A Hopeful Kind of Love (Kinds of Love 1.5)

“Okay. Let's go look there,” Ethan said. He held open the barn door for her. She was keeping a brave face, but her hands were shaking as she passed. He wanted to help. He doubted he'd ever win her over like he did at the museum again, but he could try. If nothing else, it would make this year's Christmas party less awkward if they both showed up.

Outside the storm was moving in fast. The wind had somehow dropped another ten degrees and the sky was dark with snow clouds. It wouldn't be long before the snow started to fall. He hoped they had found the boys by then. The boys wouldn't last long out in the elements with this storm.

“This is Emma and Mia,” the walkie-talkie crackled. “Everyone check in please. Over.”

Laura stopped walking, coming in close to him in order to hear the radio. He held it up so they could both hear.

“Group one checking in.” Carter's voice came across the radio loud and clear. “Jack and I are at the pool. There's no sign of them here. We're checking the changing rooms. Over.”

Laura

swallowed hard.

“Group two checking in.” This time it was Jack's head of security, Dean's voice. “Brian and I checked the cars. They're not here. Over.”

Laura wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the sky. She blinked hard.

“Group three checking in. Ella and I are out checking the field behind the barn. No luck yet. Over.”

Laura let out a little whimper and turned away from the walkie talkie. Ethan cleared his throat and pressed the button.

“Group four here,” he said. “We checked the hayloft. No kids up there. Over.”

The only sound was the wind for a moment. Ethan wished he had something better to offer.

“Dean, Rachel's looking at the security footage and it looks like they were chasing the dog. She's checking the other feeds now, but we don't see them yet,” Emma said over the radio. “Ethan, you and Laura check the counselor house.”

“Heading in that direction. Over,” Ethan replied. He clipped the walkie back to his belt.

“You're supposed to say 'Roger' or 'will do' on the radio,” Laura informed him.

“Thanks,” Ethan replied, trying to keep the snark out of his voice. He knew she was stressed and just taking it out on the nearest person. “And it's not 'will do', it's 'Wilco', as in 'will comply'.”

“Whatever.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “Let's get going.”

“It's a good thing we were headed in that direction,” Ethan said, giving her a smile.

She just rolled her eyes and huffed off, stomping across the dirt.

Ethan took a deep breath in and let it out before following her. She was walking fast, either because of the cold or to get away from him, he wasn't sure. Probably both. He let her have some space. She was obviously struggling with not finding her brother right away. He knew that his presence wasn't helping with her state of mind.

The counselor house was a cute little building built off to the side of the regular house. It was off enough that the people inside would have a little privacy for themselves yet be close enough to where the kids were to keep an eye on them. They checked both doors and found them locked.

“I don't think they're in here,” Ethan said, peeking into the windows. The drapes hadn't been installed yet, so they could see into the empty building easily. There wasn't any furniture yet, and all the windows were shut.

Laura slammed her hand into the side of the house. It looked like it hurt she hit it so hard, but she didn't make a sound. She just looked up to the sky and took a shaky breath in.

A single snowflake floated down and landed on her cheek.

That was when she started to cry.

Chapter 8

Laura

Laura knew that the drone of the airplane engine ringing in her ears wasn't real. She knew it was just her own mind reminding her of what terrible things could happen. She'd started hearing that horrible engine anytime she was too quiet. It was the sound of loss.

She had to find Dallas. She needed her brother to be okay and safe. She was supposed to watch out for him. She was supposed to keep him safe. Mom and Dad had asked her to. They asked her before they left. They put it in their wills that she would watch over Dallas and Ivy if anything happened to them.