Protecting Her

by Allie Everhart

  He’s so obsessed with sports. It’s all he talks about. In order to have conversations with him, I had to have Pearce give me lessons in every sport. My dad taught me about football but that’s it. I didn’t know anything about soccer or baseball or basketball.

  “You could be a superhero,” I say.

  “I guess.” He doesn’t sound too excited about that. “What was dad when he was a kid?”

  “Your dad didn’t dress up for Halloween. Your grandparents didn’t celebrate it.”

  “Why not?”

  “They’re not really into holidays.”

  “I love holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. Except I don’t like Valentine’s Day. It’s for girls.”

  “It’s not just for girls. It’s for everyone. Someday you’ll like a girl and you’ll want to give her a valentine.”

  “No way.” I glance at him in the rearview mirror and see him making a face. “I’ll never like a girl enough to give her a valentine.”

  “Not now, but you will someday.” It makes me wonder what his future wife will be like and when he’ll meet her. Will he meet her in college? Or maybe he’ll meet her at work, when he’s older.

  “I do NOT like Alyssa,” he proclaims. “You need to have a talk with that girl, Mom.” He’s so serious I almost laugh.

  “What’s wrong with Alyssa?”

  “She wants to be my girlfriend. I told her no but she didn’t listen. She told me she’s gonna tell her whole class I’m her boyfriend.”

  “It’s okay, honey. You don’t go to her school. Nobody will know who she’s talking about.”

  “I don’t care. I still don’t like her. She wears too much pink and she smells funny.”

  “Garret, that’s her perfume.” I’m trying really hard not to laugh.

  “Well, it stinks.”

  I pull into the mall and park by the Halloween store. It’s only here for October and then it turns into a Christmas store. We go inside and Garret looks around a little, but ends up picking out a football player costume.

  While we’re at the mall, I stop in one of the department stores to check out the dresses. Pearce and I have a party to go to this weekend and I’m not sure what to wear. The party is at Royce’s house. I don’t like Royce or Victoria, and neither does Pearce, but we’re still expected to make an appearance. It’s one of those rules of high society. You attend parties hosted by people you don’t like and pretend that everyone gets along. It’s something I’ve come to accept over the years although I still find it completely ridiculous.

  “Rachel.” I look behind me and see Grace Sinclair, Royce’s mother. She and I are on a committee for the leukemia society.

  “Hello, Grace.” I look at the little girl standing next to her. “Hi, Sadie.”

  She ignores me and focuses on the contents of the tiny pink purse that’s hanging off her shoulder. Sadie’s not friendly to me because her mother doesn’t like me. I’m convinced Victoria told her daughters to never speak to me. Whenever I see them at parties, Victoria and her daughters always avoid me, and if Garret is there, they ignore him too. Royce still speaks to me, but only long enough to say a polite hello and then he hurries off to talk to someone else.

  “Sadie, say hello,” Grace says.

  “Hi,” she mumbles, not looking at me.

  Grace sighs at Sadie’s response, then turns to Garret and smiles. “Hello, Garret. How is school going?”

  “Good,” he says. “I’m on a football team.”

  “Football is stupid,” Sadie says, zipping up her purse.

  “Sadie, that’s not nice,” Grace says to her. “Just because you don’t like something doesn’t mean it’s stupid.”

  “So what are you doing way out here?” I ask, because Grace’s house is forty minutes away. Her Connecticut house. She and Arlin own several homes.

  “This mall has a store that Sadie likes. It’s a candy store that has a large assortment of specialty candy you can’t find elsewhere. We’re headed down there now. You could come with us if you’d like.”

  I smile. “Thank you, but I think Garret will get plenty of candy on Halloween. So is just Sadie with you?”

  “Yes. Victoria has Emily and the baby. Sadie doesn’t have school tomorrow so she’s staying with grandma and grandpa for the night.”

  I like Grace. She always seems genuine, not fake, like the other rich people I know. She’s extremely wealthy but very down to earth. She’s always been nice to me. Her husband, Arlin, is also really nice. I don’t know what happened to Royce. He didn’t turn out like either one of them. He’s even more obnoxious now than when I first met him. And he still talks down to women, even though he now has three daughters.

