Page 62 of Take My Kiss
Dad left to get the four-wheeler and plans to drive through the woods near the river, so Amelia gets in my truck with me.Bodie finally returns my call, and once I update him, he rushes down to help.
By now, everyone in the family has been notified and is out searching for him. The sheriff’s deputies are also alerting locals and issuing a notice about a missing little boy. Typically, it’s my job to email the guests to keep them informed, but Mom did it since I’m unable to.
“I wanna search by foot and see if he’s hidin’ out,” Amelia says. “He’s probably scared and lost.”
That’s not my only concern. There’s wildlife, and it’s easy for an adult to get confused about which direction they’re going, nevertheless, a young child who isn’t familiar with the area.
I lead Amelia through one of the trails that’s nearby, calling out his name, and looking through some of the smaller spaces that he could hide in. The sun beams through the trees, heating my skin, which hopefully means Sam isn’t cold either.
“This is my nightmare, it’s happenin’…” Amelia hyperventilates, clutching her chest and kneeling on the ground. We’ve been walking and shouting his name for the past hour. “My biggest fear come to life.”
Kneeling in front of her, I clasp my hands around one of hers. “Try to breathe and think positive thoughts, sweetheart. We’re gonna find him. You gotta believe that.”
She looks up at me, tears filling her eyes, and she whispers, “But what if we don’t?”
“We will,” I reassure her.
We have to.
“I named him after my brother, and now I’m gonna lose him too.” She releases short, erratic breaths. “It’s my punishment.”
She hasn’t told me the full story about her brother or why she thinks it’s her fault, but there’s no way I’m going to let her think this is too. Had I known Sam was a flight risk, I would’ve installed a deadbolt out of his reach and put up more barriers tomake sure he didn’t wander off. Considering what he did at the grocery store, I should’ve been more prepared. Most boys his age don’t think about the consequences or the fear of someone bad taking them.
I’m just as accountable.
“This ain’t on you, darlin’. I should’ve taken him fishin’ when he asked me.”
A knot the size of my fist weighs in my stomach at the reality of disappointing him enough that he decided to go on his own instead.
“He knows he’s not supposed to leave without askin’,” she mutters, shaking her head. “I’ve told him so many times!”
She buries her face in her hands, crying. And it breaks me.
“Most kids need to be told repeatedly. It’s why my mother stopped tryin’ to keep tabs on us by the time she had the twins. She knew we wouldn’t listen anyway.”
“It’s different with someone already after him and escalates that fear of losin’ him,” she admits. “I’m failin’ him over and over again.”
She’s defeated and mentally drained, but I can’t let her give up.
“You could never fail him, Amelia. Now, c’mon. Let’s keep lookin’.”
Before I can pull her up, my phone rings.
“It’s my dad. Hold on.”
“Hey,” I answer.
He sighs. “We found him.”
chapter thirteen
Amelia
I hold my breath,impatiently waiting for Colton to drive us to one of the cabins on the resort. Until I see my son with my own eyes and hold him in my arms, I won’t be able to exhale.
Colton reaches over and squeezes my leg, which hasn’t stopped bouncing since we got in the truck.
“He’s okay,” he reminds me. The same words his dad said on the phone, but I can’t believe it yet.
