Chapter 60

________

CHARLIE

CHARLIE DIDN'T understand what was going on.

The police officer held him down, but it didn't feel good at all. Not like when Ward did it. This felt bad . He wanted up! Wanted Ward. But the police officer wouldn't let him go.

And the ground was hard! It hurt his knees and his hips. And his arms. And his face. He wanted the pain to stop. And he wanted a shower. The ground was so dirty!

But none of that compared to the confusion of not being able to get on the train.

He struggled against the police officer's hold.

“He's trying to talk!” Ward said.

Yes! Charlie tried to nod despite the cruel hand pressing down on his head. Ward understood. Charlie needed to say something, but the police officer wouldn't let him.

“I mean, he needs to sign something,” Ward quickly added. “He doesn't talk. You have to let go of his hands. Please!”

Everyone went silent for a moment. Charlie whimpered, trying to stay calm like Ward had said, but it was hard. Finally, the police officer released one of his hands. It wasn't the right one, but Charlie could manage.

Help! Daddy help! Scared!

“What did he say?” the officer demanded.

Ward tried to take a step closer, but the other police officer stopped him. “He's scared. He wants my help. Please,” Ward begged, his voice sounding strange. Like he was about to cry. “Just let me help him. I can get him to calm down.”

Charlie tried to look up. The two police officers stared at one another for a long moment. Finally, one gave the other a nod, and Ward was allowed to come closer. Help!

“It's okay, buddy,” Ward murmured, crouching beside them. “It's okay. I'm right here. Everything's gonna be okay. Just hold real still for me and stay calm, okay?”

Charlie didn't want to hold still. He still needed to scream. To beat his fists. To let out all the angry noise in his head. But something in Ward's voice stopped him. He went utterly still, trying with all his might to stifle the cries that wanted to come out.

A weight lifted off his shoulder. Then off his back. Then his legs. Charlie gasped. He could breathe again!

Ward moved right up against him. He didn't quite lie down on top of Charlie, but it was close.

“It's okay, sweetheart,” Ward whispered, gently rubbing his wrists where the police officer had held too tight. “I'm right here. Daddy's right here.”

Charlie whimpered.

“You tell me when you're ready to get up, okay?” Ward asked.

Charlie squeezed his eyes shut and hid his face against Ward's arm.

“I'm sorry,” a woman said. “I really have to get going. The train's about to leave.”

Ward lifted slightly off of him. Charlie almost panicked, except Ward didn't fully let go. Charlie looked up and saw the train lady hand Ward the money he'd given her.

“I think he was trying to buy a ticket,” the woman said. “But you can't buy a ticket at this station. It's unmanned. I tried to explain that to him, but–”

“It's okay,” Ward said gently, taking the money.

“And this is his,” the woman added, pulling Charlie's bag closer to them.

“Thank you,” Ward said. He stuffed the money into a pocket on the side of the bag, then bent over Charlie again. “Easy, buddy. Just hang on.”

The woman walked away, and the train doors closed.

“Shit,” Ward swore. “Charlie? There's gonna be noise.” Ward covered Charlie's ears.

The train horn sounded. It was so loud! Charlie winced and squeezed his eyes shut. He held onto Ward's wrists and felt the rumble as the train pulled away.

But he needed to be on that train! He had to get to their Sky!

It was too late now. The train was gone.

He'd have to get the next one. He needed to get up. To figure out how to buy a ticket. Their Sky was out there, all alone. They had to find him!

Charlie squirmed. “ Hhnn! ”

“Okay, sweet boy.” Ward pulled his hands away and grabbed Charlie by the shoulders instead. “Let's go nice and slow, okay? Take your time.”

Charlie pushed himself up onto his elbows and knees, trying not to touch the ground with his bare hands. It looked even more dirty now that he wasn't so distracted by being forcibly held down. He sat back on his heels, then turned and burrowed into Ward's side. There were still so many people there!

“ Shhh ,” Ward murmured, rubbing his back. “I've got you.” Ward looked up. “Where'd they go?”

Someone strode closer. Charlie peeked up at the big man, recognizing him from the time he'd come to Ward's apartment. “I convinced them to leave him be,” he said, gesturing over his shoulder.

The big, scary police officers were gone.

Ward heaved a great big sigh. “Thank you for that.”

“Is he okay?”

“I think so.” Ward looked down. “Charlie? You feeling better?”

“ Charlie! ”

“ Hhnn! ” Charlie ducked his head and covered his ears. Even Ward flinched at the sound of Dakota's voice. It was so loud! So shrill. It hurt Charlie's ears.

“He's okay,” Ward insisted, the rumble of his voice a soothing relief after Dakota's scream. “He's fine.”

Charlie peeked out and saw his big brother lurch to a stop.

Dakota planted his hands on his knees and hung his head, gasping for breath. Mav and Beau came up behind him, their big hands steadying him. Dakota nodded at something they said, then he came closer and dropped to his knees in front of Charlie. “You scared the shit out of me,” Dakota said, flicking a tear away from his eye. “I thought…” Dakota trailed off and shuddered, a haunted look coming over his face.

The same look he'd worn right after Sabrina died.

Oh no. Charlie winced. Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!

Dakota reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him. “It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe. But what are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

Taxi , Charlie signed.

Dakota stared at him. “How do you even know how to order a taxi?” he practically shrieked.

Charlie scowled at his big brother. He wasn't stupid! And he wasn't a helpless kid anymore! He could do grown-up things.

Before Charlie could sign a reply, Ward held up a hand and asked, “Charlie? Why did you come here?”

Our Sky!