  “Are you going to Royce’s party this weekend?” Grace asks.

  “Yes. We’ll be there.” I try to sound enthusiastic even though I’m dreading this party.

  “Then I’ll see you this weekend.” She smiles and holds Sadie’s hand. “We need to get our candy and head home.”

  “Goodbye, Grace,” I tell her. “Bye, Sadie.”

  As they leave, Sadie turns back and sticks her tongue out at Garret.

  He rolls his eyes. “See? That’s why I’ll never like a girl.”

  “You just need to meet the right one.” I put my arm around him and lead him out of the store. “Let’s go home. We need to get our movie night set up.”

  “Yes!” He punches the air. “Movie night!”

  We started movie night a few years ago. Pearce doesn’t like going to the theater because of the sticky floors and the people who talk during movies. So I started movie night at home, complete with a concession stand. I put up a folding table and set out popcorn, candy, and drinks. I even make a concession stand sign with drawings of the dancing popcorn and soda people that always appear before the movie starts.

  We usually have movie night only on Fridays, but since it’s Halloween week, we’re having it every night this week and watching scary movies. For Garret’s sake, ‘scary’ is limited to Halloween-themed cartoons, mostly Scooby-Doo.

  “Can I make the sign?” Garret asks as we’re driving home.

  “You have to. That’s your job.” Lately, Garret’s been making the concession stand sign. We could’ve just used one of my old ones but he likes to make a new one every time.

  When we get to the house, Garret races inside with his costume. I go to the kitchen to get dinner started. Pearce walks in a few minutes later.

  “You’re early.” I give him a quick kiss. “It’s only five.”

  “It’s movie night. I couldn’t be late.” He pulls me closer and gives me a longer kiss.

  “Look at my costume,” Garret says from behind us.

  We break apart and look at him.

  “Do you like it?” I ask him.

  “Yeah, it’s like a real uniform.” He goes up to Pearce and hugs him. “Hey, Dad.”

  He hugs him back. “Would you like to go throw the ball around before dinner?”

  “Yeah! I’ll be right back.” He turns and runs out of the kitchen and back up the stairs.

  Pearce takes me in his arms again. “Did you get a costume too?”

  I laugh. “No. I think my trick-or-treat days are over.”

  He leans down by my ear. “I was thinking more along the lines of a sexy nurse costume or maybe a French maid.”

  “Hmm. I like that idea.” I smile. “I might have to go back to the store.”

  We kiss again just as Garret runs into the kitchen. “Why are you guys always kissing? It’s gross.”

  Pearce laughs. “You’ll understand when you’re older. I need to go change.”

  While he’s upstairs, Garret starts taking the licorice and other candy from the pantry.

  “Honey, we’re having dinner first,” I tell him.

  “I know. I’m just getting it ready.”

  He likes to help me set up the concession stand.

  “Then let me get the table out.” I go in the laundry room an
d get the foldout table and set it up in the family room. “Okay, it’s all set.”

  He already has the licorice arranged in a glass and the M&M’s in a bowl. He does it just the way I do.

  “I’ll make the sign when I get back.” He yanks open the sliding door to the back yard. “Tell Dad I’m outside.”

  “Okay, honey. I’ll tell him.” I smile as I watch him leave. He’s such a good kid.

  And Pearce is such a great dad. Before we had Garret, Pearce was so worried he’d be a bad father. Holton never did anything with Pearce when he was a child so Pearce had no example of how to be a father. But he figured it out, and now he’s a great dad. And he loves being a dad. I think, in a way, having Garret allowed Pearce to relive his own childhood, which he never really had.

  “You’re wanted outside,” I say as Pearce comes back in the kitchen, wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

  “Then I better get out there.” He kisses me. “I love you.”

  I smile. “I love you too.”

  We have dinner, followed by movie night, which is like a party to Garret since it’s on a school night instead of Friday night. Then Garret goes to bed and Pearce and I have our own private party in our bedroom.

