*Thank-you for all the reviews of the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
"What do you mean he ran away?" asked Tessa, "where did he go?" She got down to Scarlet's level to get some information from her.
"I don't know," she said. "He just said he was running away because everyone was fighting and he couldn't take it anymore so he walked away. I called out to him but he kept walking."
"Oh My God," said Tessa as she stood up. "Let's go find him," she said taking Scarlet's hand to look for Zachary. She was scared to death because he was only 8 years old and it was New York. Anything could happen to a kid on their own.
John and Dave followed behind Tessa and Scarlet. As they got to the area where Zachary had walked off but he was no where in sight. They walked through the neighborhood yelling for him but they had no luck. They couldn't find him. Tessa was trying to hold back tears as she couldn't find her son. She was truly worried about him and she felt like she was to blame. They continued to walk through the neighborhood yelling for Zachary but he was no where to be found. They came back to the park and looked around the park for him but still couldn't find him. "Where is he?" asked Dave.
"I don't know," said Tessa, "but I'm scared. That's my baby boy. If something happens to him I don't know what I will do."
"Don't think like that. I'm sure he's safe. It's just a matter of finding him," said Dave.
"It's a matter of finding him? We skimmed the park and neighborhood but we haven't found him. He's 8 years old. He's not that fast to just disappear."
"I am sure we'll find him," said Dave. "Let's go back to the house and call the police."
"All right," said Tessa as Dave wrapped his arm around her to comfort her. He knew she was scared and worried. He wanted to make her feel like everything would be all right but he wasn't so sure himself. He was just as worried as she was but he was holding it together for her. They walked to the car and got in to head back to the house to call the police.
When they got home Tessa called the police in a panic to tell them that her son had run away and it took no time for them to arrive at the house to get information. Scarlet told them everything that had happened from the fighting to Zachary running away. Tessa gave them a description of Zachary telling them he had dark brown hair, deep blue eyes, was about 4'4, had on an orange baseball jersey and grey baseball pants. It was hard for her to get the information out as she could not stop herself from crying. She was terrified for her son. The police officer asked if there was any place he could be like a friend's house and Tessa couldn't think of any she was too shaken up. The police officer said he couldn't put an Amber alert out because Zachary wasn't taken and he just ran away. They told them they would skim the neighborhood but that didn't settle Tessa's nerves. She was a nervous wreck. She paced around the kitchen after the officer left trying to think about where Zachary could be. Scarlet went up to her room to play while the adults stayed down in the kitchen.
"This is all your fault, Batista," said John as he watched Tessa pace the kitchen.
"My fault? You're the one that showed up to the game getting Tessa and me upset. This is your fault."
"I came to spend the afternoon with my son like I am allowed to do. You wouldn't allow that because you had to go out for ice-cream. It's your fault. If you would have just let me spend the afternoon with my son then there wouldn't have been a fight and he would be here right now. This is your fault."
"No, Romeo, I assure you this is YOUR fault. If you wouldn't have came here without permission then we wouldn't be in this position right now. It's your fault, Romeo. It's all your fault."
Tessa listened to them argue over whose fault it was and who caused Zachary to run away. Neither of them were willing to take the blame. She felt they were all at fault but she was getting upset because instead of worrying about the person that truly mattered they were too busy placing the blame on one another rather than focus on the person they all supposedly loved. "I came to see my son," said John. "I had every right to come here. It was you and Tessa making a big deal out of it. It's your fault."
"No, Romeo. You came over here unannounced how did you think we were going to react? This is your fault."
"Would you two shut up!" yelled Tessa. "I am sick and tired of hearing you blame one another. It is all of our faults. It's not just John's fault, it's not just Dave's fault and it's not just my fault. We are all to blame. You two are acting like children. Just shut up!"
"Whoa, Tess," said John. "Why are you so pissed off?"
"Why am I so pissed off? Because our son is missing and all you two idiots can do is blame one another instead of worrying about his safety. It's ridiculous. You two are ridiculous. Your whole feud is ridiculous."
"I am not an idiot, Tess," said John. "The idiot would be the one that let our son run off to play."
"WE all let them run off to play, Jackass," said Tessa. "I'm not going to argue and I'm not going to play the blame game. There is no point in blaming anyone. We are all responsible. Don't you two get it. It was our fighting that made him run away. He is tired of the fighting and quite frankly so am I. I know I am just as guilty at fighting but I'm stepping up. This fighting needs to stop don't you see what it's doing to Zachary? He felt he needed to escape from it and now we don't know where he is. The fighting needs to stop. We are all adults and we all love Zachary. We need to stop fighting and start negotiating," she said.
"Here we go," said John. "Miss Perfect wants the fighting to stop."
"You know, Romeo, you DON'T need to be in MY house," said Dave. "Respect my wife."
"You two start the fights all the time," said John.
"WE all start the fights," said Tessa, "and it needs to stop. WE are all going to be in Zachary's life so we all need to get along. We are going to be there for his graduation, his wedding and every other event in his life. We have got to grow up and stop this nonsense because this is what it causes. We have no idea where our son is because he needed to escape from something he could not control. I don't know about you two but I feel pretty horrible about it."
