"How can you just sit there mindlessly doing your homework as though nothing is wrong," Phillip challenged his younger sibling, as they sat across from one another at the kitchen table.
Surrounded by a sea of school books, Jamie countered, "You're the one that does his homework 'mindlessly', and I keep trying to tell you that nothing is wrong. Get a grip, you really need to stop watching so much T.V…you're imagination is working overtime."
"It is not," the older brother countered hotly, pushing his chair backwards and jumping to his feet. "You're too big a baby to face the possibility that she's missing and we'll never see her again."
"You both need to calm down," Lee advised as he entered the kitchen unnoticed by the squabbling pair. "Your mom is fine. She's stuck in Boston due to-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Phillip had crossed the room to stand in front of him as he stated plaintively, "We're not worried about Mom, it's Grandma that's missing."
Oh hell! Lee morphed from rookie step-dad to hard nosed intelligence operative before the boys' eyes without his facial expression betraying the cold chill of panic that ran down his spine. His mind was instantly contemplating what his first move should be. Who could have grabbed Dotty and what did they want in exchange for her safe return? He was so lost in his own thoughts that he briefly didn't register that the boys had resumed their bickering.
"Phillip, start using some common sense. Do people who mysteriously disappear usually leave a note saying when they'll be back," Jamie challenged, exasperation evident in his voice.
That was all it took to get Lee's focus turned back to his step-sons.
"Whoa! Jamie, are you saying that your grandma left a note?" The agent in him felt a growing sense of relief flood through him, yet as a son-in-law he couldn't help wishing that he knew exactly where Dotty was.
"Yes, Grandma isn't missing, she just isn't here right now," the younger brother explained calmly. "You can read her note for yourself…nothing is wrong." Jamie handed him the note that Dotty had left in plain sight.
"And you both read the note," he asked, seeking to determine why they'd responded so differently to it.
Lee hurriedly scanned the proffered note sheet as Jamie replied to his question after a slightly chagrinned Phillip appeared intent on remaining mum.
"Yeah, Lee, Phillip read it, too. He even plowed through more than his share of the snack that Grandma said she left for us."
"Clearly, you read this note, so what makes you think that your grandmother is missing, "Lee asked as he turned to Phillip, who was now studying the floor.
Feeling cornered, the teen tried to defend his position, although he didn't expect to be successful.
"The note said that she was leaving the snack for in case she wasn't here when we got home from school…and now she still isn't back. Grandma's almost always here when we get home, it's where she belongs. She's supposed to be here-"
Lee wasn't the most enlightened man in the world, but his step-son's statement sounded chauvinistic even to his ears.
"What is all this stuff about where your grandma 'belongs' and is 'supposed to be'? You guys are too old to require constant supervision, and your grandmother is an intelligent woman who's entitled to a life of her own."
"Amen," affirmed Dotty, as she strode into the kitchen.
She was more dressed up than any of the men in her family could ever remember seeing her be during the day. The elegant blonde standing before them didn't look like a suburban grandmother. Despite his defense of her right to lead her own life, Lee couldn't help wanting to know where she'd been and what she'd been doing.
To be continued...
