A/N: A quick thank you to everyone who added this story in their alerts and/or added it to their favorite list.

Chapter 8-

Five days and still counting….

It had been five days since Jake had disappeared in thin air, never to be seen again. Nobody knew where he was, his car was still parked at the garage- untouched and unused, the last anybody had heard from him he had been preparing to leave for home, a plan that had never materialized. His credit card wasn't once swiped, nor was he seen by anyone in town. Not a single soul coming forward with this relief. He had simply disappeared, as the local police department had concluded.

"Bella, we are trying our best…"

"It isn't enough, dad!" I wailed out, my father pulling me in his strong arms, my exhausted body leaning in. I hadn't slept a wink in five days now. I was tired. "My poor Jake! God knows what trouble he is in! What if he has been kidnapped or…"

"Now, now, Bella," Charlie interrupted, "let's get realistic here; there is no valid reason for anyone to kidnap Jake. And have you received any ransom call?"

"No…but…"

That could just mean that his kidnappers were a bit slow in their planning; it didn't completely cross out that theory!

"Bella, he has probably just…"

"Probably what, dad?"

I was frustrated beyond words here; where the hell was my husband?

"Nobody knows where he is! Embry was the last to see him, and he states that Jake had been packing his stuff to leave for home. Obviously, he never left the garage. Not at will, at least."

"Maybe someone picked him up?"

"Who? And why isn't he picking up his phone, then?"

It just didn't make any sense. The only people Jake was close to- who could know about his whereabouts- had all declined this knowledge.

"Bells, had you and he been facing any problems? Maybe he…"

"Dad, you can't be suggesting that he ran away?" I raised an eyebrow in disbelief, slightly offended by his words. Jake wasn't a coward. I wouldn't tolerate anyone stating otherwise.

"It is just a thought." He waved his hands in air.

"Well, it is a wrong thought." I firmly responded. "I trust my husband wholly. He could never abandon me or his children. He loves us more than anything."

"He had been stressed lately, hadn't he?"

Yes, he had.

"That doesn't prove anything, dad. So, what if he had been a little worked up lately, it was nothing that couldn't be resolved!"

"If you say so," Charlie didn't look convinced. "I am going to go and place another call to the Port Angeles police department; maybe they know something we don't."

"Dad," I whispered the word out, "do you think something bad…"

"We can't rule out the possibility, Bells." He sighed, refusing to meet my eyes.

No.

Jake had to be fine.

Nothing could have happened to him.

Please.

"Mommy,"

I shut my eyes tight, forcing a smile onto my face as I turned, meeting eyes with my youngest.

"Yes, baby?" I smiled, pretending to be happy and perfectly normal.

The children were unaware that Jake was missing; they were too young to be involved in this mess. Instead, we had told them that Jake was visiting their aunt Rebecca in Hawaii. It had been a sudden plan; Aunt Rebecca had fallen down the stairs, and Mommy couldn't go because the kids had school and missing out on school was not an option.

I hated lying to them, but truly did we have another option?

I had to be brave for Jake. For our family.

I owed this in the least to him.

"I miss daddy."

I know. I miss him too.

"Can we talk to him on the phone? Aunt Rebecca isn't home yet?"

"No sweetie." I gulped. "Daddy had messaged me a while back; he is still in the hospital with aunt Rebecca. We don't want to disturb them now, do we?"

She shook her head in answer, not pleased by my words.

At least she had believed my lie!

My other two didn't seem to be as gullible. I was sure that Haley would start demanding to know the truth any day now. She was far past that stage of believing every stupid lie thrown her way. And never had I been a very good liar.

"Sweetie, why don't we go out for dinner tonight?" I suggested, attempting to be chirpy. "Just the four of us; we can call daddy later in the night."

"Pizza?" she grinned wide.

"Um, okay, if that's what you want to eat."

"Yay!" she cheered, running to inform her siblings about this latest fun-filled update. I sighed. I had to do this for my kids. I had to be strong for Jacob.

Getting dressed to leave the house was a chore I would rather not have done, but yet, I did it with a smile on my face. Haley had come up with the brilliant idea of the two of us twinning, wearing matching dresses, accessories, boots, and even similar clips in our hair. It was silly, but a memory I would cherish for the rest of my life!

A half hour later, we sat in the car driving towards Emily's café in Forks. The food was tasty, reliable, and easy on the pockets. I had three children and limited money to run the house in. I couldn't really afford to throw money in the trash!

The children were content enough in bickering in the backseat, all the stress of the past few days slowly leaving my body. Charlie hadn't called yet, but no news wasn't exactly bad news in this situation.

It wasn't good, indeed. But we still had hope!

The café was semi-packed, finding a table not as difficult as I had expected. I quickly made myself comfortable, searching through the menu for something to fill my stomach with.

"Mom," Haley whispered in my ear, seemingly taken aback by what was on her mind. "Is that dad?"

I turned, my eyes first observing the occupied and making quite a ruckus table in the corner of the café, realizing the next second that the three couples occupying it were Sam and Emily Uley, Jared and Kim Cameron, Paul and Rachel Lahote, a constant group of couples that hung out together on the weekends. The addition to their clan was what made my breath hitch and my eyes widen.

"Hey, baby,"

My husband of a decade slowly walked up to a woman I did not recognize, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer to him, their lips meeting in a passion-filled embrace, as their hands roamed around the other's body, melting in the moment that didn't seem unfamiliar to their eyes.

"Mom!" Haley nudged me hard, still whispering, refusing to alert the other two. They were too young to see this sight. Oh God! Haley was too young to witness her father cheating on her mother!

"Haley," my voice was strained as I attempted to stop the tears from falling. "Baby…"

I didn't know what to say. The others of their group had noticed my presence, sympathetically observing my breakdown. Jake hadn't. He was still occupied in kissing his…mistress.

He had been cheating on me? Why?

"Let's get out of here."

My rock, my baby, Haley declared, standing up from her seat and pulling her protesting siblings along. She had the courage which I didn't, but desperately needed at the moment.

"Mom." Haley took my hand in hers, squeezing it tight, leading me out of the café, my eyes meeting with Jake's shock-filled black ones as I took that final step out.