Reticent

Chapter Sixteen; meat mallet

I yelled for my husband as I walked through the garage door. When he didn't appear, I panicked and yelled even louder. "Harry!" I screamed again. I tried to call his phone. I was even more alerted when he didn't answer.

I checked every room in the house, while still calling his name, in hopes that he's sleeping or working somewhere. His car was here, his keys were here, I don't know where he could be. I checked the surveillance in hopes I could see him leaving the house for his trip. When he didn't come by my office, like he said he would, I knew something was wrong. I called his phone a few more times before checking the surveillance again.

I jumped and yelled in fear when my phone started ringing. I answered it, not caring that it was an unknown number. "Hello?"

"Where are you?" Avery asked. I looked at the time, sighing to myself. I hung up the phone with Avery, telling her I'm on my way. I can't believe I forgot about her dentist appointment. On my way to her school, I called the dentist office and told them Avery will be a few minutes late.

"You keep forgetting about me." She said when she got in the car. After pulling her out of class and checking her out with the front office, her attitude changed as soon as she got in the car. I shrugged in response, too worried about where my husband is to fight with Avery.

I called him a few more times on the way to the dentist office. When we got there, I set my worry aside to be there for Avery. She's getting her braces tightened today and I know how much pain she's in for the rest of the day.

"Looking good, Ave." Her dentist complimented her as she walked in. "Only a few more adjustments and pretty soon, they'll be off." She smiled at Avery.

"Awesome." She said. I texted Harry a few times while Avery got her braces tightened. Then I texted Anne asking if she's heard from him at all. After receiving no information from Anne, I stepped out and called his boss.

"Hey Ryan, its Taylor." I said through the phone. "Do you know if Harry got on the plane yet?" I asked.

"He didn't. Either he missed his flight, or he bailed. Either way, if he's not in San Francisco tonight, he can look for a new job." He said. "I'm sorry, Taylor. I don't know where he is." After saying that, he hung up. I took a deep breath and tried to convince myself that everything is fine.

"How does it feel?" I asked Avery when we finished and got back in the car.

"It feels like I got hit in the jaw with a meat mallet." She answered surly.

"Do you want frozen yogurt?" I asked her.

"I want my watch." She grumbled.

"Avery," I sighed, "do you really, honestly, believe that your best friend in the whole world would've stolen from you?" I asked, feeling defeated that she assumes Becca would take things from her.

"I don't know what else to believe." She shrugged. "Of course I want her to be telling the truth. I don't want to think that she's capable of it, but nobody else would've taken it."

We didn't talk the rest of the drive home. When we walked inside the house, my mind went to Harry again. I went into his office, one more time, to really watch the tapes and find something that would let me know if something happened to him.

First I watched the front of the house. Then I watched the living room, then my room, then Halley's room. When I got to Averys room, I decided to try and find footage of Becca going in and taking the watch.

I sighed, seeing Emily slash Kate, whoever the hell she is, walk into Avery's room. She sprawled herself across Avery's bed, then picked up a few pictures. I called Avery into Harry's office, to let her watch this psycho bitch take something off of her desk.

"What's up?" She asked, seeming like she's in a better mood. I gestured to the screen, showing her the skank bitch. "Who is that?" She asked, obviously feeling violated.

"Uh, listen kid, I think you should talk to Becca." I sighed and clicked the small red box, closing the program. "More like, you should apologize to her." I cross my legs, staring at my daughter. "I hate seeing you guys fight."

"I know." She nodded her head and stared at the ground.

"Ave, she's going through a lot right now. She needs you, she needs a friend." I reason with her.

"I know, mom." She said frustrated. "But just because she is going through something, it doesn't mean I'm not." She pouts.

"What's going on, Avery?" I ask, seriously.

"Nothing, mom." She tries to convince me. "Who is that woman, mom?" She asked. "What is she doing in my room?"

"I don't know, love." I say calmly. "I'm going to take care of it, though." I reassure her. When she walked out of the office, I tried Harry's cell numerous times while watching the tapes over and over again.

"Hey." Becca greeted me when she got home from tutoring.

"Hey, kiddo. How was school?" I asked her. I got up from the desk chair and walked us into the living room, while Becca told me her day was fine. "So, you know how you're supposed to go live with your grandmother, right?" I asked.

"Sure." She shrugged. I picked up an envelope I got from the courthouse, sliding it towards her. "What is this?" She asked, looking at the envelope.

"Adoption papers." I smiled. "I want to adopt you, Becca."

"Really?" Her eyes light up and a wide smile covers her face.

"If you want to be adopted by us," I raise my eyebrows. "My lawyer talked to the judge about your grandma." I smile at her.

"What did the judge say?"

"Well, they are going to look more into your family." I can see her smile falter a little bit. "If they don't find any relatives who are able to take care of you, then she'll sign off on the adoption papers." I rub her shoulder to comfort her.

"That's great." She nods her head.

"What's wrong, babe?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"I don't think Avery will be too happy." She pushed the envelop towards me.

"Sweetheart-" before I could reassure Becca, Avery came out with concern on her face.

"Mom." She walked towards us. "Becca, can we talk?" She turns to her best friend. Becca doesn't hesitate. She immediately says yes and they both walk away, into Averys room.