Chapter 7 - The Empty Bed.At six twelve in the morning, Maggie screamed Cole's name.
He had never heard her sound like that.
Cole ran upstairs.
Ben's crib was empty.
The blanket was gone.
The stuffed bear was gone.
The backpack was gone.
The bedroom window was locked.
The bathroom was empty.
The hallway was empty.
Cole's entire body went cold.
“Ben!”
No answer.
Maggie checked every room upstairs.
Cole ran downstairs.
“Ben!”
The front door was locked.
The alarm had not been triggered.
Cole opened the garage.
Nothing.
His thoughts became dangerous.
He imagined streets.
Cars.
Water.
Strangers.
Maggie came downstairs.
“His shoes are gone.”
Cole stared at her.
“What?”
“The little brown sneakers.”
Cole grabbed his keys.
Maggie caught his arm.
“Check the cameras.”
The security system.
Cole nearly cursed himself for forgetting.
He opened the app.
Front door.
No movement.
Back door.
No movement.
Garage.
No movement.
Maggie pointed.
“Basement.”
Cole looked at her.
The basement door did not have a camera.
They ran.
The door was slightly open.
Cole switched on the light.
“Ben?”
A small sound came from below.
They descended the stairs.
Cole found him behind a row of storage boxes.
He wore his backpack.
His blanket was around his shoulders.
His shoes were on the wrong feet.
Cole stopped ten feet away.
Relief hit so violently his knees weakened.
Maggie covered her mouth.
Cole crouched.
“Ben.”
The boy looked guilty.
“I didn't go outside.”
Cole breathed through the panic.
“I know.”
“I was gonna.”
Maggie closed her eyes.
Cole moved closer.
“Why?”
Ben stared at the floor.
“You're moving.”
Cole froze.
“What?”
“To Chicago.”
Maggie looked at him sharply.
Ben continued.
“I heard.”
Cole sat on the concrete floor.
“Buddy, come here.”
“No.”
“I'm not moving.”
“You said relocate.”
Cole glanced at Maggie.
She did not rescue him.
This was his conversation.
Cole spoke slowly.
“Someone asked me to move.”
Ben's face crumpled.
“You said yes?”
“No.”
“Are you gonna?”
Cole wanted to say no.
The company flashed through his mind.
Payroll.
Fifty-three people.
The bank.
Northstar.
But so did Natalie's letter.
A voice answering when they call.
“No.”
The answer came out before he could negotiate with himself.
Maggie's eyes widened.
Ben stared.
“No Chicago?”
“No Chicago.”
“You promise?”
Cole took a breath.
“Yes.”
Ben finally stepped toward him.
Cole pulled him close.
For several seconds, he simply held him.
Then Ben whispered.
“Can I still have the backpack?”
Cole almost laughed.
“Yes.”
“But it's not for leaving.”
“What for?”
Ben thought.
“Snacks.”
Cole smiled against his hair.
“That's a much better use.”
Later that morning, Cole called Evan.
Evan answered immediately.
“Tell me you've signed.”
“I haven't.”
Silence.
Cole continued.
“I won't relocate.”
Evan's response was immediate.
“Then Northstar walks.”
“Maybe.”
“There is no maybe.”
“Then find another structure.”
“You think I haven't tried?”
“Try again.”
Evan's voice rose.
“The bank review is Friday.”
“I know.”
“We could lose the company.”
“I know.”
“And you're refusing thirty-eight million dollars because you don't want to move?”
Cole looked through the kitchen window.
Ben and Maggie were drawing on the patio with chalk.
“No.”
Cole's voice was calm.
“I'm refusing to move because I don't want my son to believe I chose a company over him.”
Evan went silent.
Cole continued.
“I will sell.”
“I will restructure.”
“I will step down.”
“I will do whatever I have to.”
“But I'm not moving him.”
Evan laughed bitterly.
“That's very noble.”
“Don't.”
“Do you know what fifty-three employees are going to think?”
“I'll tell them myself.”
“You're making this emotional.”
Cole looked at Natalie's letter on the counter.
“Maybe I should've done that sooner.”
He hung up.
Maggie entered carrying chalk dust on her gloves.
“You told him?”
“Yes.”
“No Chicago?”
“No Chicago.”
She looked surprised.
Then cautious.
“What about the company?”
“I don't know.”
Maggie nodded.
For once, she did not challenge him.
Cole looked outside.
Ben had drawn three stick figures.
One was very large.
One had wild hair and what appeared to be yellow gloves.
One was small.
Above them was a square house.
Cole pointed.
“Who's that?”
Ben smiled.
“Us.”
Maggie looked at the drawing.
Her expression changed.
Cole noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Maggie.”
She looked away.
Cole suddenly understood.
“Why are you making that face?”
She removed one glove.
“There is something I haven't told you.”
Cole's stomach tightened.
“What?”
Maggie stared at the chalk family on the patio.
“I got offered another job.”
Cole blinked.
“Where?”
“Boston.”
May you like
Ben was close enough to hear.
His chalk stopped moving.
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