Missing Henry

She stood there, staring into that empty room. Empty of life and laughter. Empty of joy and filled with quiet. She hated that room but couldn't bring herself to leave. All his stuff was still there,The little bed in the shape of a boat, the messy bubble guppy bedding. The pillows that always seem to wind up on the floor when he slept, His lonely stuffed lion he named duck, that like her, was waiting for they're little boy to come back home, His toys were still strewn all over the floor. His pirate telescope laying on the windowsill. She didn't dare close the window, couldn't touch a thing. Hoping and praying to the God that he'd come back.

Pray that he'd come back through the window he was taken from. Pick up duck and begin a new pirate adventure and she'd hug him tighter than he'd ever been hugged before, play forever and a day and never let him go. Never. She stood there, not wanting to cry again, not wanting to scream. But she couldn't stop herself. Couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Frozen in anguish. He was gone. And yet, she was still here. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. But like her mother said, nothing in this life was fair. 

She said it the day her little boy disappeared, Pretty heartless. They haven't spoken since, 

The woman can hear someone call her name but she doesn't answer, can't answer. It's too much. So she just stares into that empty room as her cries die down to sobs. She feels arms go around her but doesn't move. She can hear her sisters voice begging her to come back. But she can't. They've done this everyday for the past six months. Over and over, The woman standing and waiting and hating and grieving and her sister pulling her back from the edge, This is life now and life is unfair.

Never changing until today, 

Today someone rings the doorbell, At first it doesn't register because no one rings the doorbell, The drive leads to the backdoor and people usually just walk in, That's how small towns work. Both women freeze, It's so out of the norm that neither women move. Then they hear it again,

"I'm going to answer the door," Odessa says to her stunned sister, Not much has brought her away from her little boys room, especially not as close to the front of the house, Alyssa chases after her. They both race to door hoping beyond hope for good news and not ready to brace themselves for bad,

''Hello? Is anyone there?" comes a male voice,

"Is that Danny?" Alyssa whispers,

''How would I know? I'm not the one he bedded in high school"

"Glad to know you can express yourself with words instead of growls sis"

"'Just open the damn,,,"

"Umm, Is someone there? I can hear you talking."

Both women roll their eyes as Alyssa opens the door.

"Ok, soo not Danny." Odessa says. "Who are you and what do you want!" 

" Whoa. I'm sorry to bother you. My name's Derrick. Your mother Alice overheard me checking in at the bed and breakfast she works at. I was asking about any rooms for rent she mentioned you had a couple. She said you were down on your luck and so am I."

"She was wrong." Odessa spit,

"How down are you?" Alyssa asked,

"I'm recently divorced. She got the house and the dog but I can see your mother was wrong. We'll go back to the bed and breakfast. It was sorta nice meeting the two of you and I'm very sorry about just showing up like this." Odessa slams the door as he walks back to his truck. 

"What the fuck was that?" Alyssa exclaims.

"Our mother, what else. She never cared about anything but herself. I don't give a damn what she's up to but I'm not letting a stranger just move in on her say so."

"I wonder what he meant by 'us'?" Alyssa wondered. After all, he claimed he was divorced and dog-less.

"Now that your finally using your big words, lets get a bite to eat and something hard to drink sis."

"Yes to the hard drink and no to the food. I'm not hungry right now."

Another ringing sound interrupts Alyssa's reply. It's the phone this time. They both look at each other knowing who's calling. Neither answer it. They would of let it go to the answering machine but Odessa disconnects it as she walks by. She has had enough with her mother and her issues, her sister just laughs and heads to the kitchen.

Odessa stands in the hall, One way leads to upstairs and her little boys room, the other to the outside. With a heavy sigh she opens the back door and steps out into the twilight. Her sister finds her sitting in old rocker and hands her a small bottle of Captain Morgan. 

"I figured you could use a bottle of captain a lot more than a bottle of bud." Her sister nods her thanks. They sit and drink in silence while day turns into night. Odessa starts to feel guilty that she's allowing herself some solace because Henry's still missing but she doesn't get up, she just drinks some more. She feels bad about Derrick too. It wasn't his fault that her mother was a piece of work. Maybe she should've just let him stay until he could find a place for himself and whoever else he was talking about. Of course they'd have to share a room because no one can ever go in "there". Never. Then again, it wasn't her fault that he had a bitch for an ex wife. She really felt for him there, having a bastard for an ex herself. She felt that she shouldn't have to put her self out just please others. Her faith in all that was good had abandoned her six months ago, And if this were a test, she'd gladly take the f because she didn't believe in good anymore, only sadness and pain.

"What are you thinking about Dessy?"

"Henry gone. Derrick showing up out of nowhere. And mother's schems. And this whole absurd situation." 

