Chapter Sixty-three

"Alison – do you have any more of these?"  Abby asked as she polished off the remaining chips in the bowl.

"Sure."  She replied as she started to get up.

"No.  Sit down."  Abby insisted, holding the last chip in her fingers.  "I'll help myself."

"Babe…"  Cameron shivered.  "It's one thing when you eat that crap at home but we're in public."

Abby took the potato chip and dipped it in the bowl of relish, just as she'd done with the rest of them.  She looked pointedly at him and crunched down on the chip loudly.  Smiling as she swallowed, she brought the bowl into the kitchen.   "I'm pregnant.  Deal with it."

Rafe laughed and called out after her.  "It's OK, Abs.  Alison eats tortilla chips dipped in mustard."

"Rafe!!"  Alison gave him a look.

Just then, Becky squealed as she and Maggie ran through the living room.

Rafe called out with a warning.  "Rebecca!!  Do not run in the house!" 

Becky looked sheepishly at him.  She knew she was in trouble now.  He called her by her whole name.  It wasn't as bad as Rebecca Elizabeth, but it was still bad.

"Sorry Daddy.  I forgot."  She gave him a little grin.

He grinned back.  "It's OK.  Just be careful."

Ian caught Maggie around the waist and flipped her upside down.  "Yes Magpie.  You heard Rafe.  No running."

"Sorry Da."  Maggie said as he put her back on her feet. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked slowly with Becky upstairs to her room. 

Cam leaned over and whispered to Rafe.   "Do you realize how old we'll be when the babies are their age?"

"Please.  Don't remind me."  Rafe grumbled back.

"Honey?  How did we decide to stop at one?"  Jack said with a grin.

Melissa laughed out loud and leaned in to kiss him.  "My mother raised seven.  I vowed I'd never put myself through it."

"Is seven your goal too Rafe?"  Ian chuckled.

Rafe hesitated and Alison elbowed him in the ribs.  "No.  Ian.  Four is fine."

They sat around joking until there was a crash from the kitchen, drawing them back to the matter at hand.

"Abs…"  Cam whispered as he sprung up off the couch and raced to her, with Alison and Rafe trailing behind.

Abby stood there with a pile of potato chips and broken glass at her feet.   "Oh my God.  He's got Lynnie."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How long has she been gone?"  Chloe asked Grant.

"About an hour and a half."  He said with a sigh.  She looked terrified.  He gave her hand a squeeze and asked.  "You OK?"

She forced a smile and squeezed back.  "I'm fine.  I just wish we could find her.  It's getting dark."

"It's not like her not to answer the phone."  Lia said, her voice shaking.  She hit redial for the hundredth time.  "Not when it's me calling.  She knows better." She looked up at Danny and pleaded to him with her eyes.  "Oh my God.  Danny, I have to find her."

Danny knew there was no way he could joke with her now.  His heart was in his throat as he looked into her eyes.  "It'll be OK."  He said softly as he pushed her hair off her face.  "We will.   We'll find her."

Colin was extremely quiet.  He followed after Kate, who was calling out. "Lynnie!!  Lynnie!!"

He knew he was the one to end it.  If he'd give in to his father no one else would get hurt.  If he'd done it before now, Becky would be safe, Lynnie wouldn't be missing. 

"Colin?"  Kate grabbed his arm and made him face her.  "Are you alright?  Where'd you go?  I was calling your name for the last few minutes."

He shook his head to focus.   "I'm here.  I'm sorry.  I was just trying to figure out…"  He couldn't finish the sentence.

"Where she is…"  Kate finished his thought, incorrectly.  "We have to find her."

Just then they heard Lia yelling and turned toward the sound.  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" 

"I'm sorry."  Lynnie said softly as she approached them.

"You're sorry?  You're sorry?  You scared me to death Lynn!!  Don't you ever do that again do you hear me?? EVER."  Lia's voice broke and tears began to fall.  Normally she'd be mortified for Danny to see her like this but she was too upset to care.  She pulled her sister into a hug and held tight.  "Don't you ever…"  She said over and over again.

"Lynnie?  Sweetie?  Where'd you go?"  Kate asked as she ran a hand over her head.  Lynnie looked terrible.  Like she'd been sleep deprived for days on end.

"He needed help.  I couldn't see.  Soon I will and I can tell him."  Lynnie murmured.

"Who?"  Lia asked as she pulled back.  "Who needs your help?"

"What?"  Lynnie replied, her gaze finally focused.

Lia shook her a bit.  "You just said 'he needed help'.  Who are you talking about Lynn?"

She suddenly couldn't remember.  "I don't know.  I'm sorry I'm babbling."  She pulled Lia to her, hugging her this time.  She rocked her back and forth in her arms. "I'm OK, Lia.  It's OK.  I'm alright." 

"We're sorry we put so much pressure on you Lynnie."  Chloe said, her sweet voice almost a whisper. 

Grant wound his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him.  "Clo's right.  It's not fair.  I'm sorry."

"It's OK."  Lynnie insisted.

Her phone rang again and she moved to answer it.  "Hello?"

"Lynnie?"  Cam sighed.  "Honey.  Where are you?   I'm coming to get you out of there."

"What?  No Dad.  I'm with Lia.  I'm fine."  She replied.

"You're where?  With who?"  Abby had been so sure about what she had seen.  This wasn't making sense.

"In the park.  With Lia and everyone.  I'm OK."

"You're OK?"  Cam asked again. 

"Yeah." 

"Do me a favor sweetheart?  You kids come back to Aunt Alison's OK?"

"OK."  Lynnie promised.  "We'll be right there."

Colin, like everyone else, looked on in a bit of shock.  Something was going on, but Lynnie wasn't talking.  But he was sure he knew.  

Colin had a sneaking suspicion who wanted Lynnie to help him and he'd be damned if he'd sit by and let it happen.