So much for a moment of relative tranquility together. I didn't know that one simple idea, that seemed perfect and brilliant in my mind, would cause another hug family fight, AKA Stokes War II, if you will.
After I explained that I had called our financial planner to secure the ransom money from my Trust Fund (really it was insurance money I inherited after my biological parents' death that the Stokes invested for me since I had no other family to help with that kind of long-term planning) Mom completely lost it on me. I don't really mean it in a bad way. At least not like she had when I told her about my name change. This time she spent her entire rant explaining that that money was invested for my future, especially my retirement. When they first adopted me, they had decided to put that money aside so that I could pay for college and other post-secondary studies. When I earned scholarships to pay for the majority of my studies, we decided to invest it all for my life after school and work were done. That way I could use the money I earned at my job to enjoy life and travel.
But I wasn't thinking about my retirement now. I'd cut off a limb or let someone cut out an organ with a rusty knife if it meant that we'd get Nick back. Dad had said that they were willing to sell their ranch to raise the ransom money, so what was the difference?
"It just is Nicco and that's final," Mom stated as she started towards the door.
I blocked her path as I asked, "How? How is it different?"
"Nicco, Nick is our son, so it's our responsibility to take care of this."
That froze me in my place. I know she hadn't meant for it to come out or sound as harsh as it did, but it still felt like a punch in the gut.
I tried not to let her see how much it hurt, but I couldn't stop her from hearing the tears in my voice when I hoarsely replied, "I love him too, Mom."
"Nicco," she called out as she pulled me into a hug. "Sweetheart, I didn't mean it like that." She held me at arm's length so that she could look me in the eye when she continued, "Baby, if roles were reversed and it was Nicky who I was consoling right now and you were… if… well… I would say the exact same thing to him."
"I know, Mom, I know. But I still wat to help get him home."
"I know you do. Why don't we find Dr. Grissom and see if there are any other questions we can answer for him and the team?"
I started to nod my head, but paused when I felt my phone vibrating. I spared a glance at the Caller ID before I answered in an overly excited tone, "Mr. O'Neil! What I can do for you, Sir?"
"I'm sorry to say that this isn't about good news, Ms. Radisson."
"What do you mean?" I asked as I slumped into a chair because my legs didn't want to hold my weight up anymore.
"Although I have been able to transfer the funds into your checking account, I still have yet to find a branch in Las Vegas or the surrounding area that has that amount of cash readily at hand at this time of day. Usually, they need at least seventy-two hours to arrange a transaction like this."
"What…? What are you saying? I HAVE the money, but I can't actually USE it?"
"No, Ms. Radisson, it isn't that at all. The money is in your account. You can go and get a cashier's cheque right now to spend it wherever you choose. I just don't know where you can get the cash you require in the timeframe that you gave me. I truly did try my best for you and am very sorry, Ms. Radisson. I honestly did everything in my power and pulled every string I could find, but…"
I didn't hear the rest of what he said then because my phone slipped out of my hand and crashed to the floor. Mom and Dad had been watching me pace in silence up until that moment. In what would have looked like a coordinated move to an outsider, they separated and rushed over to one side each of mine.
"Kitten? What did…?"
"…he say?"
Did I mention they finish each other's sentences flawlessly? Seriously, the Stokes' relationship was enviable. They were the yard stick with which I measured all of my relationships from a fairly young age. I still think that it was because of them that I unconsciously gave my heart to Nick as a teenager. He was the first person with whom I felt so in synch, even if I didn't really know how to label what I was feeling back then.
"Nicco?" Mom asked as she held one of my hands in a death grip.
"I doesn't matter," I said to myself. "None of it… It won't work…"
I continued to mumble to myself, so mom gripped my cheeks to give them a soft shake as she called out a very stern, "NICOLETTE!" She continued to call out my name and shake my face until I stopped talking and looked her in the eye. "Nicco? Sweetheart? What doesn't matter?"
