Missing

Chapter 5

"Jake Lucas" mum said "did you wash your hands?"
His fingers gripped his knife and fork as though it would mean execution if he dropped them.
Judging by the expression on mums face,it just might.
Jake sat opposite of mum, while raven faced uncle Gerald. Mum liked to arrange meals with males and females evenly matched. If there was only 3 of them for a meal Jake would be strategically placed in between mum and Raven. Dads chair at the end of the table was left empty. Just as well. It wasn't uncle Gerald's place to sit at what dad called the 'head' of the table and mum called the 'foot' of the table.
"Yes I washed my hands with soap" Jakes eyes flared as he protested. Food stuck to his braces. Mum stared with laser like intensity at his hands.
" Nails,Jake,nails. Your 10 years old. You do science at school you know nails are a breeding ground for bacteria.15 seconds of soapy wash for your hands and then use the bristle under your nails".
Jake shrugged.
"Stephanie" said uncle Gerald in his silky voice "this steak Is delicious. Your culinary skills have definitely improved over the years" he directed an affectionate look towards her.
She gave a wan smile, directed from the dangers of jakes bacteria.
"Couldn't you cook in the old days?" Raven asked.
Uncle Gerald snorted "the old days, it wasn't that long ago,raven.
Jake clinked his fork down on his plate.
Mum jumped as though he'd smashed it instead of connecting cutlery and Crockery.
Raven pretended she didn't notice and shovelled a potato and olive croquette into her mouth. Patties with a fancy name, they tasted just fine but she longed for normal mashed potato once in a while.
Swalllowing the crocquette and stabbing a peive of steak to follow it,she said " why don't we go to the media and ask them to show pictures of dad? Someone must have seen him"
"I couldnt" mums hand flew to her throat.
Jake and raven exchanged looks. Usually when mums nerves got the better of her, dad smoothed things over. If she collapsed again, raven had no idea what her and jake would do.
"Media needs careful consideration" uncle Gerald's round face reddend across the nose and cheeks broken by capillaries,seemed to darken.
" am I going on TV?" Jake sat up straight.
" your father has..... Gone away and we don't know where he is "mum snapped "remember that"
" you don't have to keep reminding me" jake scowled.
" the police said to do normal stuff"
"Normal doesn't mean fun"
Jake jumped to his feet "dad probably left because you always tell him what to do! Bet you made him wash his hands all the time too" he stormed out of the room, leaving behind a whiff of fury and old sneakers.
" don't take it to heart,my dear" uncle Gerald reached across to touch mums hand which layed clenched on the glass tabletop. "He's only a child"
After a moment or two,mum quietly withdrew her hand,picked up her starch white serviette and dabbed it to the corners of her mouth.
" he needs a reason for what's happened" uncle Gerald said "and he may never find one"
Yes he will thought raven I'll make sure of it
Aloud she said "mum jake didn't mean it"
"I've made mistakes." Mums voice became louder " but I tried,I really did..."
As uncle gerald soothed mums distress there was warmth in his eyes. He liked mum. A lot. Raven wondered whether her dad had also noticed that.
Uncle Gerald caught raven staring.
"Stephanie shall we move to the sitting room? Raven your brother is upstairs hurting he could use your support"
Ravens pulse beat her annoyance at the way he was arranging them like chess pieces on the board of their own lives.
She sent him a defiant look " we are all hurting uncle gerald"
What questions did uncle Gerald and susposedly dad would not want asked? Did dad have something to hide? Has he done something wrong? Is that why he vanished? Raven sighed,she couldn't do anymore tonight about dads disappearance.