Isaac stormed out of the house, and slammed the door shut behind him. The house was just too enclosed an area for him right now. He stood on the front steps, clentching and unclentching his fists. His head was spinning. And he STILL couldn't get one question out of his head. Why?
Why had Becca kept this a secret from him? It just didn't make sense. Then again, nothing they did made sense anymore. All they did now was argue. And where did it get them? Nowehere.
Isaac shoved his hands in his pants pockets. He felt his car keys in the right one. He pulled them out, jumped in the car, and drove off in an attempt to clear his head.
"Commercial, commercial, commercial," he muttered under his breath, pressing the scan button on the radio. His initial thought was to drive to his parents', not that he knew what he was going to say to them. But as the notes to a familiar song flowed from the speakers, he canned Plan A. Instead, he shut his brain off. He aimlessly made right and left turns while softly singing along.
Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time... There's something wrong here, there can be no denying... One of us is changing, or maybe we just stopped trying...
Isaac made a right onto South Giffard Street.
And it's too late, baby, now it's too late... Though we really did try to make it... Something inside has died and I can't hide... And I just can't fake it...
The traffic light turned from red to green, and Isaac turned left.
It used to be so easy living here with you... You were light and breezy and I knew just what to do... Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool...
Isaac stopped at the stop sign. He had a choice: right, left, or straight ahead. He chose straight ahead, knowing full well where this journey was going to end.
And it's too late, baby, now it's too late... Though we really did try to make it... Something inside has died and I can't hide... And I just can't fake it...
Isaac threw the car into park, but didn't cut the engine. That was probably not the smartest thing to do, considering the needle on the gas gague was nearing E. Instead, he remembered the last time he was at this spot, the top of the hill overlooking Tulsa...
(Flashback)
She spread out the blanket and sat down. "It's such a beautiful night," she said, looking up.
He sat down next to her. "Not half as beautiful as you."
She blushed. "Stop."
"What? You don't want me to pay you compliments?"
She smiled. "You're so sweet." She kissed him gently on the lips. "I don't deserve you."
"If that were true, you wouldn't be here." He put his arms around her, and she leaned against him.
"I spoke to my mom today."
"Oh? What did she have to say?"
"How could you get engaged and not tell me?"
He smiled. "Who are you engaged to?"
"You. According to the tabloids, that is."
"Again? What is that now? Twice?"
"Three times," she corrected him. "I don't see what my mother gets all worked up over. I mean, does she REALLY think I wouldn't tell her if I got engaged? The fact that she heard it from a tabloid should've told her that it wasn't true."
"What do you say we make it true?"
She looked at him. "What?"
"What do you say we make it true?" he asked again.
"You mean..." Her glistening eyes began to rapidly fill up.
He nodded his head, a slow smile working its way onto his lips as a slight flutter swam through his stomach. "Rebecca Anne Davis, would you be my wife?"
(End flashback)
There'll be good times again for me and you... But we just can't stay together, don't you feel it too? Still I'm glad for what we had, and how I once loved you...
Isaac took the car out of park and turned around. He couldn't run. He couldn't hide. He knew he had to face this head-on. So he headed home.
But it's too late, baby, it's too late... Though we really did try to make it... Something inside has died and I can't hide... And I just can't fake it...
"Becca!" Isaac stood in the kitchen, closing the back door. "Becca, I'm home!" He was greeted with silence.
Ike dropped his keys on the kitchen table. He began searching through the house for his wife. He didn't have to look far, though. Rebecca was sitting on the living room floor, their wedding album in front of her. A familiar Cd was playing in the stereo.
"Becca..."
She picked her tear-stained face up in order to meet her husband's gaze. "Where did we go wrong? When did this happen?" she asked softly.
Isaac pushed the photo album to the side so he could kneel down and face Rebecca. "I don't know. I wish I did..." His eyes were wet with tears.
As soon as she saw the tears in her husband's eyes, hers immediately spilled over. "Look at what I've done to you." She brushed away Ike's tears.
