The Ghost Of You

Chapter Twenty Six

James 

2 Years Later..

"Careful Harrison please" I called out to him, he was on the playground with Sienna following him around like a lost puppy. I think he's forgotten that she is still only little. We've just had her 3rd birthday and it's a crazy thing to thing
I met both of them when Harrison was 4, he's now 6 almost 7.. Sienna was barely 1 years old and now she's a full blown toddler with more attitude then you'd believe 

The search for Riley has not ended. The police has placed her back to being a cold case but we're always find something knew. Paul has been off the grid since he left town but we all know he was behind Harrison's disappearance and now Riley's 

When we got Harrison back, we tried to get some information out of him but he didn't know much. He told us he had spoken to Riley the night before he came back, he told us it wasn't Paul who took him but it was someone working alongside him
It wasn't until Harrison was out of town that Paul made his appearance.
But all of the information he had, lead us to a dead end..

I've kept my promise to Riley, I've photographed every single thing I could possibly think of because when she comes back.. She'll need it all
Harrison started school and is doing a hell of a lot better then I ever did 
Sienna is starting to develop her own independence but also knows that she has most of us wrapped around her little finger 

Both of the kids haven't forgotten about Riley, there are moments where Harrison will get in his head like Riley used to. He would ask me if he is the reason why Riley isn't around anymore. If he annoyed her or made her angry 
We've had many conversations and heart to hearts about it but sometimes all he needs is a hug and to talk
He's got more of Riley in him then any of us realised at first glance 

Sienna goes through her faces where all she's ask about is Riley. I've told her all of the stories I could think of, I've shown her videos of us growing up. All of which sends both of the kids into the biggest smiles I've ever seen

"Daddyyyy!" Sienna cried coming running over to me while Harrison stayed on the climbing frame with his friend
"It's okay Princess" I smiled picking her up and placing her on my lap
"Bubby won't let me play with him and his friend. I just want to play" She cried wrapping her arms around my neck resting her head on my shoulder while I sighed looking over at Harrison
Since joining school he's been a lot more social which for Sienna is not the best outcome. Growing up it was only the two of them that was it 
So Sienna having to share her big brother now was not something she enjoyed

"How about you and I go and play? Do you want to go on the swings?" I asked knowing that was her favourite part of the park 
She looked up at me, her hazel eyes glowing with joy as she leant up kissing my cheek before running off of my lap straight to the swings

"10 more minutes then we have to go buddy" I said patting Harrison's head as I passed him
"Ugh okay Dad" He groaned before turning back to his friend 

--

I'd moved around things in the apartment to allow both kids to have their own rooms. For a little while Sienna and Harrison shared but Sienna used to wake up with night terrors frequently so waking up to two grumpy kids was not something I wanted to get used to 
So Sienna soon got her room and to top it off she gave her grandpa strict instructions on what her room needed to look like 
Harrison on the other hand, didn't care in the slightest as long as he had a bed he was happy 

"Daddy?" A small voice said making me look up from the sofa to see Sienna stood there in her pj's with her blanket in her hand 
It was a blanket Riley got her when she was a baby. It's something she will never leave behind 

"Hey you, come here" I said opening my arms allowing her to scurry onto the sofa laying into me
"I thought you were sleeping sweetheart?" I asked stroking her hair 
Her hair had shifted from the dark brown I have to this lighter toned mousey brown that Riley had when I first met her
I always used to say that Sienna was the spitting image of Riley but she well and truly is now a days

"I was but I woke up sad" She pouted nuzzling her head into my chest as she got herself comfortable
"Sad? Why are you sad princess?" I asked making her sigh
"I miss Mummy" She said softly, so soft I almost missed it
"She's missed to much, what if she's forgotten about me? Me and bubby?" She asked looking up at me panicked
"Hey hey" I cooed pulling her on to my lap so she was sat up straight looking at me

"I promise you now Sienna, your mummy has not forgotten about you or bubby. She loves you both so much and cannot wait to see you again" I reminded her
"If she misses us why can't she come home? We miss her Daddy" She said, her eyes filling with tears

"Sometimes sweetheart, things are a lot more complicated then we would like. Grandpa and I are working on a way for Mummy to come home and I promise we will make it happen" I said 

"Pinky promise?" Sienna asked making me smile as she held up her pinky finger
"Pinky promise princess" I whispered wrapping my little around hers 

God, Riley we need you..