Ties That Bind
8. What Comes NextBeth went to the school at 3:15 on the dot to pick up Jacob, Jenifer and Andrew. She walked into the office and only saw Jenifer and Andrew sitting on the office bench waiting for her.
“Jenifer, where’s Jacob?” Beth asked, her breath unhitched. Jenifer never got a chance to answer as the secretary spoke up.
“Oh, no worries Ms. Baldwin. His Father came and got him earlier today. Can you-” the secretary began to say as Beth screamed.
“WHAT!”
“His Father, Zac. He came and got him this morning. He said Jake had a doctors appointment that you forgot about, so he picked him up and took him to meet you at the doctors.” the secretary informed Beth of the earlier events of that day.
“They don’t have a Father! He’s dead to me! Seriously, how could you release my son to him! He’s not even on the release forms!” Beth shouted in anger.
“He had the proper identification and proved he was in fact their Father and he was not on the ‘Do Not Release’ list.”
“Unbelievable!” Beth growled, rubbing her forehead with two fingers. “I should have you fired.”
“But I was only following school policy.” the secretary replied fearfully, hoping Beth‘s threats were empty ones.
“And is it school policy to release a child to an ex convict?” Beth spat bitterly.
“Ex con?” the secretary repeated, clearly in shock.
“Yeah, he was just released from prison three days ago! And now he has my son. How am I going to get him back?” Beth said, beginning to panic.
“I wouldn’t worry about that.” the secretary said in thought.
Beth turned quickly, giving the secretary an incredulous look.
“Are you serious right now? My son is missing and you tell me not to worry? You‘re a nutcase!” Beth shouted.
“I only meant that he is coming back with your son. He said the two of you were getting married.” the secretary smiled.
“Do I really look like I would marry an ex con? Never mind, don’t answer that! I have to find my son and the sperm donor!” Beth huffed as she grabbed Jenifer and Andrew’s hands and walked swiftly out the door.
On the way home all Beth could think about is where her son was and where Zac could possibly take him in this town.
Cameron was already home by the time Beth got there with the kids.
“Hey guys!“ Cameron greeted cheerily, but frowned when she saw Beth’s frazzled features and noticed she was one kid less.
“Where’s Jake?” she asked dully.
“Oh, I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count!” Beth retorted sarcastically.
“Don’t tell me that Zac took him?” Cameron uttered in shock.
“I don’t know why I listened to you. I should have ran from him when I had the chance. Now I have to call the police and hope they can help me find them before Zac does God knows what and disappears forever with Jake.”
Cameron knew her friend was upset and had to calm her down the best she could. Worrying would not help in this situation. Cameron also knew she had to keep Beth calm for the Jenifer’s sake, let alone her own sanity.
“Listen, I know your upset and scared, but Zac wouldn’t hurt his son, he cares too much about his kids - I saw it in is eyes the other day. He probably got scared when you said he couldn’t see his kids and took Jake for awhile. I promise we’ll get him back.”
“If the sperm donor really cared for his kids so much then why did he only take Jake and left Jenny behind?”
“I honestly don’t know. Let’s hold off on calling the police and let me call Taylor first and see what he knows.” Cameron offered as she picked up her cell and dialed Taylor’s number.
Meanwhile, Jenifer and Andrew were sitting quietly on the couch. Out of nowhere Jenifer turned to her Mother and asked.
“Mommy, where’s Jake?”
“He’s gone for a little while. He’ll be back later.” Beth answered trying her best to remain calm in front of Jenifer and Andrew.
“Is he with the sperm donor?” Jenifer questioned out of nowhere.
Beth and Cameron turned and gasped. Rather shocked at Jenifer’s question, but before they could answer she followed it up with another question.
“Wait, what is a sperm donor anyways?”
Beth walked over and knelt in front of Jenifer as she explained.
“It’s a man who helps make babies.”
“Is he the angel from heaven who gave me and Jake to you?”
“Yeah.” Beth sighed.
“Why did the angel only want to take Jake and he didn’t take me too?”
“I am not sure, sweetie.”
“Doesn’t he care about me?” Jenifer frowned.
“Of course, sweetie. I love you so much. Jake will be coming home soon, I promise.” Beth pulled her daughter into a hug, kissed her cheek. Before joining Cameron at the kitchen table again.
Cameron hung up her phone and let out a sigh of frustration.
“Any luck getting a hold of Taylor?” Beth asked, taking a seat.
“No, I have no idea why he’s not picking up his phone.” Cameron answered irritably.
“Do you think he’s with Zac?”
“No, I doubt it. It would be more feasible if Taylor had also taken Andrew from school but he didn’t so I think Zac just took Jake for awhile to spend some time with him. I bet he’ll bring him back here later tonight. Let me try Taylor again.” Cameron picked her phone up and hit redial.
“Ugh, hello?” came a groggy voice.
“Taylor, Jesus where have you been? I have been calling you for a while now. Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Cameron attacked Taylor with a line of questions.
“Cam, what’s going on? Is Andrew alright?” Taylor asked beginning to regain his bearings.
“Andy’s fine. Is Zac with you?” Cameron asked.