"You didn't do this alone, Bec." He shook his head. "I must have done something... something to make you feel alone... That... that you couldn't tell me about the miscarriage."
Rebecca let out a slight gasp as her fingers flew up to her lips. "Oh my God..." she whispered, stiffling a sob. Closing her eyes, a few tears slipped down her already damp cheeks. "I am... so..." She paused to swallow. "Sorry..." Those were the only words which seemed appropiate.
Ike nodded his head. "I know you are," he said softly. "And I'm sorry, too. Sorry you felt you couldn't tell me. Sorry you went through it alone. Sorry I didn't get to greive with you for our baby."
"What... I..." She took a deep breath. "What's next?"
He shook his head. "I don't know." He truly didn't.
"Can... Can this be fixed?"
Again, he shook his head. "I don't know."
"Are... Are you willing to try?"
"I... I think so."
Rebecca stared at Isaac, wide-eyed. The thought of losing him was too painful, more than she could handle right now. "What do we do?" she asked softly.
"I'm gonna pack a bag," he said, brushing away his tears. As soon as the sentence left his mouth, he felt as if someone had reached into his chest and clamped a cold hand around his lungs, for breathing became difficult. His icy fingers stung his already aching skin as he continued rubbing at his swollen eyes.
"You're leaving? Look at what I've done. I've driven you away. Oh, God, please, please don't go. I... I need you. We have to work this out." She began to cry profusely.
Ike shook his head. "I can't stay, Becca. I'm too hurt. I need to think."
"We need to talk. Work this out." Her wide eyes gave away her burgeoning desperation.
"We don't talk anymore. We argue. Right now, what we need is... is time apart." He swallowed hard. The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Becca nodded her head. "Whatever you think is best." Again, the tears poured down her face.
"I'm gonna go pack." Isaac stood up and left.
"I love you," she whispered, as he walked down the hall, the words to the familiar song fading in the background.
I'm all out of love... I'm so lost without you... I know you were right, believing for so long... I'm all of love... What am I without you... I can't be too late, to say that I was so wrong...
Isaac sat in his car, which was parked across the street from Taylor's house. He chewed his bottom lip nervously as he contemplated getting out of the car and knocking on the front door. He needed a place to stay tonight, and it felt only natural to turn to his brother, his best friend. But seeing his parent's van and Laura's parent's Saturn made him hesitate. This was something he just didn't want to share with everyone.
As reluctant as Ike was to enter the house, he also felt drawn to it for some strange reason. There was a sense of need radiating from the house and seeping into his veins. Since day one, Isaac has had this sixth sense where Taylor was concerned. He was always painfully aware of when his younger brother was suffering and needed him. And it was for this reason alone that Ike knocked urgently on Taylor's front door.
The door immediately opened, and before Ike could say anything, Taylor's arms were around his older brother. "Ike, thank God you're here."
He returned the hug, squeezing his brother tight. "Tay, what is it?" He stepped back, his eyes searching the younger Hanson's face for an explanation.
"Ike..." Taylor swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Maddy... Maddy's gone," he whispered.
"Gone!?! What do you mean 'gone'?" Isaac froze, his eyes wide.
Taylor sighed and sat down on the front steps, his older brother following the suit. "It was after the soccer game... Everyone left, and we were cleaning up the field." He took a deep break before continuing. "I had her bring a bag up to the car. And by the time I got there, she was gone. I found her cleat behind the jeep." He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "I can't believe I was stupid enough to let her out of my sight. What kind of father am I?"
"Taylor, I am SO sorry. But you can't blame yourself either. You're a great father. Maddy loves you more than anything." Isaac looked across the street at his car. He couldn't bring himself to look at his brother because once he did, the whole thing would become real. Right now, it was just a story.
"Ike, you're my brother, a great brother. But please, don't say things just for my sake. I should've known better than to send Maddy to the car by herself. I have no one to blame here but myself."
"I'm sorry, Tay, but I don't agree with you. Does Laura blame you?"
Taylor shook his head. "No. No, she doesn't. Well, at least, that's what she told me..." He let out a shaky breath.
