Missing in Action

Chapter 022

"Did you see how absolutely breathtaking the architecture is?" Jenn asked wistfully, a far away look in her eyes. She was carrying Isaac in her arms and holding Brendon's hand rather tightly. "Reminds me of Paris," she said, sounding only the tiniest bit sad, now, and she smiled down at Isaac when he chanted Paris! over and over again. She'd been gushing the whole three hours they'd been out, sight-seeing, after having eaten at a small cafe. Brendon smiled at her and nodded, kissing her cheek impulsively before knocking on Ryan's front door. They were staying here, but he thought it only polite that they not just traipse into his house whenever they wanted.

"You're killing my hand, you know," he said quietly, his smile strained now. Jenn giggled girlishly and nodded. "Kind of reminds me of when you went into labour," he said after a few seconds. Jenn sent him a scathing look, but didn't answer. And didn't let go of his hand, instead squeezing it tighter. It was something she did when she was overwhelmed, or in pain, or just very happy. Brendon let her.

Lucía heard the knocking and shot up from her seat on the couch in front of the TV, jumped down and scurried through the house before she opened the front door with a smile, the expression turning into a grin when she locked eyes with Jenn. "Dinner isn't really ready." She scrunched up her nose. "Or started. If you want something from the fridge or the freezer, that's fine, but I think we should order out," she stated, feeling very important to be the one to tell grown-ups these things. "Daddy's gone into his head, and we can't disturb him. He has to come out himself," she added, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

Brendon smiled at her before slipping past her into the house. He watched Jenn gush about the sight-seeing they'd done, again, with Keely, and rolled his eyes. "Well, what does everyone want to eat, then?" he asked as he took off his jacket and watched Isaac slide out of Jenn's arms to march over to him. He struggled a bit with his sleeves, and Brendon helped him take off his shoes before leading him towards the kitchen.

Jenn took off her own sleek, black jacket and kicked off her heels. "Your daddy's gone into his head, has he?" she asked, hoping the girl would give more of an explanation. Since she didn't know Ryan very well, only through Brendon, she had no clue what this could possibly mean.

"It means he'll probably write five full chapters or the lyrics to a whole album in just one day," Lucía answered, with a shrug. "But he kind of forgets the world when that happens, so you have to be really quiet when you're by his study because he startles easily when he's in his head." She reached up and took the woman's hand, leading her into the kitchen after Mr. Brendon and the little boy. "He gets sick when you don't let him come out of it on his own. I did it once, when Uncle Jon was visiting, and Daddy cried and couldn't breathe right and I think he was sick all over the place, but Uncle Jon took me into my bed. I was really scared, especially because Uncle Jon couldn't stay with me. And it lasted longer than it usually did, so Uncle Jon had to get doctors and pills, and Daddy was really tired and stayed in his bed for days, so I haven't done it again. I'm a big girl now, and I know he needs to get out of it himself. If you guys weren't here I would've called my sitter, because it can last really long and I can't cook on my own, but I'm big enough to call my sitter." She smiled proudly, not really that concerned. It was just one of Daddy's little quirks, and as long as she was quiet and didn't go into the study, everything would be fine, she knew.

"Well, we'd better be extra quiet, then, shouldn't we?" Jenn asked, storing the story away so that she could tell Brendon later. He'd need to know about this. She didn't think he could handle it if he made such a big mistake with Ryan, and his daughter would not approve at all. Following the girl to the kitchen, she spotted Brendon by the phone and shrugged. "Does everyone like Chinese?" she asked, looking down at Keely. She was more concerned about what she and her father liked, since she already knew what Isaac did and didn't eat.