Missing Child (3 page)

Westy beamed.

Caitlin felt, not for the first time, a certain admiration for these two families, related by marriage. They seemed to have bonded over the tragic deaths of Rod and Emily, to provide some continuity for the children. ‘Pizza, Travis?’ asked Caitlin kindly, sliding a plate across the counter and handing it to the stocky boy who suddenly grew quiet in the company of so many grown-ups.

‘You can take it out in the yard, with the other kids.’

Travis grabbed the plate of pizza in both hands and headed for the yard. He encountered Noah, coming into the kitchen. Noah ruffled Travis’s hair as they passed in the doorway.

Noah came up to Caitlin and draped an arm around her shoulders. Caitlin smiled and grasped his hand. As always, she felt a little self-conscious when Noah showed her any affection around Emily’s parents. But if Paula and Westy had any resentment of Caitlin taking their late daughter’s place, they didn’t let it show. On the contrary, they always seemed grateful that their grandson had a stepmother who cared so much about him. Paula was humming and wiping the counters as if she were at home. Seated at the kitchen table, Westy took orders for balloon animals and exhorted the children to be patient, that he was twisting balloons as fast as he could.

Haley came into the kitchen and looked around anxiously. ‘Is it time to serve the cake yet?’ she asked.

All the children at the table forgot about balloon animals. ‘Yes. Cake!’ they cried.

The cutting and serving of cake was followed by the opening of presents. Geordie sat perched on a chair above a colorful mountain of ribbon and wrapping paper. Many parents had already come to collect the pint-sized guests, but there was a knot of unclaimed children remaining.

Geordie’s Uncle Dan came up behind Caitlin and Noah. He wore a Ralph Lauren polo shirt and smelled of expensive aftershave. Dan had a life, Caitlin mused, that any man might envy. He lived in a townhouse in the city, wrote a popular sports blog and worked as a sportscaster for a satellite radio station in Philly. He traveled to every stadium in the country, watched games and got paid for it. His new girlfriend was young and beautiful – one of several such women he had brought around. Dan spoke quietly. ‘Has he opened my gift yet?’

‘What’d you get him?’ Caitlin asked.

‘That set of Pixar DVDs he wanted.’

‘Yeah, he opened them,’ said Noah.

‘Does that mean we can leave?’ Dan asked hopefully.

‘No. If I have to stay, you have to stay,’ Noah said to his former brother-in-law with cheery malevolence.

‘Oohs’ and ‘aahs’ erupted from the remaining kids as Geordie listlessly held another stuffed animal aloft. Westy presented him with another package, this one in a square box. Geordie tore off the wrapping and then looked puzzled at the result. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s binoculars,’ said Westy. ‘Your very own. So we can go birdwatching!’

‘Birdwatching! Westy, for heaven’s sake,’ Paula chided him. ‘I told you to get him sports equipment. That’s a sport for old people.’

Westy’s blue eyes widened and a hurt expression crossed his face. ‘I saw a bald eagle last week. I’ll bet he’d like that. And there’s ospreys and herons down by the lake. We can take the canoe!’

The confusion in Geordie’s eyes turned to delight as he opened the box and pulled out the binoculars. ‘Cool! Can I, Dad? Can I go birdwatching with Grandpa?’

‘Sure,’ said Noah. ‘Look, finish up there, son. People have to leave.’

Geordie looked cursorily for another unopened package. ‘I don’t see any more,’ he said. He slid off the chair and picked up a package of laser light swords. ‘Can I take these outside and play with them?’

‘Sure,’ said Noah. ‘Why don’t you? Take these kids with you.’

Geordie ran screaming through the house, the few remaining kids in tow.

Caitlin got a big garbage bag and began to stuff it with wrapping paper and ribbons. Haley stood there awkwardly, trying to avoid glancing at Dan. ‘Can I help?’ she asked.

Caitlin pushed her hair out of her eyes. ‘Oh, that’s all right. You’ve done enough, bringing that cake. We’ll just clean it up as we go. I’ll bring that tray the cake is on back to the bakery.’

‘No hurry,’ said Haley. ‘I’ve got lots of them.’

A sudden, terrible noise erupted outside the house. Caitlin instantly recognized the sound of Geordie’s crying. She ran toward the front yard. Geordie was in tears, holding the remains of a broken laser sword in his hand. Travis was watching him furtively.

‘What happened?’ Caitlin demanded.

Geordie could barely sob out the words. ‘Travis broke it.’

‘I didn’t mean to,’ Travis protested in an unconvincing tone.

