Gone For Good (Book 3)

Chapter 10

Travis' POV

  I was so stunned and worried. Should I have let Mitch go alone with Dalton? Probably not.

  "Dad. Let's go." Kacey said.

  We all walked to the pond we had went to a few days after we had gotten Dalton. I stood at the edge of the woods. I pictured 6-year-old Dalton laying down, his head on Mitch's lap.

  If only he were like that now...

Mitch's POV

  "I'm sorry." Dalton said. I gave him a confused look before turning back to the road. "Why?" I asked. "For everything." he responded quietly. "Define 'everything'." I said as we pulled up to the hospital. "Being a bad son." he said as we got out of the car. I glanced over at him. He was tracing the cut over with his index finger.

  "You're not a bad son." I said. "You could've gotten a better one." he said.

  We walked inside the hospital. "Hi, sir. How may I help you?" the lady at the front desk. I reached down at Dalton's hand and pulled it up to the desk. "This." I said pointing at his cut. "I see. Can we have Dr. Cole Handers to the front desk. Thank you." she said. "A doctor will be right with you." she said and we went into the waiting room.

  "What'd you mean we could've gotten a better son." I asked. "They were plenty of boys at the orphanage. You didn't have to pick me." he said. "We went back for YOU. No one else." I said sternly. He didn't look me in the eye. "Still. Shouldn't of taken me back. You had no reason to." he said.

  The doctor showed up before I could say anything. "Dalton Wright?" he said from the door of the waiting room. Dalton hoped up and followed the doctor, as did I.

Avi's POV

  I could tell what had just happened was bugging everyone. Especially Travis.

  Just imagine it. Your son pulling out a knife and threatening to kill themselves? Dalton wasn't always like this. He used to be happy. He didn't wear dark clothes. He always smiled. He never had a doubt about anything. And he was never violent. I would've never guessed Dalton would hit someone. That includes girls. But I guess he had a reason.

  I looked around the circle we sat in. Everyone was quiet. Even Luke. That's saying something. Shauna had her head resting on my shoulder and our arms intertwined behind us.

  "Well, lets get this party started." Kevin said as he jumped up. We were planning on swimming in the pond. Kevin's shirt practically flew off his body as he ran and jumped into the pond. "Come on, guys!" he yelled. Travis and Scott soon joined him. Then Kacey and Luke. "Come on guys!" they all yelled. I looked at Shauna and she was getting her top and shorts off. I stood up and removed my shirt.

  The two of us ran for the pond and jumped in. You could barely see the parking lot. I saw a car that looked like Travis' car pull up. Dalton and Mitch got out. Mitch reached for the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off. He jumped in and swam over to us.

  Travis whispered something to Mitch and he shrugged. "Dalton! Coming?" he yelled. Dalton turned his head to the ground. I saw him smile and look up. He pulled his shirt off slowly, revealing a tanned six-pack. He jumped in, causing his black hair to come down from the quiff and fall down his forehead, close to covering his eyes. He came over and shook his head like a dog.

  He smiled for once. "You have dimples." Travis said and poked his cheek. Dalton blushed and a smirk came across his face.

  Dalton looked at Travis. "What are-" Travis was cut off as Dalton tackled him into the water, both going under. They came up. "Asshole." Travis said, laughing. "Human interaction." Dalton said and pretended to shiver at the thought. He laughed and he smiled. This was the real Dalton. This was OUR Dalton.