"You don't believe her?" Ike really didn't want to talk about this. The whole thing scared him, and made him sick to his stomach. What kind of asshole would take his niece, and why? But he knew what was important right now was getting his younger brother to stop blaming himself for things out of his control.
Taylor snorted. "Normally, if Laura told me the sky was green, I'd believe her. But now... I don't understand why she's not furious with me. She should be. You know what the officer who came to the field said? He said that kidnapping a rich man's daughter isn't a seasonal sport. If that's not blaming me, I don't know what is." He stood up quickly in frustration.
Ike rose to his feet and stood behind his brother, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "While that may be true, you don't know for sure that's what this is." He swallowed, fearing what the answer to his next question would be. "Did you get a ransom note?"
"No. I haven't heard anything, and it's killing me. If we got a ransom note, and this was all my fault, I think I could live with that somehow, 'cause we'd get Maddy back. But if we DON'T hear anything, then... God only knows what they did with her..." Taylor's voice cracked with emotion, and a few tears rolled down his cheeks.
Seeing his brother in so much pain broke Isaac's heart as tears filled his own eyes. Not quite sure what else to do, he wrapped Taylor in a hug. "We'll find her. We'll hire the best detectives. We'll work 'round the clock. We won't stop until she's home," he whispered.
"Shit... I feel so helpless..." Taylor sniffed and wiped his eyes. "It's at times like these I wish that back in college I hadn't quit smoking..." He made a weak attempt to smile.
"You know, I never quite understood the connection between smoking and stress, but I think I'm beginning to..." Ike said, staring off into space.
Taylor inspected his older brother's face closely. "So, why are you really here, Ike? What's wrong?" His voice was full of concern.
Isaac shrugged. "Oh, it's nothing."
"Don't say 'it's nothing.' You showed up on my doorstep for a reason. So, what is it? What's going on?" The younger Hanson sat back down on the front steps.
"It's nothing. Really. Besides, I don't want to burden you with my petty problems..." His voice trailed off.
"Clarke Isaac Hanson, sit your ass down. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong. Don't say it's nothing, 'cause if it was you wouldn't be here. And don't say it's petty, because you don't look for help with petty problems. Please, tell me. It'll do me some good to think of something other than Maddy for a while..."
Reluctantly, the eldest Hanson sat down next to his brother. This is what he came here for, to talk to Taylor. But now that he had his brother's attention, he didn't know where to start. He sighed, deciding to just say it and get it over with. "Rebecca had a miscarriage," he blurted out.
"Oh, man... Ike, I'm sorry. Really." Taylor put an arm around his brother, glad to be the one doing the comforting for once.
"Yeah, it sucks. But that didn't hit me as hard as her lying to me."
"She lied to you? When? What about?" The younger Hanson's eyes were wide with surprise. With the exception of his parents, he didn't know if two people could be closer than his brother and Rebecca. They've been through so much together over the years.
"We've been fighting quite a bit lately. Then, one night, she hit me up with sending Kaitlyn to day camp, and her going back to office. I support her, but it took her forever to tell me about it. I asked her if this was a sign of things to come, her keeping things from me, and she said no. And here, I find out that she deliberately kept the miscarriage from me." Ike rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, sighing in frustration.
"My God... I don't know what to say, Ike... When did all this happen?"
"She went for the pregnancy test while you and I were in New York, and that's when she miscarried. I only found out tonight when her mom called, and spilled the beans by accident. She knew, and thought I did." Ike slowly lifted his head out of his hands. "Taylor, why didn't she tell me? Why did she keep this from me?"
"Honestly, I don't know... Have you talked to her about it?" He shook his head slightly in disbelief. Of all the people this could happen to, he would've NEVER expected Ike and Becca. With Zac and AJ, who knew? And his and Laura's entire relationship was based on them keeping things from one another when they first got together -- both times. But Ike and Becca? Never.
"Not... not really..." Isaac sighed. "I'm sick of fighting. And to tell you the truth, I don't know what to say. I'm just so hurt. I can't believe she would keep this from me. God, why? Why Taylor?"
