Another Chance With Love (Chance Series Book 2)

by Blake Allwood

  I called my mom and gave her an update on how things were going. She surprised me by saying she’d already bought a plane ticket and was headed my way. “We’ll be there for that boy, no matter what.”

  I wasn’t sure if I was happy mom was coming, or upset. Matilda was a whole lot, but right now, I really needed someone in my court.

  I also called Josh and asked if he could come and help. “We need all the help we can get, and you and Trevor got along well when we hung out.”

  Of course, he hesitated. “I… I don’t know him very well, Peter. Are you sure that wouldn’t be weird?”

  “It’ll be weird, but he needs it. Right now, I don’t care what’s weird if it’ll help him stay safe.”

  “Ok, I’ll come by later tonight after work,” he said.

  My mother arrived the next morning and took a taxi to my house, then came straight over to Trevor’s. I’d never been so happy to see her or thankful for her southern mom way of quietly getting things done.

  Trevor seemed to do well with Josh. When he was there, they seemed to be in a bubble and talked about stuff that didn’t have anything to do with Luka or the mess we were currently in.

  Mom usually sat in the rocking chair in his room while he slept. Trevor seemed to do the best with her as she poured ‘momness’ all over him, assuring him that Luka was safe. “Grandparents can’t resist the charms of a grandbaby, no matter how awful the grandparents are… it’s something God does to us,” she assured him. “It’s like a grandbaby curse or something.”

  I was outside the room when I heard her tell him that and heard his chuckle. I thanked the good Lord in Heaven that Matilda was the hard-ass, loving momma she was.

  Trevor

  I blamed myself. Every ounce of self-hatred I’d ever felt after my father broke my arm washed over me again and again but one hundred times worse. As much as I didn’t want to, I also blamed Peter. If I’d never met him, I’d still have Luka in my arms. It wasn’t his fault, not really, but that didn’t keep me from feeling these feelings anyway.

  Matilda, she was the one who began pulling me back. I was shocked when she came up that day carrying a tray with apple juice and chicken soup. “You need to eat, honey,” she said to me like she’d been there all this time, not even going through the usual greetings.

  “Where… when… Matilda?” I stammered, forgetting to use her formal name. “When did you get here?” I asked.

  “Well, honey, I’ve been here a couple days,” she said. “I came when I heard about all this. I figured my Peter needed his mom and now I can tell you need one too. So eat up, okay? I’m baking a pie, and I’ll bring you a piece when it’s done.”

  “I… I…” I stammered, not knowing what to say. Finally, I went with the basics. “I’m not really hungry.”

  “Nonsense, you haven’t eaten in the two days I’ve been here, and I’d be remiss as a mother if I let you get yourself sick. That baby is going to need you to be one hundred percent when he comes home, so stop sulking and eat.” She came over to me then and kissed me on the forehead like my aunt always did.

  The tears threatened to fall again, but Matilda didn’t pay them much heed. She pointed at the tray and said, “Eat all that, and when you’re done, I want you to get a shower… child, you know I love ya, but you smell.”

  With that, she sauntered out of my room.

  Doris, Peter, and his friend Josh had all been in and out of my room, and nothing had made me feel better, but there was something about Matilda Reed that brought light into my darkness. Maybe it was that she wasn’t pitying me… maybe it’s because, as a mom, she knew how much I had to lose.

  I did as she asked and attempted to eat the food. It sat sour on my stomach, but I forced myself to swallow down the soup. She was right, if, and that was a huge if, I got Luka back, I needed to have all my strength. I couldn’t be a blubbering idiot. He had to be so scared.

  The thought almost sent me back down the rabbit hole, so I stilled my mind, stripped, and got in the shower.

  Numbness had long ago replaced the tears. But I allowed myself to cry again as I stood under the spray. Thoughts of Peter holding me that horrible day brought both guilt and comfort. I’d been cruel to Peter, but even now, I couldn’t hold back my anger. Yet no matter how hateful I was to him, or what I said, he always seemed to be there.

