on the passenger seat caught her eye. Picking up the dry cleaning and going to the bank had seemed like top priorities until she came face to face with her worst fear. Johnny was in danger. They were all in danger. Nothin
g else mattered.

  Leaving Johnny at the PT clinic was out of the question, so Grace went inside to wait. She picked up a magazine and pretended to read, but her trembling hands made that impossible, so she laid the magazine in her lap and closed her eyes. Johnny's session was almost finished. She only had to keep it together for ten more minutes.

  She sprang out of the chair when Johnny came into the waiting room and ushered him to the car in a hurry. After getting him settled, she climbed into her seat and gripped the steering wheel. Her heartbeat still pounded so loud in her ears that it was hard to hear Johnny’s words.

  He tapped her shoulder and she jumped. "Here," he said, and held out the dry-cleaning slip. "Where are the clothes? Didn't you go to the cleaners?"

  The cleaners? Grace thought and stared at the ticket for several seconds before taking it from him and sliding it into her purse. "They were closed. The power was out for some reason."

  Johnny bought her excuse and didn't interrogate her. She backed out of the parking lot and tried to stop the terrifying incident from looping in her brain. Johnny rattled on about levels and worlds from his favorite video game, but Grace only caught snatches of what he said.

  "What's the matter with you? You're acting weird, and why’s your hair messed up? It’s not windy," he said, when they were halfway home.

  Grace took a breath to center herself. She’d hoped the days of being controlled by fear were behind her, and she wasn’t ready to explain Mara to Johnny. "I'm just preoccupied about a patient at work. I got a call while you were with Tony. I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

  Johnny eyed her for several seconds but shrugged and went back to talking about his game.

  * * *

  Grace paced in the kitchen while she waited for Ryan to get home from work and ran into the garage the instant the door opened. She pounced on Ryan before he was out of the car.

  "I saw her today, outside the PT clinic," she said in a rush.