"Maybe... she was afraid..." Taylor shrugged his shoulders, not really knowing what to make of the situation.
"Afraid? Why would she be afraid? What could she possibly have to be afraid of?" Ike shook his head. "Come to think of it, now, I'm the one who's afraid..."
"What are you afraid of?"
"That this is my fault. That I failed our marriage somehow, and that's why she's keeping things from me. That we won't make it though this..." Ike's voice cracked with emotion at the thought of spending the rest of his life without his wife.
Taylor quickly snapped his head and looked at his brother, eyes wide with surprise. After everything they've been through, how could Ike and Becca NOT make it through this? "Ike, you don't really think you'll..." He swallowed, but still couldn't bring himself to say the word divorce.
"Tay, I don't know what to think." He shook his head. "The only thing I know for certain right now is that I'm angry for being kept in the dark about this. Am I overreacting? Do I not have a right to be angry? I just can't seem to make sense of this..."
The younger Hanson hugged his brother tight. "Ike, fortunately for you, I've known you all my life. I can guarantee you that you're marriage will pull through. You and Becca are fighters. You love one another. Fight for that." There was no mistaking the urgency in Taylor's voice. He had always felt that Ike and Becca belonged together, even though he never voiced his opinion in the beginning. But now that they were together, Taylor wasn't going to let them give up on each other that easily. "The two of you got something worth fighting for..." he whispered.
"Maybe, but..." Isaac sighed. "I just need a time out right now. Some space and time to heal. I'm not in the right frame of mind to talk anything out. I just can't seem to let go of my anger. And to tell you the truth, that's pretty damn scary." He ran his fingers through his hair. "Taylor, do you think... maybe... I could spend the night here? I just can't go home." Ike looked down, filled with shame and unable to meet his brother's eyes.
"Like you even have to ask. Of course you can spend the night here." Taylor rose to his feet. "We'll lean on each other."
Isaac stood up. "One other thing... Do you think... that we could not tell Mom and Dad about this? You know how they are..." His voiced trailed off, once again failing to meet his brother's eyes.
Taylor's heart went out to his brother. "My lips are sealed. As far as they're concerned, you're here for my sake." He sealed the promise with a soft smile.
The eldest Hanson returned the smile. "Tay, have I told lately that I love you?" In spite of himself, Ike found himself giggling.
Taylor joined in the laughter. "Have I ever told you how glad I am that you're a dork? Come on, let's go inside. I got another brother to talk to..."
Zac once again shifted in the uncomfortable airplane seat. He blew a bubble with his chewing gum, and wished to God he could stand up and walk around. The small coach area was more than cramped for 6'2" frame.
He closed his eyes, and let his thoughts wander. Zac was amazed by the roller coaster ride he's been on. First, AJ took a second job. Then, she was in a lawsuit. During that, his little sister sneaked out to New York and got into Julliard's School of Ballet. She went home last week to take her finals, and pack -- graduation being next week. Zac was elated when AJ left The Times, but the couple's been on edge ever since AJ found out Rick is Maddy's biological dad. And now... He's sitting on a plane headed to Tulsa because Madeline's missing. It was all too much to comprehend.
Zac opened his eyes and turned his head, watching his girlfriend sleep. He bit his bottom lip, once again amazed by her beauty. Her chest rose and feel with her breathing, and her lips were slightly parted. Carefully, Zac pushed some of the silky strands, which had fallen out of AJ's ponytail, behind her ear. He felt his mind wander back a few days before this recent madness had erupted...
(Flashback)
A shaky hand pushed the glass door to Tiffany's & Co. open and Zac swallowed nervously as he stepped inside. He only hoped that in a place as extravagant as this, he would find exactly what he was looking for.
"May I help you, Sir?" asked a middle-aged woman. Her brown hair, which was starting to gray, was neatly pulled away from her face. Her reading glasses hung from a gold chain around her long, slender neck.
