24. Missing

Chapter 24: Missing

Allen

By the time my work was done for the day and I was ready to go home, Mika still hadn't come back. I had a feeling he'd be waiting for me at home, so I wasn't worried. Besides, I think Sam enjoyed having the attention of all the ladies in the office once Melissa realized he was still here.

Packing up my stuff then grabbing Mika's backpack that he'd left, I walked out of my office in search of my son. I didn't have to go very far before I heard his little giggle coming from behind Melissa's desk.

She was typing away at the computer in front of her when I walked up. When I stopped in front of her desk, she looked at me.

"Heading home, Allen?" she asked, not unlike most days.

I gestured behind her. "I just need to gather my son first, then yes."

She looked at me with an innocent smile. "Oh? No, I think he's quite fine."

"Melissa..."

She sighed. "It's been so long since I've had a little one around, Allen. I can drop him off at your place on my way home."

I shook my head. "You had him all afternoon. He needs to go home." More like I needed to get home to check on Mika and I didn't need to worry about Sam too, although I wasn't about to tell her that. As far as she knew, Mika had something to do and left Sam with me because my parents had gone somewhere. That's all she needed to know.

Okay, maybe I was a bit more worried than I should be. Mika left my office four hours ago. And I hadn't heard from him once since then. What was even more worrisome was the fact that it started snowing about two hours ago, and it was getting quite dark out. I just really hope he had made it home safely.

Eventually, I got Melissa to give me back my son. Then, once I put his toy in Mika's bag and got him to wear his coat again, I finally left. Only to begin the tortuously slow drive home in the heavy snow storm and the almost stop-dead traffic as the result of it.

When I made it home, I practically ran inside, only to be met with an empty house. I didn't know where anyone was, at least until a text came through on my phone. I hurried glanced at it before sighing in defeat. Frankly, I didn't care that my parents were going to spend the night at a hotel because they decided to look at homes and didn't want to travel back here in this weather. I just needed to know if Mika was alright.

So I went to call him, after, of course, I put Sam in his crib for a nap. He decided just before I dialed the phone to start complaining, and I knew, after all the excitement of today, he was exhausted.

The phone only rang twice in my ear before I heard his phone ringing. Inside his backpack. Why, of all days, did he have to do this? I just wanted to know if he was safe, and now I had absolutely no way to know where he is and no way to contact him.

As the hours ticked by, I started to get the feeling that something was actually wrong. I wanted so badly to go out looking for him, but I knew that trying to drive in this storm, which has only gotten worse since I got home, would be way too dangerous. And it's not like I knew where to look. He could literally be anywhere in the entire city.

It's all my fault, too. I sprung that question on him. I questioned him when he wasn't prepared to talk about it. I should have known. I should have - I don't even know what I should have done. Maybe just not ask. At least not when I did.

But then he'd never know what I was actually talking about. He'd continue believing that I was ready to just rush into a marriage with him. Yes, I loved him and yes I wanted to marry him, just not now. Definitely not now. When we were both ready, I'd ask, but not until then.

Except I'd never forgive myself if I couldn't do that because something happened to him tonight. He needed to be okay. He just needed to be.

I tried distracting myself - feeding and bathing Sammy, then keeping him up way later than he should have been up just so I wouldn't be sitting in silence. Unfortunately, it didn't help. I couldn't stop worrying about Mika.

I wish I could go to the police. But, considering it's only been a few hours since I've seen him, he's not technically missing yet. Besides, I knew what they would say, even if the weather wasn't an issue tonight. He used to live on the streets of this city. He's survived snowstorms before, and much worse, I'm sure. He'd show up when the storm cleared. I hope.

*

My alarm brought me out of the fitful sleep I had been in. The first thing I did was turn over, wanting to curl up with Mika for a few more minutes before Sam woke. As soon as I was faced with an empty bed, I remembered everything from yesterday.

Mika wasn't here. He never made it home last night. Which means he's still out there somewhere. Unless he's on the couch....

I quickly jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to the living room, unable to keep the hope from rising in my chest with every step. It all came crashing down when the couches where empty. The house was empty. Mika really wasn't here.

I sat down dejectedly, staring out the window. It seemed like it had stopped snowing sometime during the night, leaving about two feet or so of snow on the ground. I could barely see the street outside my house, only the slight attempt of a snow plow made the road visible.

How was I going to find him? I had to go work, technically. No. I'm not going. I couldn't. Even if I found someone to watch Sam - because he definitely wasn't leaving the house while the roads were this bad - I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my work. All I would be able to think about would be Mika, not like he wasn't already the only thing on my mind.

Maybe he got stuck somewhere last night and he'll be back here now that the storm had stopped. Yeah. That was it. He'd walk in here, probably in about an hour or so, depending on where he ended up staying the night. And he'd be absolutely fine. Right?

That thought reassured me for the next few minutes while I went to check on Sam. He was still sleeping, so I took the opportunity to shower quickly, just in case Mika happened to come back soon enough for me to be able to get to work. That was unlikely, me actually going to work today, with or without Mika showing up now.

My phone rang minutes after I stepped out of the shower. I rushed to the bedroom, my towel loosely wrapped around my waist, anxiously hoping that it was Mika, who happened to get a hold of a phone to call me. I didn't even look at the number before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Allen good, I was hoping you hadn't left for work yet."

I couldn't help the sigh that escaped my lips at the sound of my mother's voice. I glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes until my normal leaving time and I hadn't even cleaned off my car yet, nor have I heard anything from Mika. "I don't think I'm going in today," I answered. "You know, the snow..."

"Oh, the roads seem fine over here!" She gasped lightly. "You just want a day home with Mika, don't you? Last night wasn't enough for you boys?"

"Ma..."

"Don't say anything, Allen. Your father and I have a busy day ahead of us anyway. I think we actually found a house for us to move into, but of course we have more to look at today."

I stopped listening. I couldn't listen to her talk endlessly about houses today. I had way too many other things going on in my head.

"Ma," I said, possibly cutting her off. "I gotta go. Sammy just woke up." So maybe I lied about that, but I'm sure he'd wake up any minute now.

"Well can't Mika grab him? I just want to-"

"No, Ma. Sorry. I have to go. Tell me later."

She sighed. "Alright. But ask Mika if he could make that meatloaf he made last week again for dinner tonight! I'd love to have that again!"

I shook my head. "I don't know what Mika has going on right now. We'll see." It wasn't a complete lie. I didn't know what he was doing or where he was. Supposedly he was making his way here, but I honestly wouldn't know if he was lying somewhere, dead.

I shuddered at the thought, barely hearing the goodbye my mother said. He couldn't be dead. He can't be. He's fine. He's absolutely fine.

He better be, because I wouldn't know what to do if he wasn't okay.