Chapter 17 - Judgement day

Edward wasn't too worried at first. He knew where to look, the playground. It wasn't that far away, in fact he could see the top of the swing set clearly from where he stood. However, as he walked down the path leading to the play area, he saw absolutely no trace of the runaway toddler.

Pulling his jacket tighter around him, he hurried his steps. The temperature had dropped since the day before and a slight chill lingered in the air. There had been frost on the ground that morning and it had taken great effort to keep Anthony away from the icy puddles alongside frozen shore of the artificial lake.

The LAKE!

Edward had all but forgotten about the lake and how short distance it was between the water and the walkway. The water looked dark, cold and uninviting. Anthony hated to bath, hated getting water in his hair or anywhere near his face. Surely he wouldn't go anywhere near the water…or would he? He loved jumping and splashing in the puddles… and there were plenty of those on the shore.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation Edward sprinted the last 12 feet to the fenced kid friendly play area. The boy had to be there. He HAD to or else… no, he didn't even want to think about the "or else part".

"Anthony? "

His breath became short as he looked around the place, quickly finding it empty.

"Anthony, Anthony where are you?"

The play set was of moderate size and didn't hold a whole lot of hiding places. It was boat shaped, with the slide being the gangway. Kids could climb up a ladder in rear, enter the body of the boat and then come out at the top of the slide. The boat itself was stranded in a giant sandbox, surrounded by climbing toys, swings and see-saws.

Edward searched through every single inch of the place, three times, but still came up empty handed. There was no sign of Anthony anywhere and he could feel the panic gnawing at him. What if the boy was hurt and unable to respond? What if he had gone into the water? What if someone had snatched him?

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"I've lost my little boy." Edward's words were rushed as he approached a man who, by his appearance, looked like a janitor of some sort. "He's two… he's wearing uh, jeans and a dark jacket.. I think… and he's got light brown hair and gray-ish eyes. Have you seen him?"

"Nope," the man looked up from the drain pipe he was working on. "How long has he been missing?"

"Ten, fifteen minutes..."

"Where did you last see him?"

"He was…the cabin… I wasn't looking and he slipped away," Edward explained, trying to remain calm but failing miserably. His voice sounded hysteric even to his own ears. "I was hoping he'd gone to the playground, but now I can't find him anywhere."

"Have you checked with the reception manager, down by the main building? Someone might have found him and turned him in. We have a lost-and-foun-…"

"I'm not looking for a set of misplaced keys. I lost my son!" Edward all but snapped.

"Kids get lost all the time, sir" The man shrugged and began rummaging through his toolbox. "I haven't seen him around here. Try the main building. They know what to do."

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"Do you think I should call the police?" Edward ran his hands through his short hair and tried to them from shaking. "He could have gone into the water… I have looked everywhere… he's only two years old…"

The woman behind the reception desk had to be fifty at the very least, but she didn't look like the grandmotherly type and she didn't seem to take his concerns all that seriously.

He needed someone to listen, to help him, before it was too late.

"Did you hear me? I think he's gone into the water!" he repeated, desperation now edging his tone.

"I heard you, honey. Slow it down, take a deep breath... Now, let's try again. You said your son is missing. Is he by any chance about 30 inches tall, dressed in a green hooded jacket?"

"Y-yeah, how did you…? Is he here? Have you found him?"

He felt his stomach bunch into a knot as he waited for the answer.

The woman, whose name tag read Catherine, nodded, "Yes, I believe we have," then added with a smile, "Unless, of course, there is more than one little boy on the lose. How about I take you to him, so you can see for yourself. He's in my office."

She quickly lead him through a long hallway, across a sitting room and then into to another hallway.

Edward followed closely in her steps, his heart still beating alarmingly fast. "Is he… is he okay? Where did you find him?"

"One of the kitchen girls saw him when she went outside to unload groceries. He is fine, a bit shook up, but you know kids, tomorrow he will have forgotten all about it. He stopped crying when your fiancée showed up."

"My fiancée?" Edward echoed, like a retarded parrot.

