The Search

Chapter 11

Nikolai

I smile and lean back in my chair tapping a fist against my desk. Derek yawns standing up, "alright, I have to head home to the miss.  She misses me past 5:00."

"It's five already?" I ask, my heart dropping and I look down at my phone clock.  Colten's art show started an hour ago. "Fuck." I curse gathering all my things.

Next thing I know I'm racing through the parking lot fumbling with my keys and unlocking it so I can hop in and get going.

The streets are icing and my hands are shaking from the tight grip I have on the cold steering wheel. My car had no time to heat up before I left, so I'm sitting in the negative 30 Celsius car with no jacket on.

I pull into the school parking lot, most of the cars are gone and when I enter. Colten and Ollie sit on the bleachers while Alex cleans up Colten's table.

I race forward staring at the gloom Colten, who is holding a medal in his hand. A first place medal.

My heart drops and guilt completely consumes me. I pass a staring Alex and rush up the stairs by Ollie and take Colten into my arms.

"I'm sorry," I mutter, "Colt, Oh God I'm so sorry buddy."

He sighs hugging me back relaxing into my arms, "did you catch the bad guy yet?" He asks. "Maybe then we'll actually see you more often."

He pushes away descending down the steps and begins packing up his art supplies neatly into his art case we got him for his birthday.

I sit down next to Ollie and rub my hands down my face bracing myself for Sophie's lecture. She'll be upset, I'll be upset, then everyone will be upset.

Jesus I shouldn't have forgotten.

"It's okay Dad." Ollie says standing up in-front of me trying to wrap his tiny arms around me.

My shoulders shake in a laugh and I pick him up setting him down on my lap. I barely get times like these with Ollie, he's usually reading or ignoring all kinds of physical contact.

I sigh kissing his forehead and then stand up with him in my arms going down the steps to try and fix my mistakes.

———————

After a quiet dinner everyone separates and I'm left with Sophie and Alex in the living room. Sophie is blatantly angry.

Sophie ends her glares and rubs her temple sighing, "What happened?"

"I lost track of time, and it's no excuse but the day went by so fast and I was supposed to film it for your Mother-"

"No worries." Alex interrupts, "I filmed it, that isn't the huge deal. What matters is that Colten feels left behind, you went to my game just last week, you didn't forget about that. Fix it." He states sitting down next to Sophie and starts screen mirroring the video on the TV.

I smile through the whole video, watching proudly as Colten wins the medal. His art displayed magnificently. Now I just need him to feel as special as he truly is.

_____________

I knock on Colten's door hoping for an answer and when I don't get one I knock again, "Colten please." I say quietly knowing he can hear me.

The door opens and he groggily walks back to his bed going back under the covers. "I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" I say softly sitting next to him.

He shakes his head, a tear escapes and he quickly wipes it away trying to hide it. I lay down next to him hugging him. "I'm sorry Colt, I feel so bad. I was so excited this morning."

He turns nodding and lays his head on my shoulder. I reach into my pocket and take out a ring. "I had this made a couple weeks back because I just knew you were going to win. It's the same as mine and Alex's. It represents your first big accomplishment. Always reminding you how proud I am."

I hand it to him and he takes it, inspecting it. It's a black band, inside it has his initials. He puts it on one of his fingers on his right hand.

"I got mine when I solved my first case, Alex had won his first huge high school basketball game and now you got first place in an art competition and got yours. Aren't I the luckiest dad? Hmm?" I squeeze his shoulder and he smiles.

"It's not a gift because your mad at me, you know that's not how your Mother and I work. But it's a gift for you, from you, yes? Be proud of yourself as well." I smile, "let's be honest, you didn't need me there." I joke.

"I'll always need you Dad." He says hugging me smiling like he usually does.

I softly laugh hugging him one last time before standing up. As much as I wish that were true I know that he would eventually not need me. Today he did succeed without me, and I'm happy to watch.