by Lisa Jordan
Claudia’s cherry-red SUV shot up the drive and braked next to the farm truck. Their father opened the door and hurried out, his face creased in deep lines. “You two knuckleheads forget how to answer a phone?”
Jake pulled his out of his back pocket and waved it. “Sorry, Pops. My volume’s been off since the wedding.”
Evan patted his shorts pockets. “I must have left mine in my tux pants pocket. What’s going on?”
“Ted called. Natalie’s been trying to get a hold of you. Aidan’s gone missing.”
Evan froze. “What do you mean gone missing? How long ago was that?”
Dad glanced at his watch. “About twenty minutes ago.”
Off in the distance, heat lightning stroked the sky.
“A storm’s rolling in sooner than expected.” Evan dragged a hand over his face. “We need to split up and find him. Dad, can you run me back so I can grab my truck?”
“Hop in. Jake, head down the hill and trace the route from the Bishops’ to Joe’s Diner. I’ll take the other end of the hill near the Watsons’ and work my way back to our place. Ev, run along the property line. Let’s find him before the rain hits.”
Evan rounded the SUV and slammed the door just as the sky opened and rain bulleted the windshield.
So much for the rain holding off.
With the wipers squeegeeing the water from the glass, Evan mumbled the same prayer over and over. “God, please protect my son.”
Back at his place, Evan scrounged through his tux for his phone, dug through a duffel for rain gear, then hustled outside to his truck.
He slid in behind the wheel and started the engine. “Guide me, God.”
As he drove at a snail’s pace down the road, Evan tried to scan the fields for his little boy, but between the darkness and falling rain, visibility was nearly invisible.
How was he going to find Aidan in this downpour?
He was not going to let negative thinking affect his focus or feed his fears.
Hopefully, Aidan was about to find shelter out of the storm. He could only imagine how scared the little boy would be once the thunder and lightning struck.
After driving slowly up and down the main road along the Holland property and seeing nothing, Evan braked and pressed his head against the rest.
He needed to think.
Where would the little guy have gone?
A sudden image of the footbridge over the stream flashed before his eyes.
Throwing the truck in Reverse, Evan backed up the truck to the narrow, rutted lane between the cornfield and pasture that led to Arrowhead Creek.
At the end of the path, he cut through the grassy area and stopped at the bank. He shut off the engine, leaving the headlights on so he could see. Evan shrugged on a rain jacket and grabbed a floatable flashlight from the glove box. He patted his back pocket to make sure he had his phone this time.
Still wearing his flip-flops, he slid in the wet grass as he rounded the truck to search the steep bank. He meant to grab his wet shoes but he had been so focused on hurrying to find Aidan that he left the RV without them. And now he didn’t want to waste the time to go back and get them. He’d have to make the best of it.
Shining his light over the footbridge, he found it empty, but the bridge wasn’t in the same spot. He moved the light closer. It looked like it had been moved.
“Aidan!” The wind picked up, grabbing his words and carrying them away.
Evan scrambled down the bank, his feet sliding in the mud. He kicked off his flip-flops, hoping he’d have better traction with his bare feet.
He scanned the bank with the light. “Aidan!”
The rain pounding against the rocks and the rushing water drowned out any sound.
Please, God...
At the base of the bank, he slipped the flashlight under his arm and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Aidan!”
Still nothing.
Evan turned to check the creek on the other side of the footbridge. As he tried to climb around the footbridge, his foot slipped, and he slammed his left shoulder into the wood. He bit back a howl and tried to stand. His flashlight dropped into the water and floated under the bridge.
Icy water slid over his bare skin and rocks cut into his feet as he surged for the light. He lost his footing again, falling into the water, and the flashlight floated out of reach.
Thunder crashed and lightning speared the sky.
A scream sounded not too far from Evan, on the other side of the creek. His pulse raced as a surge of adrenaline pushed him to his feet. “Aidan!”
Using the bridge as a guide, Evan sloshed through the water and ducked under the wooden platform. His foot caught on something.
Probably a fallen branch from one of the overhead trees.
He reached down to free it. Instead of tree bark, he touched vinyl. He tugged and lifted a sodden backpack out of the water. From the glare of the truck headlights, he could make out a Spider-Man logo.
Aidan’s backpack.
Chest heaving and heart racing, Evan threw it up on the bank. He kept one hand against the bank and walked slowly down the creek bed. “Aidan!”
“Dad!”
Relief washed over him. “Aidan, I’m coming. Listen for my voice.”
“I’m stuck.”
“I’m coming, buddy. Keep talking.”
Evan hurried toward the sound of his son’s voice. He tried to make out a shape or something that would alert him to Aidan’s location, but with the tree cover, darkness and the rain, he was walking blindly.
His foot hit a protruding rock. He scrambled to break his fall. He pitched forward, his shoulder slamming again into the water, this time against a log or something.
He felt a familiar pop, along with blades of fire that sliced from his elbow to his neck. He let out a moan as bile rose in his throat. He tried to shift his body to his right to gain momentum, but his knee slid on an algae-covered rock, causing him to lose his balance and fall face-first into the water.
