Chapter 22

Chapter 22
I walk out of the room after he nods that he understands and go to the den to find my son. When I get there I find him asleep on the sofa with a cartoon playing. I just shake my head as I lift him up and carry him upstairs to his bedroom. As I lay him down, I start thinking how different things have been with his sister gone. He hasn’t really been the same, but then again that could be said for all of us. The house seems so much quieter without her here. I miss my little girl so much. She may not be our biological daughter, but she is still ours and we’ve never thought of her as an adopted child and definitely have never treated her as such. She’s family and I will do anything for my family. Looking down at my son, I can remember all the times they played together and fought, but even through all of that knowing they love each other. I bend down and kiss him gently on the forehead as I walk out of the room, and head to my bedroom to change.
After my shower, I change into grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt then head downstairs to begin dinner. I couldn’t think of what to cook for dinner, so I just decided on mashed potatoes and brown gravy, sweet peas, fried chicken, and sweet corn bread. I brewed some sweet iced tea and made some Kool-Aid for those that didn’t want to drink tea. They were piling into the foyer when I was putting the finishing touches on the dinner table. Nicholas had been up for two hours by then and playing in the den. Thirty minutes later we all sat down to dinner and practically ate in silence. After all the dishes were washed and put away everyone went their own way. Nicholas went upstairs and I gave him a bath before sending him to his room to play. He’s been sleeping with me since my wife has been in the hospital because he was having nightmares. Tonight he told me that he would sleep in his own room and I told him that it was fine with me, but that I’m just down the hall if he changes his mind. I read him two bed time stories and before I even finished the second one, he was out like a light. I checked in with Mr. Fontenot one last time before going to bed. I told him to let me know if they discover anything new otherwise we’d pick things back up in the morning. He nodded his approval and I told them all goodnight before retiring to my own room for the night. As I lay in bed, my mind started to drift bringing up past memories of my wife and I before and after the children. I can remember how happy she was when we won custody of Alexa, and how scared she was when she knew that I knew she was pregnant with our son. She thought that I would leave her or tell her to get rid of the baby because of how he was conceived, but I surprised her and myself when I told her that I would support her in whatever decision she made concerning the baby.
The next morning I awoke to my phone ringing and a snoring little boy lying next to me. I just smiled to myself and shook my head. “Well I guess he decided to sleep in here with me after all.” I laugh softly to myself so that I don’t wake him, and reach for my phone on the nightstand. Looking at the display, I realize that it is not a number that I recognize and start to ignore it, but something tells me to answer instead. When I do, my heart drops and I believe that it even stops for a minute when I hear the voice on the other end.
“Alexa, sweetie is that you?”
“Yes mama, it is me. When are you coming to get me? I’m scared and I want to come home.” She’s crying and that both breaks my heart and enrages me.
“Alexa, can you tell me where you are, so that we can come get you?”
“No mama. I have no idea where I am and these people are mean. I keep telling them that I want to go home and they yell at me. Once, I thought this one man was going to hit me, but the mean lady stopped him.”
“Have they hurt you baby?” I try to ask this question as calm as possible so I don’t upset her anymore, but now my blood is boiling. Forget torture or the damn police, they are all going to die for what they’ve done to my baby girl.


“They haven’t hit me or anything, but they won’t let me come home. Mama, who are these mean people?”
“I have no idea baby, but I’m going to find out and bring you home. Alexa, are they letting you use the phone?”
“No. I snuck in here when the guard went outside to smoke or drink or something. They never really watch me like they’re supposed to when the mean lady isn’t around.”
“Do you know where the mean lady is now?”
“She said she was going shopping for when she takes over her new empire.”
“Sweetie, can you tell me what the mean lady looks like?”
“She’s a white lady with dark brown hair and green eyes. Mama do you know this woman?”
“No baby, I don’t think so.” Suddenly, there are loud noises in the background.
“Alexa, I want you to get off of this phone before anyone catches you. Don’t worry baby, mama can track this phone number and we’ll come and get you. I need you to be a big girl just a little longer for me. Can you do that?” Her voice is trembling when she answers.
“Yes mama, I can be a big girl. Please come and get me. I don’t want to stay with these people any longer.”
“I’m coming baby, and don’t let them know that you’ve talked to me or they might move you somewhere else. I need you to stay strong for me okay sweet pea?” This whole conversation is breaking my heart.
“Yes mama.”
“Okay baby, I love you and I’m on my way to get you. See you later my sweet girl.”

“See you later mama.” She sniffles as she hangs up the phone.

Once I know for sure that she is off the line, I start pacing and cursing. At some point I punch the wall and Gary is the one to come and investigate the noise. I tell him what just happened as we walk down to the basement where I basically moved the conference room. The basement is sound proof and there was also a cage put in for when our guest arrives which should be any minute now according to him. Hearing my daughter cry and beg me to come and get her broke my heart. In a way I’m glad that her other mother wasn’t here for that phone call because that would have killed Renee. She loves our children so much and to hear her crying on the phone knowing we couldn’t just jump in the car and go get our daughter right that minute would have ate her alive. I have to get our daughter back before she wakes up. This all needs to end. I’ve had enough of this woman whoever she is and her little games. She messed with the wrong family.