  When the water ran cold, I’d decided the days of self-wallowing were over. My father had taken my son, that we were sure of. But where he was taken, the cops hadn’t been able to say, and I had been no help… well, Matilda’s strength must have found its way inside me because I’d be damned if that was going to continue. This person, this weak, pitiful person, was exactly what my father expected, and for the past week, I’d given it to him just as predicted.

  When I came out of the shower, I was a changed man. I dressed and went downstairs where Josh, Doris, and Peter were sitting. “It’s time to change things up,” I announced as Matilda came into the room.

  “It’s time we give that son of a bitch some action. Aunt Doris, if that reporter still wants to interview me, set it up. Also, if the investigator will come back over, I have some ideas where they might be hiding Luka.”

  I looked over at Matilda and almost lost my resolve. “Mrs. Reed, I need you to keep me from turning back into a noodle. You’re right, Luka needs me, and the days of self-pity are over.”

  She winked at me then wiped a tear from her cheek. “Did you eat that soup?” she asked, and I chuckled.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

  “Good, I’ll go fix us all some pie,” she said and disappeared back into the kitchen.

  Peter

  The next day, the detective and reporter came to interview Trevor and Doris. She did a great job pulling the heartstrings, and both Doris and Trevor broke down several times as they begged Trevor’s parents to bring the baby back home.

  When the interview was over, Trevor thanked her and disappeared back up to his room. I followed him. “You okay?” I asked.

  “I’m exhausted,” he replied. “I know you’ve been worried about me, Peter, and I can’t thank you enough for bringing Josh and Matilda in. But right now, I need to sleep off that interview. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

  I came over and sat next to him. “Can I hold you while you sleep?”

  Trevor’s expression was solemn. “I want that…” then he lowered his gaze. “Sometimes I hate you, Peter, not as much as I hate myself, but I can’t help it… I blame you for keeping me from him, for allowing my dad the opportunity to steal him.”

  I just sat and listened to Trevor as he admitted what I already knew.

  “I’m sorry, Trevor. I blame myself too, and when Luka is back safe and sound, you can tell me to take a flying leap, and I’ll leave and never bother you again. But until then, I’m not going to desert you, and I’m not going to desert Luka either. So for now, you’re stuck with me. Got it?”

  Trevor looked at me, then laid down and pushed his back up against my leg. I kicked my shoes off and laid down next to him, spooning him from behind.

  We laid like that for hours, with me holding him and eventually hearing his heavy breathing telling me he’d finally fallen asleep.

  The shadows outside grew longer, and I finally decided to pull myself away so I could watch the evening news and see how the interview turned out.

  Luckily, Trevor just rolled over as I pulled away. I knew he hadn’t slept hardly at all since Luka had been taken, so any sleep he could get was worth more than anything we could do.

  I joined Doris and my mom in the music room, where they kept the TV. The news had just started. “Is he still sleeping?” my mother asked.

  “Yeah, thank goodness,” I replied.

  Mom nodded at me and scooted over so I could sit next to her. The news started with them saying there were no new leads in the Luka Kovachich case, but they were leading with an interview with the family.

  The reporter introduced the
segment, reminding the audience that Luka had supposedly been kidnapped by his grandparents during Leonardo Richmond’s steampunk fashion store coming out party. Both their pictures were put on the screen,

  They showed a quick clip of Leonardo being interviewed, and the audience could easily see how upset he was. When asked if he was going to continue with construction, he simply said, “No, we are waiting to hear that little Luka is okay before we move the project along.”

  I could only imagine how angry my boss was. I hadn’t called in again since I’d told the secretary I was going to take time off until I wasn’t needed by the family any longer.

  The reporter also announced they’d tried to reach the baby’s mother, but she and her family had seemed to disappear as well. That was news to me. I wondered why the investigator hadn’t told us before now.