Holding his left arm tightly to his chest, he pushed his right hand against the bottom of the creek bed and managed to move to his knees. “Aidan, I’m coming.” His voice sounded garbled, strangled to his own ears.
Fire blazed in his shoulder joint as water splashed over him.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears. Sweat slicked his skin. Pressure ballooned in his chest. His ragged breathing came in shallow breaths.
He was trapped. Caught. The water. The darkness.
He tugged on the collar of his soaked T-shirt, trying to make room to breathe.
“Dad!”
Evan sucked in a lungful of air mixed with pelting rain. “C-coming, A-Aidan.”
Mustering as much strength as he could, Evan gritted his teeth and pushed to his feet, letting out a growl.
“Dad! What was that?”
“It’s okay, buddy. Where are you?”
“I’m in a tree in the water.”
“Hang tight, I’m coming. Keep talking.” Evan plodded through the water, his feet numb, his legs scraped and battered.
“I caught something.” A moment later, a light flicked on. “A flashlight, Dad. Can you see me?”
Realizing Aidan was only about five feet ahead of him, Evan could have wept.
But first he needed to save his son.
He powered forward, slipping and sliding, but still standing.
A moment later, he reached Aidan, who was waist deep in the water, clinging to a small, fallen tree.
Evan reached for him and tugged the boy to his chest, but his leg wouldn’t move.
“My foot is stuck.”
Evan ran his hand down the outside of Aidan’s leg and felt for his foot. He slipped his shoe off, and Aidan’s foot slid free. He wrapped his arms around Evan’s neck. “You saved me, Dad. I
knew you’d find me.”
Still holding Aidan’s shoe, Evan pulled his arm free of the tree branches and wrapped Aidan tightly against his chest.
With Aidan’s arms and legs wrapped around Evan, they slowly made their way back to the footbridge. Aidan held the flashlight so they could see where they were going.
Evan slipped, but he managed to keep a tight hold on his son. Once they reached the footbridge, Evan released Aidan on the worn wood. He reached for his phone in his back pocket, but it was missing. It must’ve slipped out when Evan took his first fall. He eyed the bank, which looked more like Mount Everest. “Buddy, you need to listen to me, okay?”
Evan brushed Aidan’s wet hair out of his face as he nodded. “Remember how I said superheroes go through a lot of tough stuff to make them strong and brave?”
Aidan nodded again. “Like you, Dad. You’re a superhero. You saved me.”
“No, buddy, you were the strong and brave one. Even though it’s wet, I need you to put your shoe back on and run back to your house and get Mommy or Grandpa, okay? Can you do that for me?”
“But it’s dark, and I’m scared.” Shivering, Aidan pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs.
Evan tapped his son’s chest. “You are strong and brave. Courage comes from here, remember? Take my flashlight and run superfast back to Grandpa’s. Bring him back here. I hurt my shoulder, and I can’t climb the bank. The footbridge won’t hold me. Please, Aidan, I know you can do this.”
With a fearful look etched on his face, Aidan picked up the shoe off the bridge and put it on. Then, holding on to the flashlight, he stood. The bridge teetered and Aidan pitched forward. “Dad!”
Evan caught him before he fell into the water. He righted the bridge. “I’ll hold it steady while you hurry across, okay?”
“Okay, Dad.” Without another word, Aidan scrambled to his feet again and ran across the bridge onto the grass. He jumped and waved his arms like a champion. “I did it.”
“I knew you could. Go get Grandpa!”
Evan watched as the light bobbed and bounced down the grassy trail until it was out of sight. With rain pelting his face, he lay against the bank and forced his breathing to calm.
Aidan was safe.
Thank you, God.
Chapter Fourteen
Ring. Please ring.
Natalie sat on the edge of the couch and stared at the phone, waiting for word from someone, anyone, to let her know Aidan had been found.
It remained silent.
Daisy rested beside her, and Alice was curled up at her feet.
Her mother came into the living room carrying two steaming mugs. “I made you some tea. You can hold the cup instead of your phone.”
“What if they don’t find him? What if he’s out in the storm all night long?”
“They will find him. Half the county is looking for him. Keep praying and trust God to bring him home safely.”
So much easier said than done.
Natalie took a sip of peppermint tea and forced herself not to look at her phone.
The clock hanging on the wall over the couch ticked loudly. Too loudly.
Most days, the TV was on, Aidan was running through the house and dogs were barking, so she wasn’t used to this stillness.
Except late at night when everyone else was in bed.
After waking up from a nightmare, she’d creep downstairs, turn the TV on low and curl up on the couch, trying to block out the images that roused her from sleep.
If they couldn’t find her son...
No, she wasn’t going there. She needed to hold on to hope.
Hands cupped around her tea, her mother rested her head against the back of the couch and closed her eyes. Her lips moved silently.
She was praying.
What would it be like to have a faith like that? No matter what challenges you faced, you could go to an invisible God and lay your burdens at His feet...or so her parents had said.
God, if You’re out there, I beg You to bring my son home alive.
