Revised: 21/10/ 24

Chapter 9

It was morning. Dawn was approaching and there was still nothing, no news, but at long last the longest night of Shawn Brady's life had passed.

Shawn's concern for Caroline was beginning to waver into anger that she had not thought to call him, that she had not let him know the children were ok. And if she had been out there all night then he did not think she was looking after herself.

And she should be for she had their little baby inside of her.

She had no business keeping all of the children out at all hours and he had a feeling that when she did get back, it was going to cause one flaming row between them because he had every intention of telling her. She was a mother and she was a good one so he did not know why she was acting in a manner which he thought was so irresponsible. This was not like her.

And so yes, his annoyance at her was growing, as it was at his family as well.

The worry which they all felt seemed to work in some sort of cascade for he knew that the rest of the family were worried for him and there was nothing in this world which he could do to stop that.

But it wasn't helping them or him at all.

Not when he was trying to explain to a police officer something he did not understand himself.

"I need you to look is anything is missing Shawn." The police officer said to him.

"Officer Horton, my entire family is missing," Shawn stated plainly.

The hearts of his own parents and Caroline's reached out to him. It was clear he was beginning to be a man on the edge. He was not processing things as he should be any longer…

Caroline was going to be for it when she got back her mother thought. She should not be doing this.

"I meant personal possessions."

Shawn shook his head. "I do not see why that is relevant."

The officer looked down as if he was embarrassed.

"They are out there, hurt – why are you not looking for them?" Shawn was sure it. It was the only explanation. He did not understand why no one else could see that.

"Because we have to look at all of the options. And one line of thought which we have not yet explored is that Caroline – and I am so sorry to suggest this Shawn - that she took the children and left of her own free will."

Shawn looked as if he was ready to blow his top.

"We have not looked at that line of thought because it is not – it is not possible, it is not sensible." He insisted as his voice raised. His mother's hand on his arm told him to at least try and keep his cool but it was not easy by any stretch of the imagination right then.

"But we do need to go into that Shawn - we need to explore every possibility and when we have done that we can build a strong lead on them."

"Shawn, you have to cooperate with them," Evelyn stated plainly. She wanted her daughter back more than anything and while she hated the thought as much as he did, that she had left here of her own accord, she was beginning to think it was worth looking in to. Better than waste any more time.

"I know I do – but I swear to you nothing is going to be missing. She would not have taken our babies from me."

The officer nodded but it was clear he was still going to make him do this.

For the first time since he had got home to find they were all gone, Shawn forced himself to look at the house critically.

But then he did notice something which was missing.

Normally at this point in the day, Kimberly's Sippy cup would be on the side ready.

She did not often have it in the day now as she was so sure she was a big girl but at night when she was tired she often wanted it.

So, her mother would give her some before bed but apart from that it lived on the sideboard where Kayla's bottles lived.

But to his horror, he saw nothing was there. Nothing at all. Where 3 or 4 bottles normally there –

Nothing. Where were they all?

"The girl's bottles and – my - where is Romans train track?" he asked suddenly.

He had not been able to see it was gone when he had first come in – he hadn't been looking for it, but then it had been a while he was sure since his lad had played with him but now he was seeing straight and he could see what was not there, sitting in the corner where it should be, waiting to be played with – and it terrified him.

He tried to remember if the box had been there the night before and couldn't work it out either way.

His mind felt as if it was screaming but he knew he had to try and calm it.

And all he knew was, if he knew where the train set he had brought for his son was and where his daughters sippy cup was – it would help.

All of a sudden though the realisation that this may not be such an entirely fruitless line enquiry filled his heart and he wanted nothing more than to scream, for it this was true then the one who had put his here was his own dear Caroline and he did not think that made any sense. He wasn't sure he could cope with that.

The two of them were so happy together.

Why would she? She wouldn't, his mind rejected the proof of his eyes but - but it was not that easy anymore.

He looked about the room and he felt his anger rise. He was sure in the state he was in, all he could see was what was there, and he knew he had to think what was missing. Well, the coats were but he did not think there was too much wrong in that. If they were out…

"Kayla's bag isn't here." Once more it was not so unusual – if they were out then Caroline was going to need it - but the panic he felt was not kept at bay.
"Can someone find Kimberly's sippy cup, please," he said as he made a beeline for the stairs and his own room, the place they shared.

He was sure if he was in there then this nightmare was going to end and he was going to be able to make sense of it.

And then he saw that's Kayla blanket was missing. It was her favourite – she needed it at night. And while she was going to need one in her pram, he did not think he has ever known his wife to take it from the crib for her.

He had never known her to do that, he thought, as fear soared through him.

"Oh my god. Why?" he whispered.

Caroline had left him without so much as a by your leave and she had taken his babies with her – and he did not know which one scared him the most.

He knew the definitive proof was going to be in their wardrobes which was why he thought to himself, he did not want to open them right then as he did not know if he was ready to face the facts of the matter - but then what he was and what he wasn't barely mattered.

If he was going to catch them then he had to save time.

He went over to the wardrobes and opened the doors.

His heart sank for there was hardly anything of Caroline's left. She had taken all of her Sunday bests and all of her day dresses. Her jewellery box was gone from the top shelf. It occurred to him right then that she had taken everything she would need if she was going to start over. If she meant to live a new life she had taken everything she was going to need and left everything she did not want her old life behind.

Including him.

His knees went from under him, and he collapsed as if he was a puppet and someone had let go of the strings.

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