Zac smiled to himself, thinking how this purchase will mean that he'll see AJ twenty years from now, looking much like the woman before him. He cleared his throat. "Yes. I'd like to buy an engagement ring."
"I see..." The woman scanned the room. "Your girlfriend's not with you...?" This was certainly a first. In all the time she's been working here, the girlfriend always came so she could pick out a ring she liked.
"No. She's at home. I want to surprise her."
The woman smiled. "That's so sweet... Whenever I help a man, his girlfriend or wife is always with him... So, Sir-"
"Please, call me Zac."
"Okay, Zac." The woman smiled again. "Do you have any idea what kind of ring you're looking for?"
"Well, Ma'am-"
"Call me Janet, please."
"Well, Janet, I need something simple, elegant, and beautiful." Zac smiled, thinking of AJ agreeing to marry him. "Nothing too big or gaudy..."
Janet nodded. "I can handle that... Come, follow me." She led him to a glass counter at the far end of the store. She stood behind the counter, opened the back of it, and pulled out one of the displays. "Well, what do you think?"
Zac let his right hand gently graze over the black velvet. He sucked in his breath, and then slowly exhaled. "They're all so beautiful..." He picked up one and examined it closely. "It's not AJ," he said, placing it back in the display.
"AJ?"
Zac looked up and smiled. "Yeah. It's short for Amanda Jean."
She returned the smile. "How long have you been together?"
"Three years," he answered, continuing to closely examine the rings.
"How about this one?" Janet asked, picking up a ring for Zac's approval.
"It's pretty... but too big. AJ's got thin fingers, and I think that would look a little strange on her..."
"Okay..." Janet nodded her head and put the ring back. "How did you two meet, if you don't mind my asking."
"No, not at all. We met at my brother's wedding. My sister-in-law and AJ grew up together."
"Wow! That's unusual. You two must be meant to be."
Zac looked up and smiled. "We are." He looked back down and picked up a ring. "This one," he said with complete confidence.
"You sure?"
"Let me put it to you this way, the only thing I'm MORE sure of is that I want AJ to be my wife." Zac looked at the ring, and shivered with excitement. There was a nice-sized diamond in the middle. The gold band formed two small bows on both sides of the stone. Where the knots of the bows were another, smaller, pair of diamonds sat. There was no way AJ wouldn't love this ring. It had her name written all over it.
"Well, Zac, I assume you'll want to come back and have it sized..." Janet began to write up the receipt.
"No. We can do it now."
Janet looked up and blinked twice. "We can?"
"Yeah. I know what size she is. I tried on her ring-"
She held up a hand, signaling for Zac to stop. "What finger does she wear this ring on?"
"Her right ring finger."
"Okay. Continue."
"Like I was saying, I tried on her ring, and it went up to here," Zac said, indicating to the upper knuckle of his left pinkie.
"You know," Janet said, pulling out a set of rings to measure Zac's pinkie with, "that's got to be the most romantic thing I've ever heard."
"Really, Janet?" His eyes widened a bit. "I did it because there was no other way to find out her ring size."
"Well, you could've just brought her with you, like the rest of the men I wait on do."
"No way!" Zac shook his head fervently. "That ruins the surprise!"
Janet laughed softly. "That it does... Okay, AJ is a size four."
Zac took his wallet out of his back pocket, and removed his credit card. "When will it be ready?" he asked, handing his Visa to her.
"Tomorrow morning. That okay?" she asked, ringing up the transaction.
"It's fine," he said, nodding his head and signing the receipt.
Janet admired the ring one more time before placing it in a black velvet box. "You know, she's crazy if she doesn't love this ring."
"Nah... She's already crazy."
"What do you mean?" she asked, bewildered.
Zac smiled wide. "She must be crazy. She's in love with me."
(End Flashback)
Zac smiled at the memory, and a small flutter swan through his stomach. He couldn't wait to propose to Amanda Jean. He had the whole thing planned out, and it's only natural to him that he pops the question at Rockefeller Centre. It has remained their favorite spot to sit, talk, and pass the time away.