  That information settled into the back of my mind, though, as they introduced the interview with the victim’s family.

  The camera showed Trevor and Doris sitting together on the front porch. The interview went well, and it really tugged on the heartstrings. It was clear both Doris and Trevor were distraught. It was also clear that they loved the baby, and when Trevor said, “Every moment he’s without his family, the trauma increases. He needs to come home. Mom, Dad, please bring him home.” His tears streamed down his face as he spoke straight to the camera.

  When Doris chimed in, she asked that anyone who saw them or the baby, to please report it immediately to the police.

  The interviewer stood outside the house then, and before she spoke, the camera focused on me as I turned to follow the family into the house. I stood to the side more as moral support for Trevor than anything else.

  When the camera settled on the interviewer again, she said the parents disagreed with Trevor’s lifestyle, but no matter how much they might disapprove, the baby needed to be returned safe and sound.

  The intent was to make a plea to the family to do the right thing, but it had come across as both homophobic and mean spirited. I was livid not only that they’d said something that indicated it was somehow Trevor’s fault but also because they filmed me without my permission.

  If anything, that stunt helped his parents justify their actions.

  I was so angry I could’ve punched something, and both Doris and Mom looked at me.

  Neither said anything as I stood and walked to the front door.

  By the time I got outside, my phone was ringing. The caller ID clearly said, Edmond Franklin. I knew I shouldn’t answer, but dammit, at that moment, I couldn’t’ help it. I was so mad that someone would use this to push an agenda.

  When I answered, the ass didn’t even say hello. Instead, he said, “I warned you, Peter. Now you are on the evening news? I’ll have your desk cleared tomorrow, and you can come collect your things from the front receptionist.”

  He hung up before I could say anything, which made things worse. At least I could’ve had some closure by telling the bigot to go to hell.

  I sat on the front porch swing for a long time, digesting all that had happened. The main decision I came to was that no matter what, I didn’t want Trevor to see that footage. Not until his son was home… then we’d deal with the homophobia. Luka was, first and foremost, our priority.

  Trevor

  I woke up with a start. I’d forgotten to check on Luka, but when I turned to get out of bed and saw the empty crib, I almost died then and there. How could I have forgotten? Then I remembered Peter had cuddled me until I’d fallen asleep.

  I got up and ran my hand over the empty bed, willing that wherever he was, Luka was safe and happy.

  It was still the wee hours of the morning, so I went quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee.

  I was surprised to see Peter there, sitting at the counter looking at his laptop.

  “Why are you up so early?” I asked, startling him.

  He closed his laptop and peered at me through haggard eyes.

  “Damn, you look worse than I do.” I chuckled.

  Peter smiled back, but the expression didn’t make it to his eyes.

  I immediately got nervous. “What? Have they found Luka?” I asked, panic taking over.

  “No, no. I just had a run-in with my bigot of a boss. I’m trying to figure out what to do about it.”

  “A run-in, like how bad?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Well, about as bad as it gets, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh shit, he fired you?” I asked.

  Peter shrugged again.

  “Why? Was it because of this?”

  “It’s because I’m gay. It has nothing to do with you.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, sometimes it’s easy to forget we’re still in the South. What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “I’m fine. I have plenty of savings, and he’ll have to give me severance. I’ve already had my attorney go over the contract I signed when I went to work there. I’ll call them later and see what advice they give. Anyway, you have plenty to think about besides my crazy mixed up shit.”

  “It’s all the same shit. Your bigot boss, my bigot parents.” I sat down next to Peter and put my head on his shoulder. “Thanks for being here for me, Peter.”

  “Always,” he whispered as he kissed the top of my head. “Want some ice cream? I went out last night and got the good stuff. Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby!”

  I genuinely laughed for the first time since I’d lost Luka. “You really bought Chubby Hubby?”

  “Yep, my favorite!”

  “Then, by all means, scoop me up some. I was going to make coffee.”