‘You did it on purpose,’ Geordie insisted.

‘You’re just a crybaby,’ Travis sneered. The other six year olds cowered, not wanting to come between the warring cousins.

Naomi sighed. ‘All right. Come on, Travis. Time to go. Mom, are you ready to go?’

‘I’m ready,’ said Martha brightly.

Caitlin tried to catch Noah’s eye, hoping he would take the opportunity to chasten his nephew, but Noah was looking the other way.

Dan walked up to Caitlin, Jillian trailing behind him, her high heels gouging holes in the lawn. ‘We’re gonna have to leave too,’ he said.

Paula, who also had rushed outside when she heard Geordie crying, peered at her grown son. ‘Dan, what’s the matter with you, now?’

Dan rubbed a hand over his forehead. ‘We have to go. I’m getting . . . a headache.’

‘I’ve hardly seen you,’ Paula cried.

‘I know, but my head feels like it’s in a vise,’ said Dan. ‘Really.’

He put an arm around Jillian and directed her toward the waiting car. ‘Can you drive, babe?’ he asked.

‘I told you. I don’t drive,’ said Jillian.

‘I guess I’ll go too,’ Haley said to Caitlin in a defeated tone. Caitlin gave her a hug. ‘Thank you so much. That was the best cake in the world.’

‘All right. Party’s over,’ Noah declared, scooping up his crying son in his arms.

All the fight seemed to have gone out of Geordie, and he suddenly lay his head on his father’s shoulder. An occasional shuddering sob passed through him. He was too young to be ashamed of his tears.

Paula and Westy approached their grandson on either side. Westy rubbed his little back and Paula kissed him on the cheek. ‘I guess we’d better be going too, Geordie. If you want me to take those binoculars back and get you something else . . .’ said Paula.

‘Hey,’ Westy protested. ‘My buddy and me are going to check out the swamp birds, right?’

Geordie nodded wearily and yawned.

‘You are a nice little boy,’ said Paula, shaking her head.

Caitlin smiled at them, happy that Geordie had saved the day with his sweet enthusiasm over their gift. Westy now seemed positively proud of his choice. ‘Thank you for everything, you two.’

Caitlin and Noah waved goodbye to Geordie’s grandparents. They watched as Paula and Westy walked arm in arm down to their car. After they left she turned to Noah. ‘Noah, you know Travis broke that sword on purpose.’

‘Oh, I know it. I just didn’t want to get into it with my sister. Not at the party. She has a lot on her plate.’

‘I know that. And I know you feel guilty about her taking care of your mother. I understand that. But you might want to mention it to her at some point. Travis really has a mean streak.’

Noah rearranged Geordie against his shoulder. ‘Where’d Dan go?’

‘He left. He said he had a bad headache.’

‘Yeah, right,’ said Noah, chuckling.

‘What?’ said Caitlin.

‘Not exactly Dan’s idea of fun.’

‘It was fun,’ Caitlin insisted.

‘Did you enjoy your party?’ Noah asked the child on his shoulder.

Geordie nodded without lifting his head.

‘Thank God you only have one birthday a year,’ said Noah.

‘I know,’ Geordie murmured solemnly.

‘You’re terrible,’ said Caitlin, good-naturedly. ‘Both of you.’

Noah whispered in Geordie’s ear.

‘Thanks, Mom,’ Geordie said and reached out a little hand to her.

Caitlin took it and squeezed it in her own. ‘You’re welcome, sweetie,’ she said. She turned her face so he would not see the tears which sprang to her eyes. She wiped them away and cleared her throat. ‘Well, I better get some of this stuff put away,’ she said. She started back up the lawn to the house, trying to think about what she needed to do next. But as she walked, her heart was singing, and all she could think about was that Geordie had called her Mom. He had made it official. He belonged to her.

TWO

T
he following morning, Caitlin stood at the sink and felt the sun on her face as it streamed through the kitchen window. The morning sun also filtered over the breakfast table where Geordie rested his cheek on one hand and played with his cereal. Caitlin cast a sympathetic glance at the listless child. The post-birthday let-down seemed to be hitting him pretty hard.

Noah came into the kitchen carrying his briefcase and set it down beside the table. He picked up a piece of toast and took a bite. ‘Hey, you better eat that cereal, buddy,’ Noah said. ‘You didn’t have any supper last night. All you ate was junk food and birthday cake.’

‘I’m not hungry,’ said Geordie. ‘I think I’m sick.’

Noah frowned. ‘Sick how?’

Geordie shrugged. ‘I think I caught it from Uncle Dan.’