Zac's smile grew as he thought of all the times he and AJ spent there. He turned his head to steal a glance of the love of his life. However, he frowned at what he saw. Amanda wore a pained expression, and her eyes were squeezed shut. She tossed her head from side to side restlessly, and her forehead was lined with beads of sweat. "AJ! AJ! Wake up! You're having a bad dream." Zac shook her gently.
AJ stirred, and her eyes fluttered open. "Huh? What? Where...?"
"Shh... We're on our way to Tulsa, remember? I'm sorry I woke you. You were having a bad dream." He smoothed her hair.
"Zac... God, it was awful..." She shuddered.
"It's okay. It was just a dream." He put his arms around her, and rested his chin on the top of her head. "You wanna talk about it?"
She shook her head. "It was just your standard nightmare..." AJ chewed her bottom lip nervously and thought for a moment. "I did want to talk you about something else, though..."
"Oh? What's that?"
"Do... Do you think..." She decided to take a deep breath and just say it. "Do you think I should tell Rick about Madeline?"
"AJ..."
Her bottom lip trembled. "Zac, I don't know what to do..."
"I understand you're torn. Believe me, I do. But don't you think that's up to Laura?" Zac sighed. In all honesty, he just wasn't comfortable with the situation. On one hand, he felt like he owed Rick so much, and keeping him up-to-date about Madeline would be the least he could do. But at the same time, he felt it wasn't really his place to get involved. Besides, what if Rick decided to fly out to Tulsa and find his daughter? What if he decided to stick around? Where would that leave Taylor?
"Zac?"
AJ's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He swallowed before answering. "How about we feel out how everything is before we decide anything?" he suggested, hoping that would buy them some time.
"Sounds good to me..." AJ kissed Zac's lips gently, and then rested her head on his shoulder.
"I don't think I can handle this," AJ told Zac as he rang the doorbell.
He squeezed her hand, making a weak attempt to smile. "Well, Honey, we kinda don't have any choice..." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, the sickening feeling that was in the pit of his stomach when Taylor called to tell him the news returned. Tears began to blur his vision, and he shook his head, as if the simple action could rid him of this nightmare. "Oh, God... Why?" he said in a whisper that was barely audible.
"Oh, AJ! Oh, AJ, Sweetie!" Laura's mother had opened the front door, and quickly embraced her daughter's friend. "Honey, thank God you're here! You have to do something!" The woman began to cry.
"Eileen, please, don't cry. Please," AJ said, as her own bottom lip began to tremble. She soothingly rubbed the older woman's back. "We're gonna get her back. I know it," she whispered.
The women pulled apart. "I'm sorry," she said, sniffing and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I... I just... I've been doing my best to be strong of Laura and Taylor. I guess I just had a weak moment. Forgive me."
"Hey, you're allowed all the weak moments you want. You're entitled to them," said Zac. He wrapped his arms around Laura's mother, and squeezed tight.
"Thank you, Zac, AJ, for coming. You don't know how much we need you here. Please, come in." Eileen stepped back and allowed the couple to enter the house, which was uncharacteristically quiet.
"Where is everyone?" Zac asked Eileen, thinking how much the house resembled a tomb at this moment.
"In the kitchen. Come on."
The trio stood in the kitchen doorway, and AJ gasped at the sight before her. Isaac was leaning against the refrigerator, eyes closed and arms crossed his front of his chest. Jessica was sitting on the kitchen counter, holding her niece. Diana and Walker were each sitting in a chair, leaning against one another with their eyes closed. Eileen's husband, Michael, was standing on the other side of the sliding glass door with his back turned to everyone, and puffs of smoke surrounding him. But perhaps the scariest sight was seeing Laura on the kitchen floor, her body shaking with each sob. Taylor sat next to her, arms around his wife, his own sobs muffled by his wife's hair. "Oh, my..." AJ's hand flew up to her own quivering lips. She turned and buried her face in Zac's chest.
At a complete loss and not knowing what else to do, Zac walked over to his sister and looked at the baby. Jenn was the only one in the room who looked content. "Hey, there. How's my godchild doing?" he said softly.