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea too. I doubt I’ll be sleeping anytime soon, anyway. I’m too damned mad.”

  I kissed him on the cheek, not wanting to get my morning breath on him, then went to the coffee maker, set it up, and turned it on.

  I came back and snuggled back into his shoulder. “This is really uncomfortable. Let’s go to the living room and watch some TV or something. I could use the distraction, and from the look of you, you could too.”

  “You go ahead,” he replied. “I’ll just get us some ice cream.”

  I turned the TV on, and the news was playing. “Man found on the side of the road just outside Montgomery’s city limits by a cyclist. As yet, the name of the man hasn’t been identified…”

  Peter came in and walked over, took the remote, and said, “The last thing we need is other people’s bad news.”

  I nodded in agreement as he changed the channel. When he came across an old, I Love Lucy sitcom. He smiled. “You up for this?”

  I chuckled. “My grandpa actually owned all these DVDs. I know them all by heart.”

  Peter sat next to me, and we watched as Lucy and Ethel pulled some ridiculous plot out of their ass and began implementing it. The episode was the one where she ended up covered in grape juice from a vineyard.

  We’d finished the ice cream. Peter was about to get us both another cup of coffee when there was a knock at the door. He glanced at me then at his watch. “Who could it be at this hour?” he asked.

  I just shook my head. “No one I know.”

  Peter found his phone, dialed 911, and said, “Push send if I tell you to, okay?”

  I nodded.

  Peter went into the entry hall and yelled back, “Trevor, it’s the police!”

  I rushed around him and pulled the door open. “Luka, did you find Luka?” he asked.

  The cop just shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not, may we come in?”

  “Of course.” Trevor had a suspicious look on his face.

  When the two officers were in the main room, they said, “We need to know your whereabouts last night.”

  “I’ve only been here for the past week,” he said. “Why?”

  The officer turned toward me. “Can you verify that he’s telling the truth?” he asked me.

  “Yes, my mom and his Aunt Doris can as well.”

  The officer sighed. “If you
could get your aunt, I have news I need to share with your whole family. The investigator on your case is on his way as well.”

  My stomach roiled, and Peter said, “Want me to get her?”

  “No, I’ll do it. I need to let my stomach settle a bit anyway.”

  I woke Aunt Doris and brought her downstairs. By the time we were back in the room, the investigator had arrived and took over from the officers.

  “I’m afraid I have some bad news, but not about Luka,” he quickly reassured me. He looked at me for a moment. “I’m afraid we found your father’s body this morning in Alabama. He was found outside Montgomery.”

  The shock took a moment to register. “My dad is dead? Where’s my mother? Luka?”

  He shook his head. “We aren’t sure. We assume they’re nearby, but we aren’t sure where. At least not yet.”

  Peter stepped up. “The news said last night that Luka’s mother and her parents were also missing. Do you think this has to do with them?”

  The investigator sighed. “I’m sorry you heard it in that way. The reporter took some liberties with information she overheard from one of our other officers in my office. Honestly, she’s never done this kind of thing before, or we’d never have trusted her on this case.”

  Peter nodded, his face ashen.

  “So, Lisa is missing?” I asked.

  “Yes, we tried to reach her right after Luka’s disappearance, but the house was empty. We tried to reach them again, but no one ever came back. So we’ve had surveillance on their house.”

  “I’m confused, you think Lisa is involved in Luka’s kidnapping? Why? She’s avoided my phone calls since she gave Luka to me. I’ve tried texting or calling her at least once a week. Hell, I’ve even tried going to her house, but no one answered my knock even though I could tell they were home. If she wanted Luka, she could’ve come here anytime. This doesn’t make sense.”

  The investigator sighed. “We’re looking into it. The neighbors have told us they haven’t been home since before Luka disappeared. It’s possible they are involved somehow. It’s just too soon to tell.”

  “Do I need to identify my father?” I asked.