  The next morning, I take Garret to school, then go to a meeting for a holiday fundraiser I’m planning with some other women in town. We’re raising money to help restore the historic church that’s just outside the town square. It’s a beautiful church and none of us want it to be torn down, which is what will happen if it’s not restored.

  In the afternoon, I go to pick up Garret. He attends the private school Holton signed him up for years ago. I don’t like that Holton did that without consulting Pearce and me, but it turned out to be a really good school.

  As I’m driving there, Shelby calls. I haven’t talked to her forever.

  “Shelby, are you pregnant again?” I’m teasing her, because it seems like she only calls me when she’s pregnant. She and Logan now have three kids, a boy and twin girls. They live in New York. They moved there four years ago.

  She laughs. “I’m not pregnant, but I know what you’re saying. I promise to call you more.”

  “It’s okay. I’m just kidding. So how have you been?”

  “Exhausted. But I love it. I guess you were right. I guess I’m the mom type after all.”

  “I knew you were.” I smile. “How’s Logan?”

  “He’s been working a lot. But we’re going on vacation next week. Leaving the kids with my mom.”

  “I wish I could get Pearce to go on vacation. He’s always so busy with work that we never go anywhere. Maybe I could get him to go somewhere between Christmas and New Year’s when Garret’s out of school.”

  She’s quiet and I check my phone. “Shelby, are you there?”

  “Yeah. I um…I was just thinking, doesn’t Pearce always have some kind of conference for his company that week?”

  “Yes, but maybe he could skip it this year. I don’t know. I have to talk to him about it.”

  “How have his parents been?”

  “They’ve been okay. They go in phases. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. But the past few months have been mostly good. I’ve continued to be overly nice to Holton and it drives him crazy. He doesn’t know what to do. I even made him a cake for his birthday. He wouldn’t eat it, but I don’t care. I’m still going to make him one every year. ”

  She laughs. “Kill him with kindness.”

  “You need to come visit us sometime. I haven’t seen the kids for almost a year.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll talk to Logan and we’ll figure out a time when we can come there.” I hear crying in the background. “I have to go. I’ll call you when I get back from vacation. Bye, Rachel.”

  “Bye, Shelby.” I hang up just as I’m pulling into Garret’s school. Other parents are already lined up, waiting for their kids. At three-thirty the kids start filing out. Usually Garret is one of the first ones to leave because his classroom is by the door. But I don’t see him. Maybe he stayed behind to talk to the teacher. He’s probably telling him about his Halloween costume.

  Garret’s a talker. He talks to everyone. He’s not at all shy. He’s very confident, like his dad, and outgoing, like me. Growing up, I always made friends easily, and so does Garret. He’s the most popular kid in his class.

  At three-forty, most of the kids and parents have left. I get out of the car and go inside to his classroom. He’s not there, but his teacher is there, grading papers at his desk.

  “Mr. Elton,” I say, getting his attention.

  He looks up and smiles. “Hello, Mrs. Kensington.”

  “Do you know where Garret is?’

  He seems puzzled by my question. “Garret left around two-thirty.”

  “What do you mean he left? Where did he go?”

  “He was called down to the office. The secretary said someone was here to pick him up. I assumed it was you or your husband.”

  “No.” Unless Pearce picked him up. But why would he do that and not tell me? And why would he pick him up an hour early? “Would you excuse me?”

  “Of course.” Mr. Elton goes back to grading papers.

  I go out in the hall and call Pearce. When he picks up, I ask, “Do you have Garret with you?”

  “No. I’m at the office. Why do you ask?”

  Panic hits me like a lightning bolt, striking my chest and coursing through my limbs.

  “Someone took Garret!” I frantically glance around the hall, hoping he’ll suddenly appear, but the halls are empty.

  “Rachel, what are you talking about?”

  “He’s gone! Someone took him! Someone took Garret!”

  “Where are you right now?”

  “At his school. I came to pick him up, like I always do, but he’s not here.”

  “Did you ask someone at the school if they’d seen him?”

  “Yes. I talked to his teacher and he said someone picked up Garret over an hour ago.”

