Forever and ever 2. The adventure starts now.

Part 189.

Tom's pov~

Dust had gathered under the couch cushions. The old cabinet, filled with even older dishes, was nothing but a testament to the finest craftsmanship. Even the ashes in the fireplace held no trace of Parker. To say I had thoroughly searched the living room would be an understatement.

"Hey, man, have you seen Parker?" I was almost out of breath when I ran into Harrison in the hallway, a cigarette put freshly between his rough lips, dangling like a straw, not yet lit.

"No, but ask Paddy. He was with him just a moment ago." It was a good tip, but Paddy wasn't in sight as I found Sam in the driveway. His sunglasses were nearly slipping off his freckled nose as I approached him outside.

He struggled to secure his daughter's car seat while baskets for the soon-to-be-purchased vegetables lay outside the car.

"Need a hand?" I lifted the basket and placed it in the trunk while my brother was still engrossed with the car seat, muttering curses as he struggled with it.

"It's fine," he murmured, straightening his back after being hunched over in the glaring sun, his dark blue polo shirt sticking to him. He looked like the quintessential tourist searching for the best handmade soap at the market. Only a fake rolex watch missing his tender wrist.

He gave me a quick once-over, his expression unhinged as he noticed I had moved the basket and shut the trunk. There was still an invisible barrier between us, one I tried my best to ignore. Sam and I still had some things to sort out, but overlooking the recent argument came easier to me than to him. Whether I had hurt him by insulting his ex-girlfriend, or whether his heart couldn't bear to face the truth about his change of character. Sam rested his hands on his hips, and I decided not to bring it up for now as Parker came to mind again, whom I still hadn't found.

"Have you seen Parks?" It was a tiring search, not knowing if he was hiding or peacefully playing in his room. He wasn't downstairs, and I had scoured every corner.

Sam looked around, not spotting the curly-headed boy anywhere.

"He was just here..." he mused, trying to recall where Parker might have gone. "I think he ran around the house with his stuffed toy in hand." Pawty... of course.

"Around the house?" That meant he must be in the garden, but I should have seen him when I checked the living room with its perfect view of the grill and lawn.

"Yeah. I don't remember what he was mumbling," Sam defended himself, hearing the accusation in my voice that letting Parker wander alone wasn't the wisest decision. Likely, he was just playing in the garden. Sam gestured to the car seat he was struggling with, and my heart raced as he didn't continue to go on where Parker might have gone. But he didn't need to; I knew something was wrong the second my hands grew sweaty and my heart missed a beat. I immediately ran around the house, retracing Parker's steps.

There wasn't a sign of him playing with the showerhead of the outside shower, nor could I find any other traces until I found Pawty's plush cape caught in a thorn bush. I pulled it out of the prickly plant, small holes puncturing the cape, but the dog was as good as new... except for needing a wash.
Something still felt off. An empty stuffed toy didn't help me find my son, and my heart sank as I heard wild splashing but no faint laughter in the distance. I turned my head so quickly it nearly gave me whiplash, but I wouldn't have cared less if I had lost a leg when I saw two tiny hands struggling to keep themselves up in the hell raising water.

No screams.
No crying.
No wailing.

I couldn't gauge how long he had been fighting in the water, but considering I had been searching for at least five minutes, he talked to Sam for one, and it took three minutes to reach the water for his little steps, there was hope I could save him. I wasted no time sprinting across the lawn, not bothering to shed my clothes, which might slow me down in the run.