“You’re taking all of this too lightly, little girl.” Claire tapped my head with her finger. “Do you understand that someone with a gun is out to do God-knows-what to you?”
“Jesus, Mother… Stop it, already. I’m not an idiot. I know perfectly well how serious this is. Don’t you think I feel as helpless as you do? I’m just trying to keep myself together. I suggest you do the same.”
“And how can I when I know he’s out there somewhere? Isis, if something ever happened to you…” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “I don’t know what I would do, honey.”
“Let’s just go to sleep, okay? We’re fine for now.”
“I can’t,” she said. “What if that detective falls asleep?”
“Then can you please let me sleep?”
She turned off the lamp on the night table and sat on the windowsill staring down at the street. I shut my eyes so that she wouldn’t start over again.
Every now and again, I heard her tiptoe around the room, pacing. At some point, while pretending to be asleep and thinking about how I was to blame for this whole mess, I actually fell asleep.
Early, the next morning, I heard a heavy knock on the front door. Claire was asleep next to me. I jumped over her and ran down the stairs to get the door.
Through the peephole, I could see Constable Mendiola in his uniform and cowboy hat. I opened the door right away.
“Morning.” Constable Mendiola tipped his hat. “Your mother home?”
“Yes, sir. Come in. Just a minute, I’ll get her.”
I closed the door behind him and ran up the stairs. Claire jumped when she felt me tapping her on the arm.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, wide-eyed.
“Constable Mendiola is down stairs. He wants to speak with you.”
“Be right down,” she said, stumbling to the bathroom.
Downstairs, I offered to make the constable some coffee, while Claire made her way down to join us. The constable took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Were you able to find Gabriel’s house?” I asked, trying to get ahead on the information he had come to give my mother.
“Just fine.”
“Was he home?” I grabbed two cups from the cupboard.
“Let’s wait ‘til your mother joins us, whataya say?”
“Sure.”
“Morning, John. Sorry for the wait. I didn’t sleep a wink last night,” Claire said, making her way to the coffee pot.
“Can’t say I’m surprised. If I was in your shoes, I’d be lookin’ out for my kid, too.”
“So what happened yesterday evening after we left the station?” Claire sipped her black coffee.
“We were able to search the house and question the parents; kid was gone though. They say he took some of his stuff and drove off without a word. We found traces of some drugs in his room, but no weapons. Kid must’ve made a run for it, is my guess.”
“You guess?” Claire said.
“Would ya let me finish?” Constable Mendiola pressed his lips together.
“Sorry. Go on.”
“Seems the parents have been having a whole lotta trouble with the boy. He was suspended for the semester from school, lost his scholarship.”
“That’s not typical of him,” I said.
“Neither is pulling a gun on your friends, but drugs make you do stupid things.” Claire refilled the constable’s cup.
“Thing is,” Mendiola said, “we got a call about an abandoned car ‘round four this morning—off one of the farm roads right outside of town. Ran a check on the vehicle plates and turned out the owner was the boy’s father. Boy’s clothes were in the car, the door wide open, but no sign of the kid.”
“So he’s out there with a gun looking for my daughter?” Claire said in a high-pitched voice, spilling some coffee as she waved her hands in the air.
“We tracked him through the sugar cane fields with K-9’s but came up with nothing. The tracks just disappeared.”
“How could they have disappeared?” I asked. “He must’ve covered them.”
“Now, we can’t be sure of that.” The constable sat back and wiped his mustache with a napkin. “The family filed a missing person’s report early this morning when they were notified that the car was abandoned.”
“So now what happens? I mean, he couldn’t have disappeared into thin air. He must be somewhere. Look harder!” Claire demanded.
“We’ve turned every stone and pebble in this town and the surrounding areas. He’s gone, I reckon. I can almost guarantee it,” Mendiola said.
“I’m not buying it.” Claire crossed her arms. “No way he’s just disappeared.”
“Anything coulda happened to him at those hours of the night. The engine was still warm when we got there. He couldn’t have gone far on foot, but like I said, no sign of him.” The constable stood up. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go relieve the detectives of their duties.”
“That’s it?” Claire asked. “You’re leaving her out like a tasty meal, John. You can’t tell that officer to leave.”
“Police units will be patrolling your house every fifteen minutes for the next twenty-four hours. If this kid doesn’t turn up by then, then he’s officially missing and the cops are off your case.”
“But, John!” Claire protested.
Constable Mendiola held his hand up. “I know, Claire, but I have to go by the book. Understand?”
Claire sighed. “I can’t believe you can’t do this personal favor for me. You know it’s just the two of us and no man in the house.”
“Now hold off just a second; don’t try to pity talk me into it. I haven’t told Krystle about the incident for that same reason.” He walked toward the door. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll be taking over patrols in the area after tomorrow. Isis is my main concern.”
“Well, thank you, Constable,” Claire said.
“Don’t thank me. I’m doing it as a favor to myself. I wouldn’t hear the end of it from you if I didn’t do this.”
