The Hidden Truth

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Birthday Party

Four months rolled by and I didn’t see or hear about Ashely anymore. I guess when Justice informed me that he took care of the problem, he meant it but I still worried that my sister was talking to her behind my back. Unfortunately when Justice finds out that this Ashley girl is still weighing on my mind, he makes a phone call to his brother in front of me. Several minutes later Phoenix is in my kitchen talking to me while Justice takes my sister to school.

“Michael, this group that she’s hanging around, are a good bunch. I’m also in this group with her. So I can guarantee that nothing is going to happen to her.”

His words take a weight off my shoulders but I still can’t dismiss the fact that she isn't able to see people the way she used to. “Caleb, you do know she has blinders on, right?”

“Yes, my brother already told me about that. It's one of the reasons I switched schools in the first place. It hurt to know that she was there without me.”

“What exactly are you doing for her now?”

“Protecting her the same as I always do.”

“If that's the case then where were you when she did need you!”

“Letting you figure things out for yourself!” he says before leaning on the table and adding, “Besides, it's not like you wanted me here anyway so what’s the point. All I have ever done is protect her but you don’t want to see that, do you?”

I bury my face in my hands because I know he’s right. I have always felt like no one can protect or even take care of my sister the proper way but it's so hard to allow others to help to take the burden of me. Even now. “Who are these people she is talking to?”

He appears to be stunned over my question as his eyebrows raise and his expression softens but tries his best not to stumble as he replies, “The main one that she talks to the most is Levi Layman. He’s in a few of her classes and she sits between him and I at lunch. Then you have Khloe, who sits on the other side of Levi. She’s in her gym class and keeps her on point every day. Next there is Dusty Drake and Ryan Spellman. They are dating but it's purely platonic. Of course I can't forget about Dallas Wong. He’s a bit of a nerd. He spends the whole lunch period with his nose stuck in a book.”

“How long has she known this group?”

“I’m not sure but Levi said that he stepped into an argument between her and Ashely about four months ago in their algebra class. He also informed me that if he hadn't stepped in he thought that Sara was going to punch the poor girl. I’m guessing it was probably around that time but you would have to ask him yourself to know for sure.”

“I wouldn’t doubt it if she would have or worse... But anyway I have an idea. I’m thinking about giving her a birthday party in a few weeks, how about you make sure the gang is here and I’ll talk to them at that time.”

“You’ve never cared about her birthday before, why now?”

“She will be thirteen this year.”

He bows his head because he knows what happens when a child in our community turns thirteen as well as I do. “I can make sure that they are here but do you think that’s wise given—” I stop him right there as I interject with, “That will be long over with before they arrive.”

*****

All day I have allowed Sara to answer the door as one by one her friends start to show up. So it was no surprise that right after dinner when the bell rings again she rushes to it right away. Dallas was the only one who hasn’t made his appearance yet and Sara keeps reminding me that he will show up any minute.

By the time I arrive in the vicinity, she’s already standing with the door wide open talking to my boss, Jose. There’s a small package in her hand but I choose to ignore as I walk forward to greet the man myself, “What are you doing here?”

“I came over to give your daughter a present for Christmas but it looks as if it's someone’s birthday. So I guess it's for both.”

Fearing the worst, I quickly turn back, reaching for the gift to toss it back at him only to find she's disappeared - hanging out with her friends no doubt. I then face Jose and without thinking as I reply, “We don’t celebrate your holidays in this house.”

“I’ll have to remember that. Anyway, I also stopped by to ask how you’re coming along with the special task I gave you?”

“You’ll have my report tomorrow morning as promised. Good day, sir.”  

After closing the door I frantically spend the next half an hour searching the house for her but it's as if she vanished without a trace. Next I question each of the guests but none of them have seen her since the doorbell rang. My heart sinks and fear rushes through my veins that something awful has happened to her. I quickly dial the number to the phone I gave her as a present this morning hoping that she’ll answer it. Five rings go by and then her voice mail comes on. I hang up before the beep knowing that she’ll see my name on her screen and she’ll call me back.

Keeping my phone in my hand I scan the house looking for anything out of place. Instead I find that Levi is also missing. I rush over to Khloe and ask, “Have you seen Levi?”

“Yea, he told me that he was going for a walk but that was about an hour ago.”

“Do you have any way of contacting him?”

“Of course I—.”I interrupt her as I say, “Just do it!” as I hand her my phone. She shoots me an angry look as she then proceeds to dial his number from memory. 

A few ahs and ums later she grabs my shirt and pulls me to a remotely quiet corner as she informs me in her exact words, “He will be back shortly with your sister.” I couldn't help but wonder how she knew about that, while the concern about the hesitation in her voice weighed even more on my mind. When she tells me that we best wrap the party up, the only thought that remaining is why? 

Needless to say her friends Khloe, Dusty, Ryan and Caleb remain behind to help clean up while we wait for Levi to bring her back.