Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that Michael was no longer in the room. She thought she heard noises coming from the kitchen, so she punched in Mrs. Gregory’s number and went to search for him as the phone rang. “Please, pick up!” she muttered as she literally caught Michael with his hand in the cookie jar. He smiled at her mischievously as he pulled out one of the chocolate chip cookies her mother had baked a few nights ago, and Melody couldn’t help but smile despite the anxiety rising in her chest. What would happen if Reid thought Michael was missing? Surely, he’d panic—and Melody wanted to avoid that, if at all possible.

***

Reid finished tightening a loose spindle near the top of the steep stairwell when he realized his cell phone was ringing. It was about time for Michael to get to Ms. Karen’s house, so he decided he better check and make sure everything was okay. Pulling it out of his pocket and glancing at the display, he saw that it was the sitter calling and answered the phone immediately.

“Hello?” he said, and the panic in Ms. Karen’s voice when she responded lit every one of his nerves on fire.

“Reid, it’s Karen. Do you have Michael with you today?”

“No, he’s not there?” Reid asked, dropping his tools and rising to his full height.

“No, the school bus came by, but it didn’t stop. I called the school, and Michael’s teacher said that he got on the bus like he always does. They’re trying to get ahold of the bus driver, but… Reid, I’m concerned. I don’t know what to do.”

Reid took a deep breath as he mentally beat off the invading thoughts of all the horrible things that could have happened to his little boy. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation,” he said, heading down the stairs. “If he got on the bus, he has to be somewhere. Maybe the bus driver forgot and will bring him back around.” It seemed like a possibility, but thoughts of losing his child began to creep in around the edges of his imagination, and Reid had to fight hard to keep his thoughts positive.

As he reached the landing at the bottom of the stairs, Mrs. Gregory came out of the living room. “Reid,” she said gesturing wildly, “Melody Murphy is on the phone for you. She says it’s important.”

“Melody Murphy?” Reid repeated. Why did that name sound familiar? He suddenly realized Mrs. Gregory must be talking about the girl he’d met in the hardware store, though he’d never caught her last name. Why would Melody be calling him at Mrs. Gregory’s house? “Is it about Michael?” he asked.

“She didn’t say,” Mrs. Gregory replied, gesturing that he should follow her into the living room.

“Reid?”

He realized he still had Karen on his cell phone. “Sorry, Karen. Someone just called Mrs. Gregory’s house looking for me. It might be about Michael. I’ll call you right back.” He didn’t wait for a reply before he disconnected his cell phone call and took the receiver from Mrs. Gregory’s hand. “Hello?” he said, trying to keep his tone even.

“Reid? It’s Melody. I’m sorry to bother you, but Michael is at my house.”

Letting go a sigh of relief, Reid felt his muscles begin to relax. Why his son was at her house was another matter entirely, but at least he knew where Michael was now, and he knew he was safe. Before he could formulate a response, Melody continued.

“He said he wrote a note to the bus driver. Anyway, he’s here, and he’s safe, but I didn’t want you to find out he wasn’t at Ms. Karen’s and panic—and I didn’t want her to worry either.”

“No, I just got off the phone with Karen, and she was wondering where he might be. I’m so glad you tracked me down.”

“I thought Mrs. Gregory would have your number. I didn’t realize you’d actually be there, but it’s great that you are,” Melody explained with a chuckle, and Reid could picture her bright green eyes in his mind, the little crinkle that formed when she laughed. Returning his mind to his son, he thought at least Michael would get to spend some time with the friend he’d been asking about for almost a week—before he was grounded for the rest of his life. “Anyway, he can stay here for a little while if you need to finish up whatever you’re working on.”

“That’s very nice of you,” Reid replied, finally fully regaining his composure. “He’ll definitely have a consequence for this. He knows better than to take off like that and lie to his bus driver.”

“Right,” she said, “maybe he forgot that Santa’s watching.” He could tell by her tone and the volume of her voice that Michael must be able to hear her and that comment was directed at the little boy.

“I should be able to pick him up in ten or fifteen minutes, if that’s all right.”

“Oh, sure,” she replied. “He’s eating a snack, and then he wants to help me put out a few more Christmas decorations, but I told him no TV.”

“After this, he might never get to watch TV again,” Reid muttered. “Thank you so much, Melody. I really appreciate your understanding.”

“No problem. See you in a bit.”

“Bye.” Reid hung up the phone and took a deep breath, thankful for Melody’s kindness. Some people would’ve been upset to have to rearrange their afternoon to babysit an uninvited guest.

“Is everything okay?” Mrs. Gregory asked, her kind eyes wrinkled in concern.

“Yes,” Reid assured her, turning to face her. “Michael decided to go to Miss Melody’s house today instead of Ms. Karen’s.”

“Oh, no!” Mrs. Gregory exclaimed, but she put a hand over her mouth to hide her smile. “Well, that boy of yours sure knows how to pick ‘em. Did you do some work at Sarah’s place?”

Reid assumed Sarah must be Melody’s mother. “Yes, we ran into Melody at the hardware store, and I helped her reattach a door knob. Michael has been talking about her ever since.”

“Melody is a sweet girl,” Mrs. Gregory nodded. “I’ve known her since she was in diapers. The Murphys go to the same church I attend—the First Baptist, over on Third Street. Such a pretty girl, that Melody. A shame about her father though.”

Reid nodded, pulling his cell phone out, realizing he needed to call Ms. Karen back. “Melody seems like a very nice person.”

“And she sings like an angel,” Mrs. Gregory continued. “But… well, since her father died… things just haven’t been the same.”

The expression on Mrs. Gregory’s face showed concern, and Reid wondered what her comments meant exactly. He remembered what Melody had said that afternoon about the piano. A flood of questions filled his mind, but he didn’t really have time to ask more just then. “Mrs. Gregory, would it be all right if I came back in a few days to fix your roof? I finished the stairwell, but I think I need to go get my son and have a little talk with him about the importance of doing as he’s told.”