Natalie’s chest tightened as pressure built behind her eyes. She bit down on her bottom lip to stem the emotions clawing at her throat.
Setting her mug on the table, she pushed to her feet and reached for her phone.
Mom opened her eyes. “Did you hear something?”
Natalie shook her head. “No, but I can’t just sit here. I need to go out and help them look. Maybe I’ll call Dad and see where he is and relieve him. It’s pouring out there. He must be soaked.”
She was referring to her dad, but the thought of Aidan alone, soaked and scared, sent another surge of moisture to her eyes.
The front door slammed open, and Aidan raced in, soaked to the skin and dripping mud. He carried a black flashlight and motioned for her to follow him. “Mom, come quick. Dad’s hurt.”
Natalie scooped him up and crushed him to her chest as fresh tears flooded her eyes. “Thank God, you’re safe.”
He squirmed in her arms until she released him. He reached for her hand and pulled her toward the door. “We have to go. Dad needs us.”
“Aidan, hold up.” She crouched on the floor in front of him, scanning quickly for injuries. Covered in mud, with his hair plastered to his head and his grimy clothes stuck to his skin, he didn’t appear to be harmed. She framed his face with her hands. “What’s wrong with your dad?”
“He’s at the creek by the bridge. He’s hurt. He needed me to be brave and run home. But it was dark. I was scared. But I was brave, Mom. So brave.”
She hugged him again. “You sure were.”
“Come on, let’s go. Dad needs us.”
“Not so fast. You’re staying here. I’ve had a big enough scare to last a lifetime. I’ll go find your dad.” She opened the coat closet on the other side of the front door, pulled out a rain jacket and shoved her feet into her mother’s rain boots. “Mom, call Dad and let him know Aidan’s been found. I’ll call 911 and get help for Evan.”
“I wanna go.”
“No, Aidan. You need to stay here.”
“But I’m brave now, Mom. I’m not scared. And you don’t know where to find Dad.” The look on her son’s face pierced her heart.
“Fine, but we’re going to drive and you have to promise to stay in the car.”
“I promise.” Aidan raced through the kitchen and to the garage where Natalie parked her SUV.
Once he was buckled into his booster seat, Natalie backed out of the garage and headed down the road where she walked the dogs. Tightening her hold on the steering wheel, she bounced along the uneven trail Evan had shown her and Aidan a couple of weeks ago. She drove slowly to the end of the bank.
She could make out the shadow of a vehicle on the other side of the creek. Must be Evan’s truck.
She turned in her seat. “Where’s your dad?”
“Beside the footbridge.” He pointed through the windshield.
“Okay, I’ll call for help and be right back. Stay here. Got it?”
“Got it.”
After cracking a window for air flow, Natalie shut off the engine but left the headlights on so she could see. Grabbing Aidan’s flashlight, she headed for the bank. She shone the light along the creek bed and stopped on Evan’s still form, slumped against the bank by the tipped bridge.
Her heart crashed into her ribs. Sitting in the wet grass, she scooted down the side of the bank beside him and cupped his face. “Evan, can you hear me?”
“Nat.” His voice was thready. “Aidan. Where’s Aidan?”
“Aidan’s safe.”
“Thank God.”
“Yes, thank God. Let’s get you out of here.” She reached for her phone and called 911. She gave the dispatcher her name, location and her emergency situation.
Time seemed to crawl as she sta
yed on the line, her attention divided between Evan and Aidan, still in the car.
After what seemed like an eternity, sirens wailed. Emergency lights reflected through the trees as an ambulance drove down the rutted path and parked next to her SUV. Two paramedics decked out in rain gear and carrying emergency kits scaled down the bank next to her.
She moved out the way, bumping into the bridge, and nearly lost her footing. Slowly she climbed up the bank and opened her door to sit in the driver’s seat, not ready to leave until she knew Evan was safe.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle.
She heard the crackle of the radio and listened as one of the paramedics requested assistance.
For the second time, Natalie prayed. This time for Evan.
Because she realized without a doubt she couldn’t live without him.
* * *
Evan just wanted the pain to stop.
He struggled to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as if they were caked with dried mud.
Images flickered through his head like a silent movie. Tucker and Isabella’s wedding. His fight with Natalie. Walking away. Cleaning up with Jake. The news about Aidan.
Aidan.
He had to make sure Aidan was safe.
Evan tried to move, tried to sit up, but he felt pinned.
He forced his eyes open and winced against the light over his bed. He focused on the wall painted a pale green that held a TV and a whiteboard with information. A tug at his right arm showed an IV line had been taped in place. A monitor tracking his vitals beeped when the oximeter slipped off his finger.
His head fell back against the white-cased pillow. He was back in the hospital.
He looked to his left and nearly cried. His left shoulder was wrapped in dressing, which meant only one thing—he’d undergone surgery. His paddling career was toast.
The death of a dream.
Evan dropped his head against his pillow.
What was he going to do now?
Filming the commercial was out. Training for next season was definitely out. He didn’t need a specialist to confirm there would be no more seasons for him.