We sip our drinks and wait for our food. “I'm so glad you convinced us to extend our trip, Ben. Those extra weeks really made all of the difference,” my sister says happily.
I smile politely, finding it really hard to concentrate on the evening. I'm worried about Katie. I'm sure she is fine; I mean, Isabel is her mother after all. I just can't shake this feeling that I have that something is not right.
“Next time you and Katie should go on a cruise with us. It could be a lot of fun,” my mother says.
I just nod my head. I know I'm acting rude, but I don't think they notice it. If they do, they are hiding it really well. They are probably used to me acting this way, especially since today has turned out to be a very unusual day for everyone. I'm sure that they don't mind that I'm not giving them my full attention.
She sips her drink. “Yes! We should start planning that right away. There are always lots of kid-friendly activities on board the ships,” my sister continues.
My phone rings. I look down at the number, and my heart pounds in my chest. “Excuse me, I have to take this,” I say, getting up and walking away from the table. My mother and sister don't pay any attention. They assume it's a business call as usual.
“Hello, Cece! I've been trying to reach you,” I say when I answer the phone. I'm relieved to hear her voice. This might be my only chance to straighten things out with her. I have to take advantage of this before it gets complicated all over again. I know I'm going to regret it if I don't.
“We have no time for that now. I'm at your house. You need to come home right now,” she says and hangs up.
From the urgency in her tone, I assume it is something terrible. I go back to the table. “We have to leave now,” I tell my mother and sister.
“Why? Did something happen? Is it Katie?” My mother asks with worry.
“I don't know, let's just go,” I say.
They grab their purses and head out the door. I quickly pay for our meal then follow them. In the car, I speed down the streets. I knew something didn't feel right about tonight and Cece's call confirmed it. I hope Katie is ok. That's my only thought. I could care less about Isabel, but she better not have let anything happen to Katie. I need to get ahold of Cece later and thank her for her concern, now that she seems to be speaking to me again.
We pull up in the driveway, and there is a car I don't recognize there. I run up to the door unlocking it. My mother and sister follow me.
“Isabel? Katie? Cece?” I call out, walking through the house. It's silent. I make my way upstairs and to my bedroom. I'm foolishly hoping to find Cece in there. I open the door and am shocked. Isabel is naked, sitting atop her tennis instructor in my bed. “What the hell is going on here?” I demand. Isabel jumps off and pulls the covers up over her breasts.
“Ben! It's not what it looks like,” she tries to lie.
“Isabel, get the hell out of my house. And don't ever come back,” I yell.
“Hey guy, you can't threaten us like that. I'll sue you,” her lover replies.
“Shut the hell up and get out of my house before I toss you out on your ass,” I yell at him.
Grumbling, he gets out of bed and pulls on his clothes.
“Ben, don't do this. Think of Katie,” Isabel tries to plead.
“Think of Katie?” I ask in disbelief. “Were you thinking of her when you were fucking around behind my back? You're her mother for crying out loud!” I roar in anger.
“Well, if that's the way you feel about it!” Isabel snaps. She gets dressed and leaves with her boyfriend, slamming the front door behind her.
I sit on the edge of the bed and put my face in my hands. I can't believe I was dumb enough to fall for this again. I really hope that this is the last time I see her. Pulling out my phone, I get ready to call Cece and thank her when my mother runs into the room. She looks sick.
“What's wrong?” I ask.
“Katie is gone,” she says. Her voice trembling.
I almost drop my phone. “What?”
“Katie is gone. She's not anywhere in the house or the backyard,” my mother explains.
I run out of the room and down the hall. I look into Katie's room because I need to see for myself. My mother and sister follow me. It’s empty.
We all go outside, looking up and down the street. “Katie!” I yell out to no avail. I'm so angry I could murder Isabel.