The constable put on his hat and opened the door. “Take care now.”
Claire refused to go into work. I wasn’t allowed to peek through the windows or set foot outside the house.
“Would you stop being so paranoid?” I said, peeking out the blinds just as a police car drove by.
“For the last time, get away from the window, Isis. What if he’s waiting to get a glimpse of you from across the street?”
“You make him sound like he’s a professional killer. You’re being ridiculous. I’m going upstairs,” I said.
“No peeking out the windows!” she yelled after me.
I called David to let him know the news about Gabriel, but an officer had already beaten me to it.
“I don’t want you leaving your house today,” he said. “With the police here, I can’t leave either. But my brothers have been out sweeping the area where Gabriel’s abandoned vehicle was discovered. They didn’t find any sign of him. They’ve also been circling the town from above all night. I told them to keep surveillance on Bill’s and Andy’s houses as well as yours.”
“Thanks for that. I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. My mother wouldn’t give me any privacy.” I lay on my bed.
“I figured as much.”
“Anyhow, I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you. I’m on lockdown for a few days until my mom calms down. I don’t know if she’ll allow you to come here. I’ll have to check with her.”
“I don’t think she’ll approve, since I’m the reason behind this mess.”
“You’re not the reason; I am. But you might be right about her feeling more stressed with you here. Her paranoia is smothering me.”
“She’s your mother. Let her smother you all she wants. Her instinct is to shield you. It helps her in feeling more at ease and in control.”
I made a face at the phone. Why was he always so prudent about things?
“Sure,” I said as I noticed Claire observing me fro
m my bedroom door. “So what are you doing for the rest of the day?”
Claire walked across the room to the window and sat on the windowsill.
“Thinking of you,” David said.
Claire giggled when she heard him over the phone’s speaker.
“Yeah, me too,” I said and smiled.
Since Claire wasn’t going to leave me alone, I ended the call with David. Our corny moments were private and special for me.
“I like that boy,” Claire said as she looked out the window in thought. “He reminds me of …”
“Of who?”
“It’s silly,” she said. “But the way he carries himself and speaks, he reminds me of your biological father—so eloquent and debonair. I guess we have very good taste in men.” She winked.
“The best,” I laughed.
***
Over the next few days, I wasn’t allowed to leave my house. We got word from Officer Ramirez that Gabriel was officially missing. His family put up flyers all over town and the neighboring areas. I worried that something horrible had happened to him, in spite of the fact that he had threatened Andy and Bill. I prayed for his safe return to his family.
***
On Friday, Claire returned to work. I had the house to myself but she told me to call her if I even thought about opening the front door.
I was bored and in desperate need of some company. My spring break had been ruined, and I couldn’t see Krystle, Patrick, or Sheila because their parents were afraid for their safety as well.
I thought about calling David, but that would only make me miss him more. He didn’t want to visit me until Claire had recovered from the scare we had.
This must have been what Romeo and Juliet felt having to be apart. My chest was heavy and ached. I had never experienced a love that hurt and made me joyous and weak and strong all at the same time. I guessed this was the real thing.
That afternoon Claire called to tell me that she had spoken to Constable Mendiola and found out Gabriel was still missing. I didn’t tell her that I tried calling his cell phone that day; the call went straight to voicemail. I felt so sad for his family and for him. What could have happened to him? Would the police find his body in a ditch somewhere? The thought made me shudder. Maybe I should’ve helped him when I knew he was under the influence instead of shoving him away. I should have been more of a friend than an ex-girlfriend.
I was responsible for everything that was going on with David and his family, too. They were putting their lives on the line for me.
I was in serious need of some divine intervention.
***
It was a long and dull weekend. Sunday night Claire allowed me to have David over for dinner, which I cooked. I was very proud of my lasagna and salad. David seemed to enjoy it, as well. Claire cautioned David ten times about driving to and from school. She suggested that he drop me off at her office after school, but I refused.
“I’ll be fine. Gabriel is still missing remember? If it makes you feel any better, I’ll go to David’s until you get out of work, but I’m not going to sit in your office.”
“David’s family doesn’t have the obligation of babysitting you for me,” Claire said. “I don’t feel comfortable giving Nyx that type of responsibility, knowing full well she’s already concerned about her own son. I don’t want to double that pressure.”
“It wouldn’t be a burden, Mrs. Martin. If anything, it would help to ease my mother’s mind. She’s done nothing but ask about Isis and you since the incident.” David said.
“Hmm… Do you think I could speak to your mother on the phone?” Claire asked.
“Of course,” David said as he pulled the cell phone from his pocket and dialed.
David and I listened to the one-sided conversation as we finished our dinner. Nyx convinced my mom that it would be better to have me stay at their house for a couple of hours after school, rather than being alone at our house. I had to hand it to Nyx; she really knew how to pitch a sale.
Claire excused herself and went upstairs while David and I cleaned up the kitchen. As soon as I heard Claire’s bedroom door close, I flung myself into David’s arms.
