Chapter 3-Pranks and Grief

Two pieces of toast popped from the toaster and Sam spread peanut butter on them. She set them on plates and placed them in front of Danny and Leo.

Leo stared at it. "I'm not hungry."

"But you need to eat," Sam said.

Leo lowered his gaze.

Sam knelt to his level and squeezed his hand. "Daddy's going to pick you up from school today. I know this is really confusing right now, but he had to help me yesterday and we got home super late last night. That's why he thought it would be better if you slept here."

"I just want Mom back," Leo said.

Sam frowned and hugged him. "I know, buddy. I know it's hard."

He looked up at her. "Will Lexie pick me up too?"

"You see Leo… Lexie…" She looked between Danny and Scout. "Grandma isn't feeling very well right now."

"Grandma is sick?" Scout frowned. "We can get her soup from Kelly's, like when I was sick."

Sam smiled sadly. "That's a really sweet idea, but it's a different kind of sick."

"I can make her feel better," Scout said.

"Gamma feel better," Wiley agreed.

Sam let out a heavy breath. "I have an idea. You could make Grandma a get-well card and Mommy can take it to her?"

Scout smiled. "I'll make it really pretty with my special glitter."

After Danny finished his toast, Sam said, "Why don't you boys go get your backpacks?"

Danny and Leo ran out of the kitchen.

Wiley lifted his sippy cup and began chugging back his milk.

"Scout…" Sam sat beside her. "Mommy wants to talk to you about something."

Scout looked up at her with her big brown eyes.

"Remember we thought your daddy went to Heaven?"

She nodded sadly.

"Well, it turns out that he didn't. You see, he got a little lost and has been trying to come home to see you for a really long time."

Scout's mouth dropped a little.

"And guess what? He's home now and really wants to see you. Does that make sense?"

"Daddy really missed me?"

"Yes. He missed you very much. Would you like to see him?"

She nodded. "Is he going to leave me again?"

"Oh sweetie…" Sam pulled her onto her lap. "He didn't want to leave you. He got lost and wanted to come home to you right away. But there was a lot of things making it hard for him to come home."

"Danny's daddy made it hard?"

Sam shook her head. "No, it wasn't him… but Mommy thought she'd take you and Wiley to daycare just for the morning today. I'm going to visit Grandma, but then Daddy and I are going to pick you and Wiley up after lunch. Then we can spend the afternoon with Daddy. How does that sound?"

She smiled. "Good."

GHGHGH

Leo's school was the last stop on the way to the hospital. Sam decided to walk with him to the playground. He walked over to a tree and sat gloomily beside it by himself. Sam's heart sank. She watched him for several seconds until she saw Rocco saunter over to him. At least they would have each other in their grief.

"No, Mommy, no!"

Sam whipped her head around. Charlotte was clinging tightly to Lulu and crying.

"Don't make me go to school, please!"

"You'll be safe here," Lulu said. "Besides, you love school and being in routine is good for you."

"No, please…"

Lulu cupped Charlotte's face in her hands. "I know yesterday was scary for you, but when you ran to Kelly's and told Trina about Alexis… it probably saved her life. And now the cops are looking for your Uncle Nikolas."

"Just please don't leave me! He'll find me here…"

Lulu held her tightly. "Okay… okay… I'll take you home."

As Lulu and Charlotte left, Sam glanced over at Leo and Rocco, two other boys sitting with them now. She turned to leave as well.

"Have a good day at school, Aiden," Elizabeth said, standing with Ric, who had green hair.

Aiden walked slowly across the playground and sat by himself on a bench with a book. He glanced over the top watching the other children play, his shoulders shrunk low.

Ric put his arm around Elizabeth. "He'll be fine. I'm sure she'll make friends soon."

"I just hope he's not being bullied anymore." Elizabeth frowned. "Listen, I'm sorry about Cam and Jake. I don't know what's gotten into them."

"I'm not sure why I'm the victim of their pranks either." Two tiny white paper balls hit the back of Ric's neck and he swatted at it. "What the—"

Sam's eyes moved to their blue car. Cameron and Jake were at the windows with straws next to their mouths giggling. Jake quickly hopped into the back seat with Cam. They high-fived each other and tucked away their straws quickly.

Sam bit her lip trying not to laugh, then climbed into her own car.

GHGHGH

When Sam arrived at the hospital, Julian and Finn were talking to Andre Maddox. Julian placed a hand on his forward, and he stepped back. "Are you serious?"

"What is it?" Sam joined them and crossed her arms.

"She's gone," Julian said. "She escaped."

Sam felt the colour drain from her face. "What?"

"She's been missing for a half hour," Finn said. "Nurse Amy was the last person to see her. She said something about finding a suitable heir."

"Oh gosh…" Sam rolled her eyes.

"Then that's got to be Spencer, right?" Julian said. "He'd be at school I'm presuming…"

"Call the high school," Sam said. "Give them the heads up. I'll call Laura." She sighed. "Drew and I were going to get Scout and Wiley soon…"

"Then be with them. I'll find your mother." He pulled out his phone.

Sam pressed her phone to her ear.

"Hello?" Laura's muffled voice came through.

"Hi Laura, this is Sam… Sam McCall. This is going to sound strange, but I don't know if you know what happened yesterday…"

"As mayor, the police filled me in. There was a mind mapping experiment run by Valentin?"

"Yes, well basically my mom thinks she's Helena and she's missing. She told the nurse she wants to find a suitable heir. Dad and I think she might be looking for Spencer."

Laura let out a heavy breath. "Spencer's at school. I'll go pull him until she's found."

"Yeah or at least until we know what we're up against," Sam said. "My dad's calling the high school to fill them in."

"Thanks, Sam. I'll head there now."

Sam tucked her phone away.

"The school knows," Julian said. "They wouldn't tell me if Spencer is still there though. I guess they don't consider great-uncle by marriage family since I'm not on the contact list."

"Are you sure you don't want me to help you search?"

"Spend time with the kids. She couldn't have gotten far."

GHGHGH

Sam picked up Drew from the Quartermaine mansion at 11:30am. It wasn't a long drive to the Tania Jones Memorial Day Care Centre but Sam filled him in about Alexis/Helena escaping the hospital.

"I'm sure your dad will find her," Drew said as the climbed out of the car.

"I hope so." She started to smile. "Are you ready to see our daughter."

"I've been ready since my plane went down."

They entered the daycare and passed the infant room. She led him to Scout's preschool room since it was always easier to get Scout ready before Wiley. Sam knocked on the door, then walked inside. Cots were laid out on the floor ready for naptime, while children wandered, and one little boy jumped up and down on his cot. Violet sat on her cot reading a book. Sam's eyes wandered looking for Scout.

"Ms. McCall…" One of the educators, Brittany, walked over to them.

Sam smiled a little. "Uh, where's Scout?"

Brittany scrunched her face. "Grandma picked her and Wiley up a half hour ago."

Sam swallowed hard. "Please tell me you mean Monica or Bobbie…"

"Sam, Monica was still at home when I left," Drew said.

Sam rubbed her temples. "Oh no…"

"You said they'd be picked up around lunch today," Brittany said. "Your mother picks up all the time and she's on the pick-up list…"

"I know, but something happened yesterday…" Sam said. "She's not in her right frame of mind." She shook her head. "It's not your fault… just please take her off the pick-up list and the emergency contact list until Lucas or I say otherwise…"

"Did she say anything… like where she's taking them?" Drew asked.

"Yeah. She told Scout she was taking them home," Brittany said.

Sam looked up at Drew. "She means Wyndemere."