"Yes, Ms. Swan came in just a few minutes ago," she explained over her shoulder a s the kept walking. "Pure coincidence. She came by to return the can of lock de-icer she borrowed this morning. She heard the child fussing and instantly knew the source of the sound."

"Hmf…is she…I mean, are they… where…?"

As he struggled to form a coherent response their walk came to a halt before a closed door.

"They are right through here," Catherine assured him as she turned the handle.

The door swung open and sure enough there they were, Anthony and Bella. Just like bread and butter or peanut butter and jelly. Find one and you'll find the other.

"Anthony!" Edward flew across the room in three fleeting steps, practically jerking the child out of Bella's arms. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"

The child went rigid in his arms. Shock gave a moment of silence, then the boy released his pent up breath in a loud wail.

"Sssh," he ran his hand soothingly over Anthony's hair as the boy cried. "I'm sorry, buddy. It was just as much my fault…. It won't happen again!"

"This is what happens when you don't pay attention," he heard someone, Bella he presumed, grumble from somewhere behind him.

"You're lucky he didn't get hurt!"

She was right, of course, but he tuned her out completely as the sense of relief overpowered everything else at that moment.

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He could tell, that Bella was itching to give him a good, swift kick to the rear. He deserved it, but was glad she had the good sense to wait util they were in private.

The walk back to the cabin was a brisk, quiet one, until they walked past the deserted playground and Anthony indicated with great clarity that he wanted to be set down on the ground.

The boy really, really loved climbing the boat and going down the slide and Edward didn't have the heart to say no. A promise was a promise and he'd told Anthony he'd take him there later.

Bella, of course, had some reservations. "Edward, it's freezing. We should be heading inside."

"I know."

"If he gets wet, he'll catch a cold."

"I know."

"Do you? Really? Because you're acting like you have no damn clue what you're doing half the time."

He breathed out a long and exaggerated breath. "I might be clueless, but I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were."

"You don't have to say it, I can see it in your face," he replied grimly. "Listen, I know I messed up. I don't need you or anyone else to tell me that. You have no idea how panicked I felt when I realized he was gone. I have never in my life felt so SMALL, I mean… never."

"Well, good!" she said, fixing him with a startlingly piercing stare, before she turned away to assist Anthony on the ladder. When she turned back she added, "He's such a sweet little boy, he deserves to have at least one parent that care."

"I know."

Their conversation halted as they watched Anthony go down the slide. They ohed and ahhed…and clapped…. the first three runs, then they retreated to the strategically placed park bench. They were alone, no other kids or passers-by in sight. The dreary weather was just that uninviting.

"Five more minutes, Edward. No more," Bella hunched her shoulders inside her jacket and jammed her hands into her pockets to keep them warm.

Edward gritted his teeth. "You're doing it again!"

"What?"

"Questioning my judgement. I'm trying here, I really am."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

"No you're not. There is a difference between 'doing the right thing' and 'doing it right'. There is such a thing as being responsible and I…."

"Don't come talking to me about responsibilities! You're the one acting shady. You're the one keeping secrets," he spat at her, feeling a jumble of emotions run through him. He hadn't intended on confronting her on this particular issue just yet, but the her words made him see red.

Bella blinked for a moment and then asked, "Is this about me heading out before you woke up this morning? Where you expecting me to be all lovie dovey, to serve you breakfast in bed and iron your shirts? Because that shit ain't happening!"

"Cut it out!" he stated with calmness he didn't feel. "You can come and go as you like, I'm fine with that. A note would have been nice, though, or… I don't know… maybe a phone call. I don't need another missing person, I have enough on my plate as it is!"

"My bad. It wasn't out of spite, just self-preservation. I thought you'd be capable of handling the child alone for a few hours, but I clearly I was wrong."

Edward glared, but let the insult pass.

Rising from the bench he checked on Anthony, who showed no signs of having grown tired of playing just yet. It didn't seem like he was freezing either so Edward returned to the bench. He was already screwed time wise, so another few minutes really wouldn't matter.

"Aren't you going to tell me where you went this morning?" he asked, nudging Bella's knee with own as he sat back down next to her.

"Not right now, no," she replied, scooted forward to rest her elbow's on her knees and her head in her hands.

