Sophomore Year || Parenthood Series, Book One || WATTYS 2018

Chapter Eight

      
SOUNDTRACK: "Layla" - Derek and the Dominoes

"Kate's missing," Ryan repeated. "Well - not missing. I'm pretty sure she's run away."

"How do you know? I mean, have you called the police?" Jared asked. He could feel his heart rate increase slightly.

"Yes," Ryan replied. "They can't put out a missing child report yet, but I think I know where she is."

"Where?"

"I found a bus ticket receipt in her room," he explained. "It was for a ticket to Los Angeles. I think she's coming to see you."

"But I never gave her my address," Jared replied. "I thought Kate was a good kid. She didn't seem like she was planning to run away when I saw her on Thursday."

"We had a fight," Ryan said. "I listed the house for sale earlier today and she got upset. I left t go get a few things from the hardware store and when I came back, she was gone."

Jared forced himself to take several cleansing breaths. "When did this happen?" he asked. His mind was racing with different thoughts and he was having trouble keeping up.

"She was gone when I came back around eleven," Ryan supplied.

Jared glanced at the large watch on his wrist. "And what time did the bus leave?" he asked, formulating the plan in his mind.

"Receipt says it left at twelve-thirty."

"Okay," Jared said. "You got to the bus station and make sure she actually got on the bus here. When you do, call me back."

Ryan agreed and hung up. Jared stared at his dark phone, trying to figure out what he should be feeling at the moment. He daughter was missing and probably on her way to Los Angeles that very moment. Two worlds he was struggling to keep separate were very swiftly hurdling toward one another. He jumped when Ryan called back.

"She definitely got on the bus," he confirmed. "Should I come up to L.A. and get her?"

"No," Jared replied. "It's almost two-thirty. The bus will arrive around three-thirty. I'll meet her there at the station. I'll call you when she gets in and have a plane ready to bring you up. It's faster and easier." Jared ended the call. "SHAYLA!" he shouted through the house.

Several seconds later, Shayla was in his doorway, a worried look on her face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Shut the door," he said after motioning for her to come inside. "Kate is on a bus on her way here," he said slowly.

"Wait, what?" she asked.

"She ran away and in on a bus to L.A.," he explained. "It's not due to get in until three-thirty, so I'm going to meet her at the bus station."

"What about Ryan?" she asked.

"I need you to call the airfield there and see if any planes are available for a flight from San Diego," he said. "And then book one for Ryan Emerson for a departing flight to L.A. and add Kate Wexler to the manifest for the return flight."

"It'll cost you this late," she said, writing.

"I don't care," he insisted. "It's not an issue."

She nodded. "Is that it?" she asked.

"Yeah," he replied. "I'm going to drive to the bus station. Cover for me downstairs."

Jared stood and put a jacket on over his short sleeve shirt. He grabbed a beanie from the hat rack in the hallway before picking up his car keys and rushing out to the driveway. As he drove, he hoped Kate would be on the bus when it arrived. He didn't know what he'd do if she wasn't. Technically speaking, he didn't have to do anything; he could have been a total douche and let Ryan figure it out on his own. Kate wasn't legally his responsibility and technically speaking having her in his life would only complicate things more for him. He certainly wouldn't be able to live his life like he normally did with her in it.