“I missed you,” I said, breathing in the sandalwood scent on his shirt.
His lips brushed against my forehead. “So did I. I thought about you constantly,” he said.
“Me too.”
“I wrote something for you. I’d like if you read it before you go to bed tonight.” He handed me a paper, twice folded.
“A poem?” I asked, putting the paper in my back pocket.
“My thoughts.”
***
After David left, his scent lingered on my green blouse. I laid it on my pillow hoping the aroma would rub off. I took a quick shower before going to bed, eager to read whatever he had written.
I jumped on the bed with the parchment paper in my hand and opened it.
***
My Dearest Love,
As I sit here writing, I wish nothing more than to have you with me. The days have gone slowly without you. Your absence makes me weak, and I don’t know how I can survive in this state.
The scent of your hair, the touch of your lip, the rose of your cheek all lay engraved in my mind and my heart. I’m committed to you with all that I am, and I’m nothing without you.
Tonight, I lie awake recounting our lovers’ trysts, and I agonize over the distance between us. It so pains me to have you this short distance away. Am I a fool to feel this way? If a fool I am, then it’s for you; for you would make any man a king’s fool, my queen.
I bid you sweet dreams and sweet kisses on thy cheek and thy lips and thine eyes, that I should be so fortunate to keep them on mine lip every night.
Ceaselessly Yours,
David Chios
***
This was the very first love letter I had ever received, and how perfect it was. I had to show this to someone. I ran over to Claire’s door and knocked.
“Mom, you awake?” I said in a loud whisper just in case she was asleep.
“Come in,” she yelled.
Claire was in her pink bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head. She was painting her toenails on the bed.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“David wrote me a letter,” I said, waving the paper at her. “I want you to read it. It’s beautiful!”
“Give it here.” She stretched her arm and snatched it away from me.
She started reading the letter in a low tone trying to imitate David’s accent. After the first line, she read in her normal voice.
“This is poetic,” she said. “Did he come up with this on his own?”
“Yup.” I grabbed the letter, put it on my chest, and fell back on the bed. “He loves me.” I smiled from ear to ear.
“Yes, that’s evident.”
I turned and lay on my stomach with my hand under my chin as I looked at the letter in my other hand. “He loves me,” I said again.
“I heard you the first time,” Claire said, laughing.
“I know. I just wanted to say it again,” I said. “Mom, do you think David would make a good husband?”
“Wait a minute, young lady. I am not having this conversation. You’re only seventeen. Switch that gear off and turn it to your studies. I’ll have none of that until you’ve finished college,” she said.
“Geez… It’s a rhetorical question.”
“No, it’s not. I see the way you’re all googly-eyed with that boy. Do you think I didn’t go through the same experience when I was a teenager? “
“It was just a question,” I said. “I’m not planning on getting married any time soon.”
Claire was quiet for a minute. “I didn’t mean to sound like I was reprimanding you. You caught me off guard. You know how much it means to me for you to graduate from college.” She took her towel off and stared at me. “I think he would make a perfect husband, Isis. That’s why I freaked out, okay?”
“Really?” I
sat up on the bed.
“Yes. He’s bright, handsome, sincere, and respectful. What else could you ask for?”
“He is, isn’t he?” I held my hands together and batted my eyelashes.
“You’re such a clown! Go to bed.”
“Night.” I jumped off the bed and kissed her on the cheek. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, too, kiddo.”
***
Another northern front had blown in on Monday morning. The sky was dreary, announcing more rain was on the way. The wind was cool and pleasant. I didn’t care for the rain, but the temperature was wonderful.
Claire left for work earlier than usual; she had missed three days of work the prior week. I lingered on the porch with my cup of coffee, waiting for it to be near the time David would pick me up for school.
I went back into the house and washed the cup, and then ran up the stairs to brush my teeth for a second time. Coffee breath wasn’t very becoming, I thought.
David’s letter was fresh in my mind. I must’ve read the letter two dozen times before going to sleep the night before.
The doorbell rang while I was testing my breath on my hand. I grabbed my things and ran down the stairs. The nervous feeling in the pit of stomach that I felt every time I saw David standing at my front door was back.
“Good morning.” He greeted me with a kiss on the lips.
“You’re no fool,” I said, referencing the letter.
“But I am—a fool for you. You could ask me to die, and I’d be at your mercy.”
“Don’t even play around with that,” I said.
“It’s my foolish heart speaking. I’m only the marionette.”
“Sorry, I’m not into wooden boys, Pinocchio.”
“Such a shame. And here I thought a kiss from my princess would make me a real boy.”
“Let’s see if it’s true.”
“Gladly,” he said, putting his arms around me.
“Hey,” I gasped. “You’re crushing me.”
“I’m sorry. I forget how fragile you are. Are you okay?”
“Aside from two broken ribs…”
David laughed.
“Let’s go. We don’t want to be late,” he said.
***
Things were back to normal for the next couple of days. Word had somehow gotten out about the incident between Gabriel and my friends. I guess nothing is a secret in such a small town.