11. Delphine

11

delphine

“I have to know what happened to my son,” Dad says, rising out of his chair. “I’ll head out into the local town and scour the area to see if anyone’s seen him.”

“Dad, you’re not headed all the way into town on Christmas morning.”

“You stay here with the family, Delphi. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I shake my head. “It’s entirely possible Marcel’s back in Northam and just ignoring our calls. How about I ask Medjine to check in on him? Maybe not today since it’s Christmas, but she can probably drop by tomorrow?—”

“I’m not taking that chance,” interjects Dad stubbornly. He drops a kiss on top of my head. “It’ll be fine, Delphi. A quick drive into the town of Mount Halsey and then I’ll be back.”

“I’ll come with you,” Salvatore volunteers.

“You’ll miss Christmas morning with the kids,” I croak.

“You heard your father. We’ll be back soon.”

I’m not sure how to feel as I heave a deep sigh and then fold my arms. While I’m worried about Marcel, I’m more concerned with the possibility Salvatore and Dad could go wandering off on Christmas morning. Not only could the holiday we’ve planned for be ruined, something else bad could happen.

I’m not sure what, but after the way our holiday trip has been veering off the rails, it wouldn’t be surprising.

Salvatore senses I’m upset. He waits ’til my father is out of the room before he pulls me aside. “You’re upset. You don’t want us leaving?” he asks. “Phi, you heard your father. It’ll be a quick drive.”

“Look out the window, Jon. It’s snowing out. The town is forty-five minutes away. That’s in decent weather.”

“I was trying to keep your father company. It wouldn’t be smart for him to go alone.”

Sighing, I unfold my arms. “I know what you were trying to do. But I don’t want either of you to go.”

“How about I send the security? They can do a quick drive into town and then report back.”

“Yes, please. And talk my dad out of going.”

He squeezes my shoulder. “Get the kids and bring ’em down. We’ll distract him with the present opening.”

Forty minutes pass, revealing Salvatore’s strategy was spot on. We’re seated around the den as the kids sit in a circle in front of the giant Christmas tree and take turns opening their presents. Dad fought to the bitter end against staying behind, but he was convinced once Dante waddled over and tugged on his pant leg.

He scooped the two-year-old right up and led him into the den to join his big brother and sister.

Salvatore took it as a sign to send the security into town in Dad’s place with instructions to report what they find.

Every so often I check my phone in case Marcel’s finally decided to answer us. The kids make their way through the large pile of presents. Serena’s distracted by the doctor’s kit she’s received. Her favorite stuffed bunny becomes her first patient.

Dante’s playing with a xylophone that Stitches gifted him.

Dominic and Bryce are in the middle of making plans for the action figures they’ve received.

Slowly, we move onto the adult presents, passing them among the five of us. I receive books from my reading wishlist from Dad and tickets to the theater from Stitches and Sasha. Salvatore gifts me a beautiful tennis bracelet that sparkles, and I can’t wait for the chance to wear it.

The others are confused when Salvatore opens my present and finds a Santa hat inside the box. He glances up at me with his left brow ticked slightly, awareness in his blue-green gaze.

I merely smirk at him and sip from my coffee.

“Oh… OHHHH!” Stitches blurts out as it dawns on him. “Mrs. Phi, very naughty of you, eh?”

The others around the room laugh.

Dad suddenly looks like he’d rather be distracted by the kids and their gifts again.

My face warms. “Stitches, you really can’t hold a secret for shit, can you?”

“Told ya!” Sasha chimes in.

We play Christmas music and break out some drinks like mulled wine and spiked eggnog. The children are eager to play and make use of the early afternoon.

“Any word from security?” I ask Salvatore.

He checks his phone and then shakes his head side to side. “They should’ve made it into town already. I’ll give Lev a call.”

“Mommy, can we go play with our Cosmic Man toys outside?” Dominic calls excitedly. He and Bryce have gathered the action figures in their arms to haul them off.

“You can if you stay right on the terrace. Only for an hour.”

“Yes, Mommy! Let’s gooo!”

“Race you!”

Dominic and Bryce take off like rockets jetting through the room. Sasha and I both call out to them with reminders to walk and be careful.

“Boys,” she sighs, sipping more from her spiked eggnog.

“You should’ve seen me when I was their age. Pretty sure I gave my ma some white hairs.” Stitches whistles.

“I’m going to go make sure they slowed down.”

I’m clutching my mug of mulled wine as I follow in the boy’s wake. The kitchen is empty, the backdoor hanging ajar. I cut across the room with brows knitting at the lack of sound. The only thing I can hear is the background chatter from the next room.

Dominic and Bryce are normally so loud we often have to ask them to tone it down.

“Dom!” I call, reaching for the half open door. I pull it open and step out onto the terrace. My heart freezes midbeat inside my chest.

Their action figures are in an abandoned heap on the floor.

I look up to see them both ten feet away with eyes wide from fear and their hands up. I’m stepping forward to go to them when someone’s heavy hand grips me by the shoulder first.

There’s a click next to my ear, then a cold, hard barrel pointed against my spine.

“Don’t move, Mrs. Mancino,” comes the voice. “How about we head inside the house and finish this Christmas celebration?”