He Had To Go

Chapter Seventeen: Look At Me

The fireplace is the only thing that warms me as the remaining five of us sit down to eat dinner. I haven't felt this cold and numb in a long time. The most memorable time would be when Xavier and I were separated. At the time, I thought that was because I was a helpless kid, but now I see it as the consequence of genuinely caring about someone.

"Your mom made some good pigs in blankets," Andrew says, looking at my empty plate, tempting me to eat something besides dinner rolls and sparkling water.

"No, thank you. I am quite full." I answer, crossing my arms at my chest, being honest because I don't have much appetite.

"Have they found him yet?" Claudia asks.

"No," I answer, keeping my head down and trying my best to keep my composure. Maybe I am just annoyed and angry, but her question is idiotic. If he were here, I would be happy. If he were home and safe, I would be joyous. I would be over the moon if he responded to any of my phone calls or texts. But he hasn't, and for that, I am deeply miserable to my core.

"Oh, " she replies. Has anyone heard from Leo?" She inquires from the rest of us. Laura grows frigid, dropping her fork when she hears his name.

"Um... when we last spoke earlier, she was gone when he got to the hotel. He missed her by a couple of hours; at least, that's what the front desk told him." Oliver answers, wiping his mouth with the dining towel.

"So much for confidentiality." I murmur, causing me to get a glance from Claudia and Andrew.

"He's still not returning my call," Laura informs us. "What's his next plan? Fly around the country looking for her?" she asks, making fun of her son's actions. It seems she has reached the acceptance part of the grieving process. I can't wait to get there myself. I believe I am currently halfway between anger and depression, which is still better than being in denial. The stage of denial is like getting stabbed in the back and forcing yourself to be brave enough to take the knife out.

"Not exactly, " He answers. He is staying in Georgia, trying to see if she leaves any breadcrumbs, and if not, he is flying back home on Christmas Eve."

"Not Ohio?" Laura asks, her raised eyebrows showing her irritation.

"No, his apartment. He's still pretty angry at you." Oliver directly tells his mother.

"He will understand one day... You two will when you have children." Laura confidently stands by her choice not to tell Brooke the truth. While I disagree with her decision, I genuinely admire her commitment.

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways throughout the house. Claudia and Oliver went to their bedroom, probably confused about how they went from being the beloved guests to the betrayal messengers. I didn't know where Laura and Andrew were until I slowly heard them coming up behind me while I lay under a fleece blanket on the couch.

"Maya?" Andrew whispers. This is odd. For a moment, I believe they have news on Eliot, but why would they know first? "Are you sleeping?" he asks me. Andrew comes from the left side, and Laura from the right side before standing in front of me, blocking the television.

"No, I was only talking advantages of the commercial breaks." I answer, opening my closing eyes. "But I am up." I remove the blanket from me, trying my best to fold it to the perfect square.

"Do you think we could talk then?" She asks, pointing to herself, Andrew, and I. Yet, in a way, she answers her own question, for before I know it, the two of them sit at the ends of the couch while I remain in the middle with the folded blanket on my lap. "This has been a tough week for all of us..." Laura starts, then looks over at Andrew as if they planned this word for word, and she forgot some of her lines. "Us finding out your true intention." That was not necessary. "Eliot missing, and then Leo missing his first Christmas."