Micky opened the window behind the bandstand. The soothing ocean air brought a refreshing smile to his face. He turned to Peter who was frantically looking for the pail and shovel May left behind the last time she was at the pad.
"I'm sorry" Peter said to her sympathetically. "I can't find it". May looked down. Her dejected expression tugged at Peter's heart.
"Guys, lets stop at the toy store and pick up another one (pail and shovel set) he asked. May, instantly recognizing the words "toy store" nodded in agreement.
"Pete, can't you find something else for her to play with?" Mike asked.
"No, she wants her pail and shovel" Peter said adamantly.
Davy, who just happened to glance under the table, found it. "Here it is guys" he said as he held it up in his hand.
"How did that get there?" Micky asked.
"How does anything get anywhere with a two year old" Mike asked smiling. May hugged Davy and began the happy march to the beach while Mike packed up Kevin and his things. Off to the beach they went.
~~~~~~~
On Highway 71, both drivers and passengers cheered as the road finally opened.
"It's about time. I was just about out of cigarettes." Liu said to Kait as he started the car. He took the first exit off the highway and stopped at the nearest grocery store to pick up some much needed snacks.
"Call the guys and tell them we're on our way" he instructed Kait who needed no direction as she already planned to call.
Kait dialed the pad, but there was no answer. Thinking she dialed the wrong number, she re-dialed this time letting the phone ring about a dozen times. Still, there was no answer.
"Liu-I called the guys and no one picked up the phone" she told said nervously.
"Well, maybe they took the children to the park" he replied.
"Without telling us?" she asked.
"They could have called the hotel, we didn't tell them we were leaving a day early. Besides, we spent the last few hours stuck in traffic" he said rationally.
"I think something happened" Kait said, trying to keep her composure.
"No, everything is fine" Liu said swallowing hard.
"How do you know?" Kait asked defensively".
"Everything is FINE" he said angrily.
They got into the car and drove off. "We never should have left them; I know I should have stayed home. We didn't have to go to this damn convention!" Kait yelled.
"OK-ENOUGH!!" Liu scolded.
"I know I shouldn't do this..." Liu said as he looked at the car's dashboard. "Hold on" he warned her.
Without warning, he switched on the police lights and siren as he raced up the highway.
"What are you doing?" Kait asked shocked.
"I'm going to find out what happened to our children" he said as he quickly maneuvered through traffic heading for the pad.
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
More stories by Li
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