“No, he’s not here. Why?” Taylor yawned obviously still quite drowsy.
“Well, your brother took Jake from school this morning-” Cameron began as Taylor cut her off.
Taylor groaned. “Great.”
“What?” Cameron asked rather confused by Taylor’s statement.
“I should have figured he would do this.”
“What do you mean, Taylor?” Cameron pressed.
“He’s a changed man Cam, he’s not the same person you and I knew five years ago. Prison’s done a real number on him. Then with Beth rejecting him and telling him he couldn’t see his kids again. It pushed him over the edge and he resorted to this.”
“We have to find them!” Cameron urged.
“Cam, please let me help?” Taylor asked. “If anyone can talk Zac back home, it would be me.”
“Alright.” Cameron sighed, knowing Taylor was right.
“Can I come over?” Taylor asked.
“When can you be here?” Cameron replied glancing to the clock on the wall.
“Five minutes. See you then.” Taylor said before he hung up.
Cameron sighed again before ending the call and setting her cell phone back down on the table.
“So, what did he say?” Beth immediately inquired.
“He’s coming over to help us find Zac and Jake. I promise that we’ll get Jake back.” Cameron reassured her friend.
*
Almost twenty minutes later, Taylor finally arrived at the house. After Beth let him in, he sat down in the living room.
“What took you so long you said you’d be here in five minutes.” Cameron chastised.
“I would have been here in five minutes but it turns out Zac took my car. I had to call a cab.”
“That’s fucking great!” Beth spat. She was steamed. Zac had already upset her in so many ways, why not add another reason to the pile. “Now he’s got a way to get Jake out of town, they could be anywhere by now.”
“I’ve been trying to call Zac, since I got off the phone with Cameron and he hasn’t answered. Beth, I think you should call and leave him a voicemail. Maybe he will talk to you.”
“I’d rather call the cops and let them handle this.” Beth retorted folding her arms in front of her.
“Beth, I know your upset and you hate my brother right now. But he just got out of prison and I’d prefer we try to handle this without involving the police. If we involve them, then he goes right back to jail for violating his parole.” Taylor explained.
“Good, that’s where he belongs!” Beth replied angrily.
“I think if we can talk him back here with Jake. We can settle this peacefully and I will get him back to California and we won’t bother you again.”
“And what if your idea doesn’t work and he’s already crossed state lines with him?” Beth asked.
“Well, he only took Jake, he left your daughter here. So, that leads me to believe that he’s just scared of never seeing Jake again and he took him on an impulse decision. This whole thing seems to revolve around the two of you being a family. If we used that to our advantage we can get Zac to bring Jake back to you.”
“What if he doesn’t fall for the trap and hurts Jake in retaliation?” Beth questioned, giving Taylor a hard look.
“He wouldn’t hurt his son. He loves him too much to even think of doing that.” Taylor reasoned.
“And how do you know?” Beth retorted, skeptically.
“He told me last night when he was drunk and crying into his beer. So I assure you that Jake will be safe with Zac, until we can get him back.” Taylor answered with fact.
“Taylor’s right.” Cameron affirmed looking from Taylor to Beth.
“Here Beth, use my phone and call Zac. Leave him a voicemail and lets see if he calls back.” Taylor suggested leaning forward, his cell phone in hand.
Beth took the phone from Taylor, her hands began to shake as she pressed the green button twice to redial Zac’s cell phone number. When he didn’t pick up, Beth left him a message.
“Zac, it- it’s Beth. We have to talk. Please call me back.” with that Beth ended the call and held tightly to Taylor’s cell phone.
“Now, its just a waiting game to see if he calls back.” Taylor said as he leaned back on the couch.
Two minutes later Taylor’s cell phone rang. Beth looked down at the screen and read ‘Zac’s Cell’ she quickly answered it.
“Hello?”
“Beth?” Zac said unsure.
“Zac, where are you and Jacob?”
“We’re out spending some time together, since you want to take him away from me! I can’t believe you want to take my kids from me.”
“Just bring him home and we can work this out. Please.” Beth pleaded trying to remain calm. Zac on the other hand was irate and upset.
“There’s nothing to work out! I know you don’t want to be a family with me. If I can’t have you and my kids then I’ll just take Jake and go into hiding. He’s better off with me than he was with you anyways!”
“Zac, please!”
“No! I love my son so much and no one is keeping him from me - ever! Thanks to you, I have already missed out on five years of his life and I refuse to miss out on another five years or more because of your God damn games!” and with that Zac hung up.
Beth slowly lowered the phone from her ear.
“Well, what did he say?” Taylor asked as he and Cameron looked at Beth expectantly.
“I don’t think he’s bringing Jacob back. He said he was going into hiding with him.” Beth began shaking in fear. “This has gone too far, we need to involve the police. If we don‘t he could go deep underground with him and I will never see him again and I don‘t think I could deal with never seeing my son again. I did what you two asked and it didn‘t work. Now it‘s time to put my suggestion into action.” Beth informed Taylor and Cameron before picking up Taylor’s cell phone and calling the authorities.