"She's the only one sleeping," Jessica told him, her bloodshot eyes meeting his brother's. "How about you?"
"Wish I was doing as well as her," Zac said, taking the baby from his sister. "I'm gonna put her down. I'll be right back." He walked up the stairs to Jenn's room. He carefully laid her down and switched on the monitor. "Sweet dreams, precious," he said, after blowing her a kiss.
When Zac entered the kitchen again, for the most part, everything was the same as when he left it. Feeling that someone had to take charge, he nominated himself. "Come on. Everybody up." When he got no response, he clapped his hands and repeated himself. "Come on. Everybody up. Let's go."
Taylor's head rose, and he looked at his younger brother, his eyes pleading for... well... something. "Please, Zac... Not now..."
"Yes, now. Everyone in the living room. Come on. Let's go." He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
Isaac's eyes snapped open at the sound of the clapping, stopping all his thoughts. He didn't want to stop his thoughts, though. He wanted to make sense of everything. Sense of his niece's disappearance. Sense of his crumbling marriage. Sense of the unbearable ache in his chest. But for some reason, he always came up empty-handed. He turned his head, and looked at his younger brother. "Hey, Zac." The eldest Hanson offered a weak smile. "How you doin'?"
"You look like hell, Ike. Come on. Let's go in the living room." Zac walked over to his older brother and embraced him tightly. He led him to the living room couch, hoping everyone else in the kitchen had followed him. "Where's Becca and Kaitlyn?"
Every muscle in Isaac's body tensed at the sound of his wife's name. "Home," he replied curtly.
"Okay..." said Zac, his older brother's response leaving him bewildered. He turned his attention to his other brother, who had followed him into the room with his wife, along with the rest of the family. "Taylor, Laura, have you heard anything yet?"
The two shook their heads as they sat down on the loveseat. "Nothing," Laura said. "Not one damn thing." She and Taylor wore matching grim expressions on their faces.
AJ sighed. She never felt this uncomfortable in her entire life. The tension and silence was making her feel boxed in. She needed to get out. "Zac, I left a bag in the car. I'll be right back." And before he could utter a word, she fled to the front porch.
AJ knew it was probably wrong. She knew it wasn't her place to interfere. Still, she couldn't help but feel like it was her duty. She owed this much to the man who helped keep her out of jail. He had a right to know. So, AJ opened the car door, and pulled the cell phone out of the bag she left sitting on the back seat.
Her hands shook as she dialed the numbers. Not knowing if it was a blessing or not, Rick didn't answer the phone. AJ took a deep breath, and then began to leave a message on his voice mail. "Hey. It's me. Look, I'm in Tulsa..."
The silence in the room was almost deafening, but was finally broken by Laura's father, who had finally entered the house. "We've moved," was all he said.
"Yeah. I thought everyone might be more comfortable in here," Zac responded, shifting uneasily under the older man's gaze.
Taylor stood up, and hugged his younger brother. "Thanks so much for coming, Zac. You don't know how much I appreciate it, or how much I need you here." Taylor's directed his eyes towards the stairs as he heard his daughter cry. "How about we go check on her?" he asked his brother.
"Sure," Zac said, his long legs allowing him to take the stairs two at a time before his brother even reached the bottom of the staircase. "What's with Ike?" he asked Taylor as he pushed the door to Jenn's room open.
Taylor put his fingers to his lips, indicating for his brother to be quiet, and then pointed to the monitor. Zac picked up the baby, and the two brothers walked out into the hallway. "He spent the night here. Becca and him got into a fight."
"What about?" he asked, walking back and forth a bit, hoping the motion would calm his godchild.
"She had a miscarriage while we were visiting you in New York, and she kept it from him. He found out from Maggie. Needless to say, he's hurt." Taylor frowned. "He said he doesn't know if they're gonna make it."
With that last statement, Zac snapped his head and looked at his brother, eyes wide. "Do you really think they won't. God, please, not them. How the hell did this all happen?"