Checking that they were still alone, Edward lowered his voice. "Alright then, how about you tell me about the 'vitamins' you're 'supposedly' taking."

"Wh-… What?" her head snapped up.

"You heard me."

"You went through my things?" she asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.

"What did you expect? You haven't answered your bloody phone all day. Did it ever occur to you that I might get worried? So what are they? Painkillers, tranquilizers, antidepressants?" he rattled off, staring her down, determined to get an answer.

Her face turned pale, green almost, before his eyes, but she didn't look away… or faint, or rush off to hide in the bathroom… maybe he was actually making some progress with her for once.

When she finally answered her voice was cautious and flat. Hers face twisted in an expression he could not read "They are vitamins and nutritional supplements, which I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to take without yours or anyone else's approval."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"You don't. You just have to take my word for it."

He searched her face for signs that she was lying, but saw none.

"Why wont you tell me where you where were this morning? Why the secrecy? You're holding back on me, yet you expect me to trust you. I don't get that equation at all."

"There is no secrecy. You're just being paranoid," she sighed. "I got a phone call from Franklin. Turns out the police has found a new witness. He let me come down to the station to read the witness statement. It contained very little new information. I wasn't going to tell you about it until we were inside, because I have some notes and documents I want to show you."

"A new witness?"

"Later," she shook her head. "Now, grab the kid, so we can get out of here!"

"Not so fast," Edward protested. "You mean to tell me that Franklin called you in wee hours of the morning over a witness statement? One that wasn't even all that important."

"No, he called around ten thirty. If you really must know, I went to get my blood pressure checked out this morning. It's something I've been doing bi-weekly for a while now, but since my regular doctor is miles away, I had to take whatever appointment I could get."

Once again, she seemed entirely honest with him. Agitated perhaps, but honest. Definitely progress.

"You have a high blood pressure? That's why you fainted the other day?"

"It's just something that runs in the family," she shrugged like it was no biggie..

"Your dad?" he guessed.

"Both of my parents actually. I'm sorry if I had you worried. I meant to tell you I had an errand to run, honestly, I did, but I… eh… sort of forgot about it."

"It's not the only thing you appear to have forgotten."

"What do you mean?"

"What day is it today, Bella? Think about it before you answer."

"Wednesday….?" Bella paused with a look of question on her face. "Oh, fu-… The social worker! She's suppose to make her house call today, isn't she?" She glanced at the watch on her wrist and jumped to her feet. "It's still early, we still got more than an hour to get ready! The kid just needs a good wipe down and some clean clothes."

"That was the plan, but now I'm actually kind of thinking we should let him play until he crashes. He hasn't napped at all today and it might be easier to clean him if he's sleeping. Besides if he's still napping when the social worker gets here, she won't question why he's only partly dressed."

"Only partly dressed?" Bella asked, her brows snapped together in confusion. "Ohhh, no clean clothes? Shoot, I forgot we were suppose to do laundry first thing this morning."

"No clean shirts or sweaters and still no boaster seat. Unless you remembered to look at that list Alice sent us? "

"Of things we were suppose to buy and put in the cabin to make you come across as a responsible and caring parent? I'm sorry, but no, I it completely slipped my mind. Oh, crap, now I get why you were texting me every fifteen minutes."

"Yeah, you see, when I woke up the car was already gone and the one person that could have helped me acquire those items on that list very conveniently had her phone turned off."

"Argh, " she slapped one hand to her forehead. "I'll fix this! Take the boy inside, get him clean and I'll figure something out."

"How?"

"Our neighbors and fellow vacationers seem friendly enough. Hopefully there is someone out there that is willing to lend us the things we need, I'll even pay them for it if I have to!"

"Oh great… What are you planning to do? Go from door-to-door, bugging strangers for clean clothes and kiddy supplies… I'm sure that is an approach that will go over nicely. If we keep this up we'll be run out of here before the week is over."

"I would have hoped you had more fate in me. I can be quite persuasive when I put my mind to it."

"Stubborn you mean?" Despite his sour mood, he couldn't keep his lips from curving up into a smile.

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