213.

Ed's toothache did not subside and Olivia insisted he visit the dentist rather than continue gobbling Advil at two hour intervals throughout the day. The x-rays showed he had a wisdom tooth that had been deeply impacted for years but was now pressing against another molar. Ed joked that the tooth moving was proof he was still young. The dentist smiled, nodded, and proceeded to tell him this would be a routine yet painful procedure after the anesthesia's effects subsided. Ed made the appointment for a Wednesday, knowing Noah would be with Sarah after school and assuming Brooke could watch the twins for a couple of hours. But when he called, Brooke audibly hesitated. She had a commitment which she could change, but it wasn't exactly convenient to do so. Sarah, as it turned out, was more than happy to take a work-from-home day to watch the twins. A few minutes before noon, she swung by the Tucker apartment to get the stroller, and, at day care, delighted in seeing Maggie and Wyatt sprint to her.

"SAH! You GE'US!" Maggie shouted and hugged her legs.

Wyatt jumped up and down and balled and unballed his fists the way he always had done when he wanted someone to pick him up. Sarah scooped him into her arms and kissed his cheeks. "Hi grubbies," she said cheerfully, noticing the streaks of paint on their hands and what looked like patches of dried glue on their arms. "Where are your coats? Do you have a cubby?"

Maggie pointed to the side of the room, "On a hook!"

"Oh, okay." Sarah looked back and smiled at the lady who had checked her ID before stepping farther into the room. She zipped the twins into their fleece jackets and searched their backpacks for hats or mittens. "Well, let's hope it doesn't get any colder out there. What do you usually do after school?"

Maggie and Wyatt glanced at one another and grinned, sensing an opportunity.

"Stahbucks!" Wyatt said.

"Toysore!" Maggie added.

Sarah laughed. "You two are too smart. C'mon, let's go home and get you cleaned up before we do anything."

Maggie and Wyatt dutifully climbed into the stroller and buckled themselves in. They were starting to get slightly too tall for the seats, but Sarah preferred the stroller to navigating the streets with them hand-in-hand. She knew Ed and Olivia took them out without the stroller, but having them strapped in seemed so much safer. On the way to the Tuckers' building, they passed two Starbucks locations and Wyatt craned his neck longingly as they passed.

"SAH! Stahbucks!"

"We're going home first, remember?"

"STAHBUCKS!" This time, it was Maggie who shouted the name, most likely doing so simply to shout rather than out of affinity for the company's drinks. It was Wyatt who loved not only Starbucks but any coffee or juice shop.

"STAHBUCKS!"

"STAHBUCKS!"

The twins were yelling, giggling, and whipping themselves into a frenzy and Sarah calmly continued pushing the stroller down the street as if they were sitting peacefully and enjoying the scenery. When they entered the building both Maggie and Wyatt said hello to the doorman. He was the type of guy who liked to look tough, but, deep down, was exactly the opposite. His name was George, but the twins called him "Juggy"-a result of them trying to imitate Noah saying "Georgie."

"How was school?" He asked.

"OVER!" Maggie shouted.

"We wi'SAH!" Wyatt added.

"Well, don't let me hold up the rest of the day," he quipped good-naturedly and winked at Sarah. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Will do," she said with a grin.

Maggie jabbed a hand in the air. "Eh-I-vator, SAH!"

"Thank you, Maggs," Sarah said, "Good thing you're here or I would be completely lost."

"Welcome," Maggie said.

Sarah started laughing and, when she paused for a breath, she realized George the doorman was catching his breath from a laughter fit of his own.

….

In the oral surgeon's office, Olivia paged through a magazine, waiting calmly for Ed's surgery to be over. The family had been checking in, but there wasn't much to report and the procedure was as routine as they come. Caroline was making soup, and Brooke promised to bring it over later that night. Other than those plans and a few pictures from Sarah, there wasn't much to do other than find something to read and wait. She was almost totally zoned out when a call snapped her back to attention.

"Liv, hey." Rollins didn't bother with pleasantries. She sounded harried and breathless. "We may need your help."

Olivia's eyes darted around the room, and, instinctively, she stood up and headed outside. "What's going on?"

"Do you remember a case involving a Brent Latimer? From maybe twelve or thirteen years ago?"

It took Olivia a second, but she quickly recalled the name, the case, and the heartbreaking circumstances. "Sure," she replied, "That verdict made me sick."

"Yeah, well, it seems dodging the lifetime in prison bullet didn't teach him anything."

"What?"

"Local precinct was called to his townhouse last night…and they found his second wife dead. Their two kids and Latimer are nowhere to be found."

