A few months had passed since the unforgettable shopping trip with Xavier and the girls. Our lives had settled into a comfortable routine, filled with laughter, love, and occasional chaos. The girls were thriving, and Xavier’s paternal instincts had grown stronger. Our relationship had blossomed, and I’d never felt more at home.
But amidst the tranquility, a lingering question remained: what had happened to Nicole? The mystery had haunted Xavier, and I knew he couldn’t shake off the feeling of responsibility.
I stood beside Xavier in our living room after we had just escorted the private investigator, Keith, out the door. Today’s update was the same: no exact news of Nicole’s whereabouts but trails she left behind. She had been moving from one hotel to another for the last couple of months and had never settled in one location for more than two days. It felt frustrating, like we were chasing shadows. Xavier’s eyes, once filled with determination, now seemed laced with disappointment. The search for Nicole had become his sole purpose over the last month, and it was causing me a bit of concern.
He stood motionless, staring out at the veranda as the sunlight cast a golden glow on his face.
I slipped my hand into his, offering silent support. “We’ll find her, Xavier. It’s not like she is invisible.”
His gaze shifted, meeting mine. The frustration and concern etched on his features broke my heart. “It’s like she’s vanished into thin air. Maybe she doesn’t want to be found.” He paused, his expression serious. “What kind of marriage has Nicole gotten herself into that she had to run for her life?”
I squeezed his hand. “Keith will find something. He’s close.”
Xavier nodded, but his expression remained skeptical. “No, I probably should give up and focus on the kids. I don’t want to be tied down by this mindless search, but something inside me refuses to let go,” Xavier continued, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need to know she’s safe. For the girls’ sake, for my own sanity.”
“I think it’s best we keep searching, but we shouldn’t put all our attention into it,” I replied and wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. “Let’s ease up a little on the search.”
Just then, the sound of his alarm interrupted us, and Xavier quickly took out his phone. “Time to pick up the kids,” he said and leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a gentle kiss. “I’ll be back soon.”
I smiled, nudging him gently. “Don’t buy them ice cream today; they’ve had too much sweet.”
Xavier grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I won’t, only if I could escape Elizabeth’s puppy eyes.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed in defeat. When will he ever learn to say no to the kids? Sometimes it seemed the kids were the ones controlling him.
“Seriously, Xavier, don’t buy them ice cream, please. I don’t think I’ll be able to survive Elizabeth yelling when she has a tummy ache,” I warned, and he just shrugged casually. I was certain my words had just passed out of his ears.
With one last glance, he turned and headed out the door, leaving me alone in the house.
The sudden silence felt almost palpable, but I welcomed the brief respite. The little family we’ve built had become pretty interesting, and sometimes I even forget I have a father. When was the last time I called him anyway? Guilt nudged me, and I made a mental note to reach out to him soon-probably tonight. I really miss him.
I slumped on the couch, ready for a short nap before the kids came back with their boundless energy and endless stories. I smiled, anticipating the chaos that would soon fill the room.
Just as I closed my eyes, ready to doze off, the doorbell rang, shattering my peaceful slumber. Don’t tell me the kids are back yet; how long was I out for?
I sluggishly climbed to my feet and answered the door.
As I opened the door, I was met with an unfamiliar face. A woman, likely in her late thirties, stood on my porch with a hesitant smile. Her piercing ocean-blue eyes seemed to scan me with disappointment, as if I wasn’t the person she was expecting to see.
“Can I help you?” I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
The woman’s smile faltered, and she glanced around nervously. “Hi, I’m… I’m looking for a guy named…” she paused, her eyes sneaking past my face, peeking through the door.
My instincts went on high alert. Who was this woman, and why was she acting strange?
“Who are you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
The woman took a deep breath before responding. “Well, forget it. I think I’ve been tricked by my friends; they gave me the wrong address.” She chuckled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “They set me up on a date, so you know…”
“Oh…” I mouthed, my brow furrowed in both confusion and disbelief. Who would have given her a fake address to this particular duplex?
“Sorry about that,” I responded, ready to close the door, but I noticed how she snuck another peek through the door. “Bye…. then,” I drawled. Then she flashed me a wry smile before turning to leave.
“That’s weird,” I muttered to myself, watching the woman walk down the porch steps. Her sudden interest in our home seemed unsettling.
As I closed the door, my mind replayed our brief encounter: her hesitant smile, her nervous glances, and that wry smile before leaving-it all felt off.
I shook my head, trying to brush off the unease. Maybe she was just a nosy newcomer around the area, but her face, her eyes-where had I seen them before?
I tried to recall, but frustration gnawed at me. Wondering about a strange woman wasn’t worth my time.
A few minutes later, I heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. The kids were back, and Xavier would soon be walking through that door.
Perfect timing.
“Sarah, we’re back,” Elizabeth’s voice echoed through the silence.
“Where is Sarah?” Harper chimed in, her angry voice overlapping Elizabeth’s.
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, waiting for those two twin munchkins to meet me.
“There you are,” Harper approached me, her hands on her waist as her face twisted in annoyance.
Now I wondered what was up this time.
“I swear, Sarah, you’re dead to me!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with dramatic flair. “I’ll never ask for your assistance in math ever again.”
Meanwhile, Hayden’s face contorted like a criminal who’d been caught red-handed, her eyes darting wildly around the room.
“Hayden, do you have something to do with your sister’s failure?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
It was obvious Harper failed her math homework… Again.
“And you, Harper,” I turned to her. “I think your sister messed with your homework last night.”
Hayden’s eyes widened in feigned innocence. “Who, me? Never! Why would I do that?”
An obvious liar. I mentally rolled my eyes.
Little Elizabeth snorted. “Oh yeah, things are getting interesting, but I’ll make it more interesting. I saw Hayden last night sneaking into Harper’s bag.” She spouted out, and I just sighed. These kids were playing tricks on each other. It was getting more annoying.
Hayden shrugged, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Hey, I didn’t do that.”
Xavier chuckled, entering the fray. “Well, it seems we have a math drama unfolding. What’s the damage, Harper?”
Harper turned to Hayden, raising an eyebrow as if awaiting an explanation. Meanwhile, Hayden turned away, avoiding eye contact.
I exhaled deeply and waved my hand dismissively. “Oh man, I’m out. Xavier, take over-I can’t put up with the drama this time.” I said and left the chaos behind me.
But then, my eyes trailed down to an old photo lying on the glass table. The photo showed a faint, yet unmistakable resemblance to the woman who had knocked on our door earlier. My heart skipped a beat as a vivid memory resurfaced.
“Xavier!” I called out, urgency in my voice.
He turned to me. “What’s wrong?”
” I think I found Nicole.”