The household was in an uproar; Dixie was moments away from calling the police to report her son missing despite her husband's valiant efforts to keep her from giving into panic. Toby hadn't returned home after school and he wasn't the type to visit one of his friends without asking her or Serg first. A frantic phone call to the school revealed her son had boarded the bus but the driver hadn't paid attention to what stop he'd gotten off on, an appalling lack of security she planned to address with the school's administration once her son was home safe.
"Where is he?" Fighting back tears Dixie clutched her husband's arm; finding little comfort in his equally worried face, fear a tight band around her chest that barely let her breathe. "Toby has never disappeared like this before."
"I'm sure he's fine Aunt D," trying his best to sound reassuring Ethan made sure to keep his own worry hidden. Now was the time to remain calm and not give into the panic they all felt. "Toby is smart, I bet he'll be home any minute now."
"He's only ten Ethan, he …" her rising tone was interrupted by the ringing of the phone and she leapt to answer. "Hello, Toby?" her brow furrowed in confusion at hearing the last voice she ever would have expected calling the house, "Spud?"
"Rockstar Spud?" Gripping his wife's free hand Serg raised an eyebrow as she nodded absently, her worried expression collapsing into sweet relief.
Smiling tearfully at her husband Dixie hit the speaker button, "Toby is at Spud's. He's okay." Shakily she fumbled to sit down, the fear and adrenaline deserting her in a rush, leaving her entire body trembling.
"He has a black eye and small cut on his bottom lip," Spud's accented voice came clearly over the speaker, "but I think he'll be just fine."
"Do you know how that happened?" Serg spoke up when it was clear his wife wasn't able to, massaging her tense back as they waited anxiously for a reply.
There was an uneasy pause over the line, "he hasn't told me yet. I think it's safe to assume he was involved in some sort of fight." It was clear from Spud's tone there was something he wasn't saying and Dixie exchanged a worried look with her husband.
"I know where Spud lives," unable to stay quiet any longer Ethan pulled out his keys and met his Aunt's stricken gaze. Now that he knew where Toby was he had no intention of leaving him with Spud a second longer than necessary, "I'll go get Toby and bring him home."
"I uh, I offered Toby the chance to stay for supper," Spud's voice broke in before Dixie could agree, "he came to me for a reason and I think it would be a good idea to find out why."
Dixie immediately shook her head, she wanted her son home where she could look him over with her own eyes, turning to her husband who was actually hesitating she insisted, "no, I want him home now. I need to make sure he's okay."
"Mrs. Carter," Spud broke in again, while uncommonly insistent his tone remained gentle, "Dixie, you and Serg have trusted me with your children in the past. I'm asking you to please trust me one more time. I promise I'll bring Toby home in a couple hours."
"I …" Dixie looked helplessly at her husband, every inch of her body rebelled at the fact Spud had a point, Toby had gone to him first for a reason.
"We trust you with Toby Spud," patting his wife's hand gently Serg ignored Ethan's huff of displeasure. "You have the time you want, just please take good care of him."
"I will, I promise. He'll be well fed and home before you know it." Muttering an acknowledgment Serg disconnected the call and pulled his wife into a hug, holding her tightly. It was going to be a long wait for Toby to arrive home but he was at least comforted by the fact Spud was the one his son was with. Despite his many problems with Ethan he'd always found Spud to be a sensible and sensitive young man.
"You should have let me go get him," drumming his fingers on the countertop Ethan scowled, he had no idea why Serg continued to have such a good opinion of Spud. The older man had even lectured him quite a few times on his behavior, claiming that he was too hard on Spud … Spud who'd fainted when Aunt D needed him the most.
Sighing at the petulant tone in her nephew's voice Dixie pulled herself away from her husband, "I trust Spud to take care of Toby Ethan." Brushing the last of her tears away she briskly clapped her hands together, forcing a smile, "now let's get supper ready. Violet still needs to be fed and there is no reason to let her realize anything was wrong."
"Yes, dear," Serg kissed his wife's temple affectionately, as usual amazed at her ability to put a brave face on, "you're a wonderful and wise woman."