Jim Taylor | COMPLETED

Chapter 1 - "Alive"

14th of July, 2016. 10:26 am. Wilmette, Illinois.

The family of Taylor's were early risers. From that time, when their first son went missing. Now, 6 years later of hoping that he will show up. Showing up at their door, greet and hug them.

The family guy of the family, Peter, was sitting at the dining table in the kitchen, reading the morning newspaper. Table made of an oak tree by Peter himself. "Chicago Tribune". His favorite columns were classifieds and crosswords.

Housewife Sarah had decided to make bacon and eggs for breakfast. Beans included. For a delicious dessert, pancakes with blueberries and honey. Focused on cooking, Sarah didn't notice that their little child Leslie had crawled into the room and was like a glue against Peter.

"Sarah! Please! Take him away from me," Peter barked at Sarah, while Leslie was already dragging tablecloth within Peter's hot dark coffee.

Sarah herself shook for a second. She found herself thinking about little Jim again. Knowing that Jim was supposed to become 7 years old exactly in six months. Pan spade fell down the floor from Sarah' hands, fried bacon slice next to it.

"I'm sorry, darling. And good morning, Leslie. It's good to see you woken up. Today, I have something absolutely yummy breakfast for you. "Babe, why are you so surly anyway, huh?"

Man sighed. Peter took the spade up and put it back on the counter. He placed his elbows on the table and took a sip of the coffee. "It's going to be a long day, I know it. Besides, I slept really bad,".

"How so?" Sarah asked. Turned the stove off, lifted the bacon and eggs on the big plate.

Peter worked as a police officer at one of the Chicago's police stations. He started working there about 4 years ago after their baby boy had been missing for two years already. Trying to be helpful in the investigation, Peter went to the school where people were trained and taught to be officers. He thought he would find his son and serve his country with pride afterward. What actually happened, Jim Taylor was still missing for more four years. There were no clues finding him and hope were about to fade away.

"Jim wouldn't want you to be angry at his little brother," Sarah said.

Peter became angry. Full of rage. "Stop, Sarah. Fuck! Jim is dead. No one says his name again in this house, understood?"

Sarah was shocked. When Peter started working at the station, he did everything to find their son. After two years of searching for little Jimmy, he realized Jim was nowhere to find. Little hope grew into no hope at all. They both were heartbroken, Sarah was a total mess.

Peter was like a role in this family. He held them up. If he had fallen apart, the whole family would have fallen apart. Sarah relied on him. Everybody relied on him

"Forgive me, Peter. I didn't want to say something wrong. He's our son," Sarah said. Sarah put the plate with bacon and eggs on the table. Placed Leslie into his toddler seat and walked towards the refrigerator to take curd cream out for him.

"WAS our son, baby. All that hope finding him, it's all gone, can't you tell?" Peter turned his face at her.

"NEVER, Peter. That lost hope you are talking about - it never goes away. It always gonna stay inside of me," Sarah said, getting the cream. She walked back to his little boy and opened the drawer of the kitchen counter. All she needed was a spoon. As fast as Sarah gave the cream and spoon to the toddler, same fast Leslie started to eat it.

Peter saw a black face on her wife's. He pulled Sarah into her lap and placed a kiss on her shoulder. "Please, understand me, baby. This name... Jim hurts so badly inside of me. We both still feel heartbroken. We can't lose it now. We can't lose ourselves. Leslie,.. he needs us,".

They both stared at their little boy, whose little hands were covered with the cream.

Suddenly, there was a knock at their door.

"You invited someone, Peter?" Sarah asked looking at him.

"No, it's already 11 am. I have to get to work soon," Peter answered, raising his eyebrows.

"That's weird. Me neither. As soon as you leave, I and Leslie are gonna go out," Sarah stood up and gave a kiss on Leslie's forehead. "Stay here, little swallow," She smiled.

Peter stood up as well from the chair and followed Sarah. Opened the front door and saw two police officers standing at the other side. Mac and Joe were his co-workers.

"Mac. Joe. Hey, guys, what's up?" Peter said. "Is everything okay? I was supposed to leave soon, I thought I still had time,". Boys greeted them with a nod.

"Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, how are you?! It's okay, Peter, we know. No need to rush but there's something you two should know. It's about your missing son, Jim. We found him and he is alive!".