The Ghost Of You

Chapter Twenty Seven

James 

The following day was Saturday which typically was then the kids and I went to visit my parents, Piper and Mum would usually keep the kids entertained while Dad and I recapped on what we had found out over the week
But this week was different, I didn't have anything to bring to the table for the first time since she left 

"Hey son" Dad said patting my shoulder as we sat in the dinning room, Mum, Sienna and Harrison were out in the back garden playing with some chalk leaving us in here
"I don't have anything Dad. Literally nothing" I muttered running my hands over my face
"That's okay James. Sometimes we won't have things to share, that doesn't mean we are going to give up. We still have the stupidly expensive PI looking into both Paul and Riley, he's bound to find something" He said attempting to comfort me 
"But it feels like we are truly running out of time, resources and I'm running out of excuses for the kids" I said making him sigh 

"None of this is easy, it's not something any of us have ever encounter but James don't give up. She is out there" He reminded me 

"Dad, Grandpa?" Harrison said making both us turn to see him stood in the door way
"Hey little man!" Dad said with a big grin as Harrison cautiously stepped forward
"Is this where you come to talk about Mum?" He asked standing next to me now
"Something like that buddy, how come you aren't outside with Nana and your sister?" I asked pushing his hair out of his face

"I need to tell you guys something but I don't want you to be mad at me" He whispered making me look over at Dad who had the same concerned look on his face

"I saw Mum the other day" He said making me raise a brow
"Are you sure Harrison? It's okay if you just wanted it to be -" Dad started before Harrison cut him off
"It was her!" He cried, I instantly wrapped an arm around him stroking his back to calm him down

"Okay okay, tell us buddy.. Where did you see Mum?" I asked, he looked up at me. His eyes were pleading for some sort of answer for him, a sliver of hope to hold onto but I didn't know how to respond to that

"I was in the Playground at school and someone was by the gate. At first some of the kids were just laughing and trying to get close enough to see who it was but I knew who it was from the moment I saw her" He said softly
"Her hair is longer now but it's still Mum. It is her I know it is" He cried
"I called out to her and tried to get close to her but the moment she heard me she ran again. I don't know why she ran, are you sure I didn't make her angry Dad? Are you sure I'm not the reason she left?" He pleaded

His face was now covered with tears as he continued to tell his story, as he continued to break down over the fact he's convinced he is the problem here
I shook my head at him picking him up and placing him on my lap engulfing him into a tight hug
"I promise you Harrison, you are not the reason here. You didn't make your Mum angry and you are not the reason she left" I reminded him but he shook his head crying into my chest as my I looked over at my Dad hoping he had some guidance here

"It's something James, We'll look into it for starters. Harrison if you ever see you Mum again can you tell Dad or I? We just want to make sure she's okay little man?" Dad offered
"I didn't want to make anyone sad so I didn't tell anyone" He pouted
"when did you see her?" I asked stroking his back again
"Last week, it was Wednesday afternoon I think" He said making me nod, that would then answer as to why Harrison had been so quiet that night after school

"We would never be mad or upset with you buddy okay? But you need to tell us things like this alright?" I asked making him nod instantly as he pulled himself back into my chest for another hug 

--

"Hey Man" Eldon said as the three boys came into the apartment later that day. The kids were in their rooms up to something while the boys joined us. It's something they tend to do often to the point the kids are smitten with all of them
"Hey" I said offering them all a drink from a fridge as we al hung out around the kitchen island 
I hated this kitchen but at the same time I couldn't dare think about changing it, I hate it because this was the last thing Riley saw when she left but I don't want to change it because it was the last thing she saw.. 

"How is everything?" Hunter asked sipping his drink
"Harrison saw Riley, or at least we believe he did" I said making their eyes widen
"Do you think it was legit?" He asked and I nodded

Harrison is only passionate and emotional about things he loves or something he feel completely confident on. So if he says he saw Riley.. He saw Ri

"Uncle El!" Sienna squealed running out of the rooms and straight over to Eldon making me chuckle as he picked her up
"Hey sweetie" He smiled as Sienna cuddled up to him
"Excuse me misses, are we just chopped liver?" West asked poking her sides making her giggle 

"No but you still owe me a new teddy and Uncle Hunter smells" Sienna said making all of us laugh while Hunter rolled his eyes 
There was one occasion where Hunter wore aftershave around Sienna because he had just been on a date and it's safe to say it's turned her off of Hunter for life

"Where is your brother Sienna?" I asked but Sienna pouted looking at me
"he's sad Daddy" She said making me tilt my head at her
"he has Mummy's book out and he's laying in bed. He said he isn't crying but I think he is. He's either crying of sweating from his eyeballs" She said making shake my head with a small chuckle before looking to the boys who all nodded knowing what I needed to do 

"Hey Sienna why don't you show us your flowers on the balcony?" West asked making Sienna smile kicking herself out of Eldon's arms before taking a hold of West and Eldon's hands
"come on Uncle Hunter" She said motioning him to follow

 Just like Sienna had said, Harrison was laid in bed with the book that I had made for the kids. One had photos of Riley growing up, one had photos of Sienna and Riley and the final one had photos of Harrison and Riley. That was the one tucked into his chest right now while he cried 
"hey buddy" I whispered from his doorway making him look over at me 
The moment he did he shook his head and his silent cries turned into loud sobs as he brought his knees into his chest

"I want her to come home Dad. I really am sorry, I'm so sorry" He cried as I pulled him into my lap holding him tightly 

"She left because that man took me, if I hadn't gone with him she would still be here. I shouldn't have let her trade me for her. If I didn't come back then Sienna would still have Mum" He cried but I shook my head placing my head on top of his 
"This is all my fault" He sobbed 

"I know it feels like it is but buddy I promise you it isn't. It's that Man's fault, I'm going to find him and I'm going to find you Mum and bring her home okay?" I offered but he shook his head
"She's gone Dad, I don't think she's coming back" He cried
"She is, I promise" I reminded him
"You can't promise that, remember things are complicated Dad. This isn't something that you can fix" he cried 

I knew at this point that nothing I could say would settle him. I knew that nothing was going to fix this for him 

He needed Riley.. Just like she needed him when he was missing..