"Absurd? No, Difficult? Yes, we grew up to be helping hands, love thy neighbor and all that, But today we didn't do that, I know how hard everything is for you right now with Henry gone and how difficult it is to even step foot outside the house when not looking for him, I'm proud of you for it by the way and not only because your drunk."

"Gee thanks Lissy"

"I'm trying to say that whatever you decide, I'll back you up, Even if I have to stare down God himself."

"And mother?"

"Even her."

Sighs "Call down at the bed and breakfast and tell Derrick him and whoever can share the guest room and when they get here, please tell them what rooms not to go in."

"Fine but you owe me."

"I'll buy you a condom."

"Smartass"' She throws a chair pillow at her sister and goes back inside. She smiles to herself and thanks the heavens that she got a glimpse of the sister she used to have and hopes she comes back to her one day.

That night, after stumbling inside, Odessa has a dream of her baby boy finally coming home. It feels so real, so good that she doesn't ever want to wake up. He smells like his watermelon body wash and his curly brown hair tickles her chin as she holds him. He's in his little lion footie jammies and has duck tucked in between them. Tears stream down her face as she rocks him.

"Momma? Momma why you cwyin?"

"Because I miss you so much baby"

" I not a baby, I a big boy!"

"You'll always be my baby, I love you so much!"

"I wuv you too momma"

The dreams ends all too soon. She doesn't open her eyes. She can still smell him and feel his hair. It's as if her little boy, her baby was still here with her. She starts to cry. Her sister sits with her on the little boys bed and holds her. She opens her eyes and sees where she is and who she's holding. 

"Oh duck, how'd we end up here?" The stuffed lion seems to look as confused as she is. She holds him tighter.

"That's gotta be Derrick. "' Alyssa says as the doorbell rings. "I'll answer it while you clean yourself up a bit." Her sister nods as she hugs the lion tighter, now realizing why she was smelling her son. Duck was cuddled with every night by his little boy. She stands up trying to fight back the pain. With Duck's help, she manages, but barely. Suddenly she hears her sister scream her name and runs down the stairs to see what in the hell was going on. She sees Derrick then looks down and sees him.

She. Sees. Him. 

Henry. 

Her baby, her little boy. 

She sees him!

"MOMMA!"

He runs into her arms and she holds him and hugs him tighter than he's ever been hugged before. She picks him up and vows to never let him go. Never. NEVER LET HIM GO! And she cries again, but this time she it's not despair, it's relief. Not sadness but joy,

"Momma?"

"Yes baby?"

"Why you cwying?"

"Because I missed you so much and love you with all my heart and I am never ever letting you go!"

"I wuv you too momma"

Odessa looks at Derrick who's smiling and holding back his own tears. "Not that I'm not over the moon right now but what the hell?" Henry laughs and teases his momma for 'cussin', 

" I wanted to tell you yesterday but he was with your mother." He hold up his hands knowing when about to be yelled at. " Let me explain, please,"

"Go on"

"I'm a private investigator and your mother hired me to track down your ex and bring little Henry back to you. She felt really disgusted with herself after saying what she said. Yes, she told me. She knew you wouldn't talk to her ever again and I really don't blame you."

"Soo why,,,,"

"Neither of us knew exactly how you were doing and I was stupid for letting her talk me into not bringing him with me and I kinda thought you'd try to kill me for telling you without proof. I wanted to talk to you last night when your sister called me but she sounded drunk and said that you were worse off. I brought him here after he woke up and don't be too mad at your mother, I called her after I left yesterday and she tried calling you but couldn't get through. I'm really sorry about the whole situation."

"' Don't be sorry, you brought my baby back to me." Odessa gave Derrick a huge hug while still holding her son.

"Your skishin me!" Henry laughed, They let go and everyone laughed.

"I still have questions." Odessa said,

"What happened to Ale,,,"

"'Don't say his name!''

''Ok then, He won't be bothering you again. He's downstairs if you know what I mean. I was following a lead in New York''

"New York City?!"

"No, Jamestown. He was last seen driving a beat up old chevy pick up and heading toward a kfc. Both of them were there and I let the local police know that there was a wanted felon with a kidnapped child eating fried chicken. He saw them pull up and ran off without Henry. I sat with Henry until they came back, The chase didn't end well, I got permission to bring him back home and here we are."

"I must be in shock, my mother hired you and the cops let a stranger bring my Henry home?' 

"Yes and yes. Your mother backed me up when I told them I was hired to bring him home safely."

Odessa couldn't believe it, Henry was back and her mother made sure of it. She'd definitely be keeping HER momma in they're lives now. And she'd never have to worry about her ex again. She looked up, still teary eyed and said thank you over and over again. This time hoping and praying that whoever was up there could here how grateful and happy she was.

"There's just one more thing." Derrick said, "I wasn't lying about my needing a place to stay for a bit. The sisters laughed and told him he could stay forever if he wanted.

And that's exactly what he did.