Olivia's stomach flip-flopped. "My God…"

"Yeah," Rollins replied. "I was kind of hoping you could come in and review the files with us from the first case, just so we had every angle covered."

"Today?" Olivia asked, looking helplessly at the building.

"Well, as soon as you can."

"Ed's having a wisdom tooth taken out now," Olivia said. The urge to drop everything and rush into her former office was nearly irresistible. "But…maybe tomorrow morning? I could come by early after I drop the kids at school."

"Sure, thanks," Rollins said, "I hope Ed's okay."

"I'm sure he will be," Olivia said, "Hey, if you can without breaching protocol, send me whatever you're able to."

"Sure thing. Thanks, Liv."

"You're welcome."

….

Though not quite two, Noah sensed the abnormality in Olivia picking him up at day care only thirty minutes after lunch. Upon seeing her, he did a double take then grinned and ran over into her waiting arms. The curiosity in his eyes warmed Olivia's heart, and she quickly gathered his things and explained what was happening as she carried him on her hip out of the building.

"We're going to surprise Ed, sweet boy," she said. Hearing the excitement in her

own voice made her heart skip a beat.

Noah grinned and laid his head on her shoulder.

"He's had a rough week," Olivia murmured more for herself than for Noah. The

city was reeling from a spate of officer-involved shootings, and Ed had been working around the clock taking statements and doing PR work with the press alongside the brass. He made sure to call and check in when he could, and, despite his attempts at sounding detached and cool-headed, the pressure from all angles was getting to him. He admitted this during one early morning call, and Olivia speculated that he had taken a few sips of bottom-drawer bourbon before she learned he was still on the scene of the latest incident.

For almost two years now, Ed had been her sounding board and confidante, her most trusted friend, her sparring partner…her lover, and he had done it all without asking for anything in return. They weren't equals in the relationship. He gave more. But Olivia required someone who was willing to do exactly that. And they lasted as a couple because Ed humbly, dutifully, and eagerly took on the role. Now, it was time for her to step in and switch places, even if it was only for a weekend.

"Mama!"

Olivia turned her head and was face to face with her sweet son. "Hmm?" He

mumbled toddler gibberish—Olivia was happy with him simply attempting to talk—which she understood. "Yes, baby, we should get pizza. We're going to get pizza tonight and play some games. And then, tomorrow, we're going to play mini golf and have lunch by the water!"

"Boats a' Ed?" Noah asked softly.

Olivia grinned and ran her fingers through Noah's hair. "Yes, sweet boy, boats

and Ed. And golf."

"Guff."

Olivia nuzzled his neck, "Yep. Golf. Ed loves his golf, and I think he'll be just fine with the mini version."

….

Noah was sniffling when Sarah picked him up from school and she handed him tissues as they walked home. He claimed he didn't feel sick, but Sarah could tell he wasn't his normal self. "How about we go to my place and hang out with Pearl and order Chinese?" Sarah suggested. Chinese food was her go to remedy for most illnesses and hangovers, and she was certain some soup, dumplings, and lo mein would help him feel a little bit better.

"Okay," Noah said, sounding congested, "Dat's a good plan. Did those babies have a nap?"

"No, I wasn't aware that was required."

Noah shrugged. "I think they skip sometimes."

"Well, your parents didn't tell me to put them to bed," Sarah said, "I think they were worried about Daddy's tooth. Not Maggs and Wyatt, Mommy and Daddy."

"You think he's outta surg'ry?"

"Probably. But he's going to be really tired tonight."

"He's gonna get a little shot in da mouth so he can't feel anything and they're gonna put him to sleep! Did you know doctors could do dat? Just," Noah tried to snap his fingers, "like that and put ya to sleep?"

"I know! It happened to me! I had to get my wisdom teeth out when I got braces!"

"Brace face!" Noah said, barely able to utter the second word before giggling. "Am I gonna be a brace face you think?"

"Your teeth look pretty good right now, so you don't have to worry about braces for a little while longer." Sarah smiled at her doorman as they walked in. He was decidedly less friendly than the Tuckers' doorman but just as polite. "Let's go get the twinsies and we'll order our food."

"How come you left 'em with G?"

"Justin's running late, and I felt bad getting them all bundled up again—"

Noah sniffled and said, "—it's gettin cold and we don't even have our new coats!"

"I'm sure you're getting them soon," Sarah said, "Anyway, I got lucky and called G and stashed the twins there."

"What are they doin?"

"I don't know, Noey! We shall find out! Don't you trust G?"

"Yes! I do! I dunno if I trust those babies not to be hyper!" Noah erupted in congested giggles. He bent over, coughing and laughing, and his backpack fell over his head.