‘Uncle Dan had a headache. You can’t catch a headache.’

Geordie was undeterred. ‘Can I stay home?’

‘You don’t look sick.’

‘I want to stay home with you,’ Geordie said plaintively.

‘Can’t. I have to be in court this morning,’ said Noah, taking a bite out of a piece of toast. ‘And you, my friend, have school. Now hurry up and finish. Caitlin will take you today.’

‘But it’s Fall Festival,’ Geordie protested. ‘You have to come and see my project. The one we did about the leaves.’

Noah grimaced. ‘I thought it was on all week.’

‘You have to come today,’ Geordie exclaimed.

Noah pondered the problem. ‘Tell you what. How ’bout if I pick you up after school and you show it to me then?’

‘That’s no good. Everybody’s coming this morning,’ Geordie insisted, slumping over, his head resting on his skinny little arms on the tabletop.

Noah finished his toast. ‘This afternoon. That’s my final offer,’ he said.

‘Come on, Geordie,’ Caitlin said. ‘I’m going to come in and look at your project. And if you hurry, we can drive by that barn with the horses.’

Geordie looked up, his eyes wide behind his glasses. ‘Will the horses be outside?’

‘Probably,’ said Caitlin.

That was all the encouragement that Geordie needed. His ailments and disappointment forgotten, he hopped up from the table, and started for his room.

‘Hey. Bowl,’ said Caitlin.

Geordie turned back without protest, collected his bowl and spoon and brought them to the sink where Caitlin was rinsing the dishes. Then he ran off to get his backpack.

Noah sighed. ‘Thanks. You saved my butt. You’re good at this, you know.’

‘Good at what?’ Caitlin said.

‘Kids. You’re good.’

Caitlin did not reply.

‘You are,’ said Noah. ‘You’re a natural.’

‘Not really,’ said Caitlin.

Noah frowned at her. ‘Thinking about your brother?’ he asked.

Caitlin sighed and shook her head, even though he had read her mind.

‘Look, by the time they get to be teenagers, it’s too late. You can’t really change them,’ said Noah.

This was a subject Caitlin avoided. Noah knew the outlines of her history. He knew that after her parents had died, Caitlin had moved back to the family home in South Jersey to take care of her teenage brother. He also knew that James had been in and out of trouble and had died of a drug overdose. That was all. ‘I know that,’ she said irritably.

‘What happened to James was not your fault. Believe me. I see these kids in court all the time. It’s beyond what even a parent can do. Never mind a sister.’

‘I’m sure you’re right,’ she murmured.

‘I know you tried your best,’ said Noah.

‘It wasn’t enough,’ she said.

‘Look, you may not believe me,’ said Noah, ‘but I meant what I said. You are good at this.’

‘Good at what?’ a small voice piped up from the vicinity of their hips.

Noah turned, looked down and saw his son’s upturned face. His big glasses. The space between his teeth. He grabbed Geordie up in a hug. ‘Good at eating you up,’ Noah proclaimed.

Geordie let out a shriek of laughter as his father made juicy gobbling noises against his downy cheek.

Normally the school parking lot was an orderly procession of cars stopping to discharge kids, and then pulling away. Today, because of the Fall Festival, adults were looking for parking, and accompanying their children inside. Usually, Caitlin dropped Geordie at the front of the school, but this time the door outside the entrance to the auditorium was open, and it was closer to the parking lot. She drove around to it, keeping a careful eye out for little ones who might absent-mindedly dart into her path, and parked the car.

Geordie ran ahead, disappearing into the crowd flowing through the open doors to the auditorium. Caitlin went in behind him. The school auditorium had a proscenium at one end, and an open kitchen at the other. The auditorium doubled as the cafeteria at lunchtime and the gymnasium at others. During Fall Festival all the gym classes were held out of doors in the mild, autumn sun, and the kids ate lunch as usual among the exhibits which lined the walls.

Caitlin walked into the crowded auditorium and looked around for Geordie. The room was filled with moms and dads either being dragged or ignored by their kids. She did not know many of these parents, other than by sight, although they all seemed to know one another. Many of them had known Emily. Since marrying Noah, Caitlin had deliberately tried to keep a low profile so as not to be seen as disrespecting Emily’s memory. Caitlin didn’t see Geordie, but suddenly she spotted Naomi, and felt a sudden pleasure at the sight of a familiar face.

‘Naomi!’ she called out. Naomi, who was deep in discussion with another mom, turned and frowned at her. Then she raised a hand in greeting. Caitlin went over to her. ‘Hi,’ she said.