"I feel horrible too," said Dave as he got up to comfort Tessa by wrapping his arm around her. "I feel like it is my fault too. We should stop the fighting."
"Dude, you just want to have sex with Tessa so you're agreeing with her," said John. "Two minutes ago you were blaming me now you're up Tessa's ass siding with her and blaming yourself. I am not blaming myself because I am not in the wrong here. If you two would have just let me spend the afternoon with my son none of this would happen."
"If you don't want to settle our differences and want to fight," said Tessa, "you can leave. You don't need to be here. I want us to get along for our son. I care enough about him to want to get along with you, John. I have no problem with you. I never did. You are the one that dragged me to court to get custody. We used to be best friends now we're down each other's throats. We have to get along for our son."
"I dragged you to court?" asked John. "You are pressing charges against my daughter."
"She tried to kill my kid," said Tessa. "I love my daughter too. What if my daughter would have died? What would you have done? How would you have felt? Would you still think I was such a horrible person for pressing charges against your child? I could have lost my daughter."
"But you didn't," said John.
"I lost our baby," said Tessa, "because of Zola and I came close to losing my daughter to her but you act like it's okay. You act like it's no big deal. You just let it roll off your back. I find it to be serious."
"Tess," said Dave whispering in her ear. "Let this roll off your back. He's not worth the fight that's starting. I know you're pissed but this isn't about Zola or Scarlet. Just relax."
"Okay," she said.
"I do find it serious," said John. "But I don't think you should press charges against a little girl."
"Okay," said Tessa. "You feel your way and I feel mine. I just want us to stop fighting."
"And Romeo, you say I am agreeing with Tessa because I want to have sex with her.. Maybe I do want to have sex with my wife but she is right. We do need to stop fighting and get along. Stop trying to cause another fight."
"This is rich," said John. "Real rich."
"John, why do you have to do this?" asked Tessa. "I am worried to death about our son and all you can do is start another fight. Please can we just get along for Zachary? That's all I'm asking."
"Just relax, Baby," said Dave as he softly kissed Tessa's head. "It is okay."
"All right," said John. "For Zachary I will get along with you two but you two have got to let me see him when I want."
"You can but you just need to call first to set up a plan. That's the only reason we had a problem today. You showed up here without talking to us first. You can't just show up here without talking to us first."
"Fine," said John. "I should have called. I will call next time."
"Thank-you," said Tessa. "And I'm sorry for being a bitch to you. I just want to get along for Zachary."
"I'm sorry too," said John. "I really am. And we can get along I will do my best."
"That's all I ask," said Tessa. "And I want you two to let go of whatever feud you have going on. It's not worth it. It's old and over with. Just start new and get along."
"Fine," said Dave. "A new start."
"A new start," said John reluctantly.
"Thank-you," said Tessa. "Do you both agree to let go of whatever it is you have against each other? I'm not asking you two to be friends but I do want you to get along. Dave, I need you to accept that John is Zachary's father too and he is always going to be in his life. And John, I need you to accept the fact I'm married to Dave and that he is a father figure to Zachary and he will always be there. Can you two do that?"
"As long as I don't' have to be friends with Romeo," said Dave, "then yes I can agree to that. I will tolerate him for you and for Zachary but he will never be my friend."
"All right," said Tessa. "John?"
"I can accept that Dave is in my son's life and I can tolerate him but like he said we will never be friends. I have no desire to be friends with him."
"Okay," said Tessa. "As long as we all get along… I don't care if you're friends or not. Just as long as you two get along."
"All right," said Dave.
"All right," said John as the phone rang.
"I'll get it," said Tessa as she rushed to the phone. She answered the phone and John and Dave could hear the relief in her voice. "Thank-you. Thank-you so much," she said before hanging up the phone.
"Who was it, Honey?" asked Dave.
"That was Ethan's mom," she said with a smile. "Zachary is at their house. He left with them after the game. So he's safe and he's staying at Ethan's house for tonight."
"Thank God," said Dave feeling instant relief. "That's great news," he said before kissing Tessa's lips softly.
"So glad he's safe," said John. "I should probably head back to West Newbury. You two have a good day."
"You too," said Tessa as she watched John grab his keys and head out the door.
Once he was gone Dave said, "we had a pretty scary afternoon."
"Yeah we did," said Tessa. "I'm just glad he's safe and sound. I feel so much better now."
"Me too," he said wrapping his arms around her. "I am relieved."
"So am I," she said.
"Are you relaxed now?" he asked.
"Yeah. I am. Thanks for manning up today and settling your differences with John. That meant a lot."
"I know," he said. "No problem. You were right just so you know. WE do need to get along for Zachary. I can't risk him running away again."
"Me either," said Tessa. "I love you."
"I love you too, Baby," he said before kissing her lips softly.
*A/N: So what did you think? PLease review and thank-you for reading.