Simon stood and waved his hand while he shook his head, “I think I’m going to skip out. It’s late and I have to get this one in his crib.” He said picking up Jr.’s carrier.
There were hums of understanding from around the table as they waved back, “Thanks for coming and the twenty bucks!” Gary taunted.
Simon cut his eyes at them which only made them roar out in laughter, “I’ll take it back from you next poker night. You can count on that.” He replied.
Simon Sr. got to his feet, “Make that forty. He’s my ride.” He added. There was a sudden cheer that reverberated around the table. He realized the constant rematches were to wear them out until they left, and the others could win the cash.
Leaving on a good note, they stepped outside and saw an entirely different atmosphere than inside. The sky was covered in dark clouds and the wind whipped rain against them in heavy fall. Simon shut Jr.’s carrier and hustled out to the car. A crack of thunder crashed through the sky and Simon expected to hear choked little cries of his little guy.
Once he got Jr. locked into his seat and belted in, he saw his little boy was still sound asleep. Getting into the car with his father, he turned the ignition and saw the time was a little past 8 P.M. Knowing he was supposed to meet Cherish at home, he sighed, “I hope she isn’t too worried about us.” He said.
Father and son cleaned their clouded, wet glasses off on the end of their shirts in sync as Simon Sr. comforted him, “She would have called by now.”
His father was right.
Simon felt a bit more at ease as he drove to his parents’ house. Seeing the lights on and his mother standing in the front window, he waved to her while his dad ran to the front door. He hoped that Cherish got to relax and enjoy herself after working so much lately. He knew Imani deserved it as well, plus Miriam. He knew Cherish was thrilled and had a feeling that Jasmine would be asleep before he got home. He was hoping to change out of his wet clothes and watch a movie with Cherish; together.
Pulling up to his house, Simon pressed on the brakes abruptly. Something in his gut told him this was wrong. It was dark. He tried to make sense of it by convincing himself that Cherish was so relaxed she went to sleep early, but when the garage door lifted, he felt as though his heart was snatched away.
Her car wasn’t there.
With an unsettled feeling brewing in his stomach, he brought Jr. inside and turned on the kitchen light, “Cherish?” he called out loud. His voice echoed through the empty house into nothing. He set the carrier down by the couch and rushed upstairs two at a time; ignoring Jr.’s gentle grunts, “CHERISH?!” his desperate tone called again. Common sense would have told him they weren’t home, but he was in a panic.
Pushing the door to their bedroom open, he saw that the bed was untouched from morning. Quickly, he stormed into the twins’ bedroom and came face to face with Jasmine’s empty crib, “Jasmine!” he said breathlessly. His stomach turned, and his heart sank. There were several possible explanations. She could still be out with the other girls, but deep down he knew better.
His mother had been home when he dropped his dad off.
Fear and anxiety started to grip him when he pulled out his phone and called her cell. Not one ring went off before he heard music behind him and saw it face down on the changing table. Going downstairs again, he paced around while he called his mother.
Making herself, Miriam, and her husband tea in their kitchen, Margaret was in the middle of talking to them about the party and why Jack wasn’t home yet. Miriam was in the middle of telling them that Jack would never leave a table until he was completely broke when Margaret’s phone began to ring. Picking it up with a laugh, she pressed accept and the phone up to her ear. The fear and concern in Simon’s tone was beyond obvious, “Hey, mom…are Cherish and Jasmine over there? I just got home, and they aren’t here. Her car isn’t here and all I’ve found is her cellphone.”
Almost immediately her smile dropped, and she shut off the burner with the tea, “No, no Simon neither Cherish or Jasmine are here. Miriam and your father are the other only ones.” She said looking at them. With a hand pressed to her stomach, she blew out, “We left the spa three hours ago, Simon and you’re telling me that Cherish isn’t home?” She asked while Miriam clenched her jaw, “I knew we should have followed her home. Today when she was leaving, her car was squealing, and it had a nasty rattle. Your father is going to go and get Jack, so they can search around for her. Miriam and I will stay here and call the sheriff’s departments. I’ll…ask if there have been any accidents.” She whispered quietly. Rubbing her fingertips across her forehead, she licked across her lips, “Simon, I love you and don’t panic but, get out there right now. Be safe.” She ordered before hanging up.
Margaret’s answer only amplified how dire the situation was. Three hours. That was too long to be lost especially when no one knew where she was. His heart felt as though it was in a tight squeeze as he pushed his phone in his pocket, picked up his son, and returned to the car.
He wiped his glasses again, took a few calming breaths, and tried to clear his thoughts.