  “But he doesn’t know who?”

  “No. He assumed it was you or me.”

  “Shit!” Now Pearce is panicked. “This doesn’t make sense. They can’t release a child to someone who isn’t a parent. It’s against their policy. Did you talk to the principal?”

  “No. I’ll go down there right now.”

  “Call me back after you talk to her.”

  “I will.” I run down the hall to the principal’s office. The light’s off and the door is closed. How could she have left already? School just ended.

  “Can I help you?” a woman asks. I’ve seen her before. I think she’s a teaching assistant for one of the other grades.

  “Yes. I’m looking for the principal.”

  “She left for the day. She had an appointment to get to.”

  “What about the secretary?”

  “She went home sick over an hour ago. Is there something I can help you with?”

  “No. I have to go.” I race out of the building and call Pearce. I’m so panicked, I feel like I’m hyperventilating. “She’s not there,” I tell Pearce. “The principal left and the secretary is gone. Someone has Garret! We don’t know where he is! We don’t know who has him! Oh my God!”

  “Rachel, just calm down. I’ll figure this out.” I hear noise; a door opening and then people talking. Pearce must be walking down the hall at the office.

  “Who would take him?” I’m crying now as I hurry to my car. “Why would someone take our son?”

  “Sweetheart, just take some breaths and try to calm down. I will find him. I promise you.” I hear a loud noise, like a door slamming against a wall. “Are you sure he didn’t go home with one of his friends?”

  “He knows better than to do that without telling me.” I get in the car.

  “He’s only six. He doesn’t always think before doing things. Maybe one of his friends asked him to come over to his house and Garret just forgot to call and tell you.”

  “Maybe.” I take some breaths and calm down a
little, considering that could be a possibility. But if that were the case, he wouldn’t have left early. “No. Pearce, that’s not it. His teacher said he left an hour ago and that he was called to the office. Someone was waiting for him. They purposely went there to get him.”

  “Rachel, I need to hang up and make some calls. I’ll find him. Just give me some time.”

  “Who are you calling? The police?”

  “No. I can’t talk right now. The longer we wait, the more—never mind. I have to go.”

  “I’m calling the police.”

  “No!” Pearce almost yells it. “Don’t call the police. It’s too soon. He hasn’t been gone that long.”

  “Pearce, he’s a child! And he’s missing! We have to tell the police!”

  “Not yet. Just give me a minute to make some calls. Are you okay to drive?”

  “Yes. But where should I go? What should I do?”

  “Just go home. I’ll meet you there.”

  He hangs up and I start the car and pull out of the school parking lot. I manage to make it home but I’m not sure how. I don’t even remember driving here.

  I race inside. “Garret!” I yell it as I search the house. “Garret, are you here?” I go upstairs but he’s not in any of the rooms. I check out the back yard and then the front. He’s not there either. He’s gone.

  I collapse on the couch in the family room, sobbing into my hands.

  He’s not here. My son is missing. Someone has him. Someone took my son.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  15

  PEARCE

  “Where is he?” I ask my father’s secretary. He’s not in his office and he’s the only person I can think of who might have Garret.

  “He’s in a meeting,” she says.

  “Here in the building?”

  “No. It was somewhere else. I don’t know where. He didn’t tell me.”

  “Did he say what the meeting was for or who it was with?”

  “No, he didn’t say.”

  “When did he leave?”

  “Around noon. Mr. Kensington, is something wrong?”

  I don’t answer her. I turn and go back down the hall toward the parking garage. I call my father’s cell phone. He doesn’t pick up.

  Is he really in a meeting, or does he have Garret? But why would he have Garret? Why would he pick him up at school in the middle of the afternoon? It’s not like he’d take him out for ice cream or to the movies. My father doesn’t do things like that. He doesn’t do anything with his grandson, other than lecture him on the importance of a good education and discourage him from playing sports. My father thinks sports are a waste of time so he hates that Garret is involved in them. I believe in letting Garret do the things he likes to do, so if he has an interest in sports, I encourage it, as long as he gets his school work done.