"To be honest, I don't know." Taylor sighed. "Zac, I gotta ask you a favor."
"Sure. Anything. Name it."
"Keep an eye on Ike for me. I would do it myself, but..."
"Say no more. Consider it done. You concentrate on getting Maddy back." He handed his godchild to his older brother. "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No. I told him I'd keep this a secret. I'm sure he figured I'd tell you, but no one else knows. Mom and Dad think he spent the night here for me, not that anyone slept or anything..."
"Question."
"Shoot."
"Does Becca know that Maddy's missing?"
Taylor sighed. "Yeah, she knows. Isaac called her last night to tell her that, and where he was staying. I imagine she didn't get much sleep last night, either." He kissed his daughter's forehead. "With the exception of you, right? You slept, Princess." He started to descend the stairs, and Zac followed. "You know, Laura hasn't held Jenn since Maddy disappeared."
"Really?" Zac raised his eyebrows in shock.
"Yeah. And to be honest, it scares me. Maybe I'll be able to get her to hold Jenn now. I think it'll be good for her..." Taylor's voice trailed off as his mind wandered back to last night. Laura went into her daughter's room to feed her. As soon as she peered into the crib she dropped to the floor, sobbing. He ended up feeding his daughter because Laura couldn't bring her tears under control.
As the brothers reached the bottom of the stairs, the doorbell rang. Walker let in a police officer, introducing himself as Officer Smith. "Officer O'Brien and I will be working on this case together," he explained. "Right now, what we need you to do is one, let us know if the kidnappers get in touch with you. And two, please, don't tell anyone else about the kidnapping. The less people that know, the better. It'll make our job that much easier."
Laura nodded her head. "Okay. Have YOU heard anything? You must know something. Please, tell me something. Anything."
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I wish I could, but I can't."
Laura's eyes bore holes into the officer's head. She clenched her fists, and her voice took a sharp tone. "Can't, or won't?"
"Can't, Ma'am. I'm sorry, but I don't have anything new to tell you. I just wanted to stop by and make sure everything was okay here."
"No! No, everything is not okay! Don't you see? My daughter is MISSING! How could everything possibly be okay, you asshole?" Laura walked up to the officer, and fought every urge to deck him.
"Laura. Laura, please." Eileen placed herself between the police officer and her daughter. "Please, calm down."
"Forgive me, mother, but my daughter has been missing for over twelve hours. The one thing I most certainly WILL NOT BE is calm." She took a few steps back, though, unsure of how her rage would explode.
"Look. I didn't come here to upset you all. I apologize," Officer Smith said. "I just want to let you know that we will put some surveillance on this area, and the areas surrounding your family's homes, if you. To be frank, we're not sure of what we're dealing with here."
Taylor handed his daughter to his wife, who, to his surprise, gladly accepted her. "I would really appreciate it if you would do that. If you patrol my parents' house, Laura's parents' house, and my brother's, maybe we'd be able to fall asleep, even if only for a few hours."
The officer nodded his head. "Sure. Anyone else?"
Taylor shook his head. "No. The rest of our families live out-of-state."
"All right, then. As soon as we hear something, we'll be in touch with you." He tipped his hat. "Goodbye."
Isaac stood as the front door closed. "I think I'm gonna head home for a while. I'll be back shortly, though." He walked over to Taylor and hugged him. "There's something I gotta take care of at home," he whispered to his brother. "I'll be back," he told everyone in the living room. And before they could say a word, he was out the front door.
"Zac, follow him," Taylor softly told his younger brother. "Please."
He nodded he head and walked out the front door, hot on the heels of his oldest brother. Zac watched Ike pull away from the curb across the street. "AJ, get up. We gotta go."
She brought her tear-stained face out of her hands, sniffling. "Go where?"
"To Ike and Becca's," he said, pulling the keys to the rental car out of his pocket.
"I don't know, Zac. Do you really think that's such a good idea? He looked rather upset." She nervously began to chew on her bottom lip.
"That's exactly why we're going there. Come on. I'll fill you in on the way there."