"Come on, Noah Webster, let's go. If they're hyper G might need rescuing

because she's too nice and won't tell them to shush."

"Sare Bear, you don't tell 'em to shush."

Sarah groaned playfully and side-hugged Noah. "You're too smart," she said, "Too smart, too quick, too handsome."

Noah shrugged. "If you say so."

…

Ed nodded off the entire ride home and leaned heavily on Olivia in order to get upstairs. Once inside the apartment she managed to get him to the couch before he stumbled and she tossed him as gently as possible onto the cushions. He curled one of the throw pillows under his chin and appeared to fall asleep. Olivia simpered at him, adorably pathetic with the cooling pack wrapped around his head, and started for the kitchen.

"Whereyagoin?" He slurred.

"Honey, sleep," she said, rushing back to his side. She almost touched his cheek but caught herself and grabbed his hand instead. "You'll feel better when you wake up and we'll have some soup and a quiet night."

"Youleavin?"

"No."

"Good."

She waited until he was snoring and his grip on her hand completely loosened and crept to the bedroom where she opened the laptop and Googled Latimer's name. Sure enough, there were dozens of articles about his most recent horrific act, most of which included the details about his first wife. Olivia stared at the photographs of his deceased second wife and missing children. The boy was maybe six and the girl a year or so younger. They too closely resembled their father and Olivia shuddered. If they survived this ordeal, which she was certain they would, the road ahead was certain to be treacherous.

She called Rollins and asked, in a hushed voice, if there was any progress.

"Nope. He's smart. If he's using credit cards they're not in his name. No traffic cams, nothing. Didn't take a taxi or an Uber, at least not with his name and no one's reported a guy fitting his description with two little kids."

"Have you run his plates? Passport? ID?"

"He hasn't gotten on a plane unless it's a private jet but nothing has left Westchester or Teterboro with him on it. We're widening the canvass, but, Liv, it's like he disappeared into thin air. How do people do this?"

"They plan for it. Dig deeper. Something in his financials incriminating."

"Yeah…hey how's Ed?"

"Asleep. And probably will be for a while. So I'm here…"

"Liv, there's nothing you can do right now," Rollins said, reading her mind, "I'll call you if anything comes up."

"You're right," Olivia replied, "Thanks Rollins."

"Anytime."

…..

In a matter of forty-five minutes, G had sufficiently spoiled Maggie and Wyatt enough so that they didn't want to leave her apartment. She had recently purchased an adult-sized foam bean-bag-esque chair and the twins were jumping from the coffee table onto it and apparently had been doing so since they'd been dropped off.

"They're-" G sheepishly shrugged her shoulders, "-doing whatever they want."

"Dey always do," Noah said. He shedded his backpack and took his turn jumping onto the bag.

"Are you sick, Noah?" G asked.

"Little sniffly," he replied, wiping his nose with his arm. "S'okay."

G glanced at Sarah who shrugged. "We're all sniffly this time of year," Sarah said, "Alright, come on kiddos, let's move upstairs."

"NO!" Maggie said. "SAYWI'GEEEE"

"GEEEEE!" Wyatt shouted and heaved himself onto the chair.

Sarah grinned at her neighbor. "Two choices. Stay here and continue our invasion or come upstairs with us and have Chinese food and watch a movie."

"The latter," G said.

The crew headed up one floor and were greeted by Pearl. Sarah tossed her phone to G and hooked Pearl's leash to her collar. "I want an egg roll and happy family," she said to G. "The twins will split chicken fried rice and Noey, you should probably have soup."

"And crab rangoon and lo mein with shrimpies!"

"I'll be right back," Sarah said with a grin.

Wyatt and Maggie were initially devastated that they weren't invited to go out on the walk and ran after Sarah and Pearl. They whined and shouted but Noah easily redirected them. "Hey! Babies! Let's watch 'em out here!" He held open the terrace door and G rushed to his side. Maggie and Wyatt ran to them and they shouted Pearl's name from above.

G saw how Noah put his arms around his siblings and was careful not to let them too close to the edge even though it was made of plexiglass. He narrated the action below-a bus, a street vendor, a bunch of teenagers jostling around-and G's heart melted. She considered herself a good big sister, but Noah had an uncanny, innate sense of big-brotherness. He was almost eight-years-old, but when he was in big brother mode he took up all the space in the room. Maggie and Wyatt's eyes locked onto him and they traced his every move. It was clear they adored and admired him.

"WE'RE BACK!" Sarah shouted.

"Oh, crap," G said, "We were out here and I didn't order."