Ward frowned. “Sky? What about him?”

Charlie signed frantically, trying to explain to them that he saw the history of where Skylar's phone had been. The signal pinged last at San Luis Obispo Regional Airport. When Charlie looked up ways to get there, the train seemed to be the fastest option, but he had to get to the train station first, so he ordered a ride to pick him up and take him there. But when he arrived at the station, there was no window at which to buy a ticket. And when he tried to ask the uniformed lady to sell him one, she didn't know what he wanted.

“Slow down, buddy,” Ward murmured.

“Yeah, I only caught like half of that,” Dakota agreed.

Charlie huffed in frustration. He pulled out his phone, opened the tracking app, and pointed at where he'd left it, showing the airport on the map.

Ward's face went scary blank. “That's where Sky went?”

Charlie nodded.

Ward swallowed hard. “Charlie, he could be anywhere now. Hell, he could be halfway across the world.”

Charlie pouted. He knew that. Planes went all over the place. But he thought, if he could just get to the airport, he could ask someone. Charlie could show them a picture of Skylar and find out where he went!

“This was the day he left,” Ward mumbled, still looking at the phone. “I'm sorry, little mouse. He's gone. He could have taken a dozen more flights or a train or a bus or anything after that.”

Charlie's hopes sank. How would they ever find their Sky if he'd gone from place to place? They'd have to keep asking, and maybe people wouldn't even have an answer for them. Charlie quietly accepted his phone back.

“Come on.” Ward stood. “Let's have Dakota take you back home.”

Charlie slowly got up with Ward's help. Ward carried his bag and put an arm around his shoulders, steering him towards the parking lot. Charlie stared down at his phone the whole way.

It wasn't right! Or fair. Their Sky should be with them. Not out there somewhere in the world, all by himself.

Their Sky was probably lonely. And sad. They needed to go after him. Save him. Bring him home.

But Ward was right. Skylar could have gone anywhere. There'd be no way to find him.

Charlie lowered his phone with a sigh and looked up. He spotted Ward's truck, but they weren't going that way. Ward was following Dakota and the others instead. Charlie stopped and pointed. “ Hhnn .”

“No, you're going back home with your brother,” Ward said.

Charlie refused to budge. “ Hhnn! ”

Ward turned to face him. He crouched down, putting them at eye level. “Charlie, not now. Besides, it's Thanksgiving tomorrow. You should be with your family.”

Charlie frowned. He wanted Ward to be his family. And Skylar, too. They should be together!

But Ward insisted, and Dakota pulled Charlie away. Charlie shuffled along after his brother, letting Dakota put him into Beau's SUV while Ward trudged off in the other direction.

Charlie sank into the passenger seat, barely cooperating when Dakota tried to put on his seatbelt for him. He stared down at his phone again. It wasn't fair. They were supposed to be with their Sky!

He opened the tracking app again. The airport seemed so impossibly far away now, knowing that Skylar could have gone anywhere from there. Charlie started to close the app, then gasped and quickly opened it again.

Skylar's phone was on!

Charlie stared at the screen. He held his breath, watching as the signal captured an address. Charlie gasped. He recognized that address! Skylar's phone had been there before.

He sat up straight and looked around, but Ward was too far away. The man was already in his truck, backing out of a parking space.

Charlie reached over and beat on the horn.

“Charlie?” Mav asked from the back seat just as Beau was climbing in on the driver's side.

“What the hell?” Dakota added, sitting beside Mav.

Charlie held down the horn again.

Ward looked around, frowned in confusion, and drove his truck over to stop beside theirs.

Charlie frantically tried to open his door.

Ward got to him first, getting out and opening the door for him. “Charlie? What's wrong?”

Charlie bounced in his seat, too desperate to sign. He shoved his phone into Ward's hands and frantically pointed. Our Sky! Our Sky!

Ward stared at the phone. “Holy shit.” His eyes started to go wide, only for his face to turn sad a moment later. “Damn it. He went back.”

We get him! We get him! Charlie signed insistently.

Ward looked at him, and Charlie saw something change on the man's face. His jaw set, and his eyes hardened. But it wasn't an angry look. Whatever it was, it gave Charlie hope.

“Okay,” Ward said. “I'll go right now.”

Charlie was just about to say he'd go, too, except he knew he'd hold things up. They needed to get to their Sky as fast as possible, and it would be easier for Ward alone. Go! Go!

“Okay, buddy. Okay. I'll go find him. I'll do whatever it takes to bring him back.”

Back forever , Charlie insisted.

Ward studied his eyes. “Charlie?” He glanced at the others, a hint of color showing on his cheeks, but he focused on Charlie again as he crouched down and looked up at him. “Do you mean that? Forever?”

Charlie nodded emphatically, jerking his chin up and down. We get new house. Together always. No leave! Nobody else. Us together!

Ward's eyes widened and his lips parted. He took a deep breath, held it for a long moment, then slowly let it back out. “Charlie? If you mean that…” He paused, swallowing hard, then squeezed Charlie's hands. “Wh-What would you say about…getting married?”

Charlie gasped.

Then he had to curl up and cover his ears for a long moment. The excitement was so loud!

Married meant forever!

Charlie rocked hard in his seat as he nodded.

A grin took over Ward's face, and his eyes lit up in a way that Charlie had never seen before. Ward swooped in and kissed him, then pulled back and squeezed his hands again. “I'll get him, Charlie. I'll get him and bring him home. I promise.”

Then Ward jumped back into his truck and took off.

Charlie watched him go, heart thumping in his chest. Ward would find their Sky! They'd all be together again.

He couldn't wait.