"I… I have the money but I… we… we can't get the cash in time."
Mom kept a hold of my cheeks for some reason as she asked, "What?"
That simple question caused me to pause and really focus on her face. Dad's face was now hovering beside hers which caused my calm resolve to crumble. My bottom lip was trembling terribly as I answered, "I can't help bring him home either."
My hugged me again replying, "Thank you for trying, Sweetheart."
Dad patted me on the back and then wrapped his arm around Mom after she released me. "Why don't we go find Dr. Grissom or Ms. Willows to see if we can help or if they have an update?"
I then followed the two of them out of the office and trailed a couple of steps behind them in the hall. We found Dr. Grissom in one of the labs and he looked like he was deep in thought or working on something important. I was hesitant to interrupt him, but Dad had no such qualms. He had a brief discussion with Dr. Grissom before he rejoined mom and me in the hallway.
As we walked towards the parking lot, I realized that Catherine had driven me to the station and that someone had probably done the same for Mom and Dad. I also noticed that they didn't have any luggage with them and didn't look like they were looking to retrieve any from within the lab either.
Before we reached the front entrance, I pulled dad to a stop to ask, "How did you guys get here? And… Uhh… Do…? Do you have any bags here?"
They both stared at me for a second and then mom answered, "Oh… right. I guess we'll have to call a cab to take us to the hotel. Oh dear, where did that young man say he was going to book us a room?"
Dad pulled out his wallet and then a small business card, "Sanders, Greg Sanders. And he said… oh shoot, I didn't write it down."
I already had my phone out and was dialing Greg's number before dad had finished his thoughts. "It's alright Dad, I've got this… Hey Greg… So… I was going to head out with… No, it's okay, we more than understand. Alright. We're just out at reception. Thanks."
I tucked my phone in my pocket I explained, "Greg didn't get a chance to leave the lab after he brought you here, so your bags are still in his truck. I'm going to catch a ride with Sara and clean out Nick's guest room so you two can stay there until… until they… they get Nick home."
"Nicco, we don't want to put you out," Mom replied as she took a step towards me.
I let her wrap me in a hug before I replied, "It's no trouble, Mom. Plus, I would feel better staying with both of you until all of this is over."
"Us too, Sweetheart. Thank you."
Dad came over and wrapped an arm around both of us. He didn't say anything out loud, but I could tell that was his way of echoing Mom's sentiments.
I don't know how long we stood like that before we hear Sara quietly say, "Nicco? Are you ready or…?"
"Yes," I answered when she trailed off. "Mom, Dad… I'll see you there in a little bit."
Sara smiled politely and added, "Greg said he'd be out in a minute."
I gave each of my parents a quick hug before I hurried to follow Sara to her truck. She didn't say a word to me until we were halfway to Nick's house. Even then it came out sounding more like a statement than a question when she said, "They don't know."
"No. They just think I'm living with my brother, not my boyfriend."
"That sounds… complicated."
I let out a mournful groan. "You can say that again. Now I have to make it look like I've been living in the guest room and that I've just move all my stuff into his room to make them more comfortable."
"Which is why you didn't wait for Greg with them?"
Since that actually sounded like a question I answered, "Exactly."
She reached over and gave my hands that I was wringing in my lap a comforting squeeze. I turned to look at her then but she wasn't taking her eyes off the road. I couldn't tell if she was just a conscientious driver or if it was to protect hers or my feelings, but I appreciated her support in any way that she was willing to offer it.
We rode in silence for a couple of minutes before she returned her right hand to the steering wheel. I had refocused my gaze out the passenger side window, so I don't know if Sara was looking at me or if she kept her eyes on the road when she asked, "So…? Are you going to tell them the truth?"
A cold shiver ran up my spine as I whispered, "I… I can't do it… not without him. And if… if… well if he…"
Sara reached over and squeezed my forearm until I turned to face her. She then looked me square in the eye and said, "We ARE going to find him and bring him home, Nicco."