"No biggie. I changed my mind anyway. I'm in the mood for shrimp."

"I got shrimpies!" Noah said and then sneezed.

Sarah felt his forehead. "No fever. You're fine."

"Tuckers are very healthy," Noah stated matter-of-factly.

"Who said that?" Sarah asked.

"Gramma."

"Of course."

…..

Ed and Olivia sat on one side of the table and Noah sat on the other. It was obvious the kid was anguished, disappointed, and embarrassed, but he maintained a strong sense of loyalty. He knew who had vandalized the school restrooms and had been implicated in the destruction, but he was not willing to risk the social capital required to rat on his friends.

"So, bud, you're gonna take the rap. Gonna spend a couple weeks cleaning the bathrooms after school?"

"Yes." Noah said assuredly.

"Not gonna even tell us?"

"I didn't do it," Noah uttered for, what seemed to him, the millionth time.

"But you know who did."

"Yes."

"And you're grouped in with them and also getting in trouble."

"Yes."

Olivia saw Ed's jaw clench like she'd seen it so many times before. Both she and Ed were personally annoyed they couldn't coax the details of eighth grade restroom vandalism out of their son. Always the one to err on the side of the right thing, their son was suddenly torn between being a good friend and being a good citizen. Ed was surprised it had taken this long. Olivia was sad.

"Honey…"

Noah stared back at her and repeated, "I didn't do it."

"But you know who did."

"Yes."

"And you won't tell me?"

"It doesn't matter," Noah said, "I'm not telling anyone."

"Honey…" Olivia said again before cringing. She had been having a hard time adjusting to middle school Noah and middle school in general.

Ed threw up his hands. "Well, we're done. Liv? Let's go to bed." Olivia met his eyes and silently asked what to do about recalcitrant Noah. Ed shrugged. "Let's go to bed. We're done. No, turn off the lights bud. Love you."

It took a minute, but Noah returned the "Love you" and remained at the table. Eventually, Wyatt strode into the kitchen for a drink yet so absorbed in his book he almost didn't notice his brother. But, on the return trip, he stopped.

"Hey No."

"Hey Wy."

"Whaddya doing?" Wyatt knew Noah had been in a little bit of trouble, but nobody in the family stayed at the table for long by themselves.

"Thinking."

Wyatt nodded. He was very well-versed on thinking. His teachers actually told him he thought too long about a lot of things.

"Wy, should I be a snitch?"

Wyatt's eyes widened. "You know someone who has drugs?"

Noah laughed. Wyatt watched too many movies. "No. I know who messed up the bathrooms."

"You were there?"

"Sorta."

Delighted at the insider information, Wyatt took a seat across from Noah and leaned across the table. "Who did it?"

"I'm not saying."

"Everyone's in trouble."

"That's the way it works."

Wyatt crinkled up his face. At ten and in fifth grade, he was still in the lower school and didn't have direct access to any of the upper school antics or gossip. "Did you do it, Noah?"

The innocence in his voice broke Noah's heart. At that point in his young life, Noah realized Wyatt looked up to him for a lot of things, but, most importantly, he was a role model, and it made Noah sick that Wyatt was doubting, for one second, that his big brother was a good guy.

"I didn't," Noah said. "I promise. It's stupid."

"Promise?"

Noah looked his brother in the eye. "Promise," he said, "And I'll make it right, okay?"

"But the other kids will hate you."

"No...I'll figure out a way."

Wyatt grinned and nodded.

"Wanna play cards?" Noah asked his brother, "I'm not tired."

Wyatt smiled and nodded. "Rummy first. Don't forget, deal the first card to Gramma."

Noah solemnly nodded. "Always." He shuffled and tossed the first card aside. "For you Gramma."

Wyatt looked at the card, closed his eyes, and smiled.

Most brothers would have rolled their eyes, but Noah didn't. He waited patiently for his brother to open his eyes again.

"Ready?"

Wyatt smiled and nodded. "Ready."

…

Sarah unshouldered all of the bags and took a seat at the island in front of Olivia. Ed had been moved to the bedroom and the living areas were free, but the twins were exhausted and Noah was coughing and even more congested. "Livvie," she said, "I fear I am leaving you with an absolute mess."

Olivia poured two glasses of wine and leaned across the island. "No mess," she said, "Just life. And I'm happy to have it."

"How's Daddy?"

"Drugged. I don't expect to hear from him until tomorrow. Caroline's soup will have to wait. He hasn't eaten."

Sarah shouldered her bag, "Well, good thing you're retired and can take care of everything!" She sashayed toward the door, "See ya later."

…

#Tuckson