Missing: The boy who disappeared

Chapter 21 - A Misunderstanding

A/N

11k word chapter.
This follows on right from where it took off.
Again, don't hate him. 😬

'The worst kind of distance between two people, is that of a misunderstanding."

🚨

Saxon stood hesitantly at the doorway, his gaze sweeping the room with quiet curiosity. Gabby, sensing his apprehension, gave him a gentle nudge, urging him to step inside. As he moved forward, his eyes took in the modest collection of furniture-a worn but cosy sofa, a wooden coffee table adorned with a few reading books, and a small, faded rug that added a touch of warmth to the space. The room, though simple, had an inviting charm that put him slightly at ease.

It was a stark contrast to Chris' expansive home, which exuded wealth with its grandeur and abundant decor, that one would expect from someone who owned multiple businesses and buildings. Chris had always lived lavishly, surrounded by luxury and possessions that spoke of affluence. Despite experiencing such wealth, Saxon had never grown accustomed to it or taken it for granted. He prided himself on staying grounded, appreciating simplicity and genuine connections over material wealth. As he stood there, memories of his old lifestyle flooded his mind, contrasting sharply with the humble setting before him.

He soon became acutely aware of everyone's eyes on him, particularly Louis, who noticed the hard swallow Saxon took, a clear sign of nervous anxiety. Thinking quickly on his feet, Louis decided to intervene.

"Gabby, would you like a cup of tea?"

It had allowed him to smoothly redirect attention away from his son, in hopes of defusing the nerves.

Smiling politely, Gabby accepted.

"Yes please, I would love one."

"Harry." Louis hinted.

Louis nodded towards the kitchen, silently directing Harry. Though hesitant and concerned about leaving Saxon alone with Delilah, Harry trusted Louis' judgment. As Harry and Gabby moved towards the kitchen, Louis waited a moment, then turned his attention back to Saxon and Delilah, ready to step in if needed. As he had anticipated, he noticed Saxon visibly relax, just in time to see him lean down to Delilah's height.

"Well, you must be Piggy then." he said with a warm smile, instantly feeling the love as he observed Delilah's face light up.

"How do you know my nickname?" Delilah asked curiously.

Having been without siblings or other children to play with for an extended period of time, Saxon was eager to engage and have someone other than an adult to converse with, so he happily played along.

"What? Are you telling me that's not your real name?" Saxon asked, acting surprised.

Delilah giggled.

"No, silly! My name is Delilah. Do you have a nickname?"

Saxon's smile wavered slightly.

"Oh, um... I don't have one."

Delilah seemed to sense it was a sensitive subject as she pointed over to the lounge room.

"That's okay, I can think of one later. You wanna watch this with me?"

Looking over at the tv, he wasn't too fond of the idea of watching peppa pig at his age, but to hell with it, he smiled and offered out his hand.

"Ok."

Louis, Harry, and Gabby lingered in the kitchen for a good ten minutes, engaging in small talk about the weather and other topics they could muster up. Louis found himself on the verge of suggesting they return to the lounge room when Saxon appeared at the doorway.