Three days had passed.
Still no word from Nick.
Isabel went through the motions of her day. She woke up, took a shower, got dressed, got Tyler up, fed him, bathed him, dressed him. So on and so on and so on. She tried Nick's hotel room and cell phone twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon and endless times in the evening. She never got an answer to either.
Her booktour was now over and she was in California staying with Nick's mom, Jane, and his brother Aaron who had just gotten off his sold out U.S. tour.
Isabel was standing in the living room staring out the window while Tyler crawled around on the floor, giggling and trying to go after the Carter family pets. Jane watched his oldest son's wife and sighed, no one could figure out where Nick had gone off too. He had already missed one show and two press conferences in Brazil. "You know...he was supposed to meet me in California today.," Isabel said suddenly.
"Really?"
"Yeah..he said he couldn't wait to see Tyler. That's because Tyler's gotten so big and is crawling around everywhere now..I guess."
"You and Tyler are his world Isabel."
"But where did he go? I mean, why hasn't he called any of the guys, or me, or you, or Aaron?"
Jane walked over to where she was standing, "I don't know honey, I wish I did. This is killing just now knowing where he's at...I know it must be really hard for you."
Isabel nodded, "It is..I just..I just wish I could ahold of him. He said he'd call at 7 that night, and he never did. I tried to call him over and over and over and still no answer."
"How long were you on the phone last night?"
"An hour and a half."
"Oh Isabel..."
"I know that's really pathetic, huh?"
Jane smiled faintly, "No, I'd do the same thing."
"You would?"
"Yep..now, are you hungry?"
"Kinda..," Isabel admitted.
Jane put an arm around her, "Well come in here and we'll fix us some lunch."
Isabel held Tyler at her hip as she walked with Aaron down the beach. "You know, I really have no clue why Nick did this.," Aaron stated as he stared out at the endless ocean.
"I don't either Aaron."
"Does he really not care about how worried his family or his friends are?"
"Aaron..."
Aaron's head dropped, "I know that was mean..."
"No..it wasn't.."
"I just said it without thinking..."
"It's ok AC..."
"I hope he turns up soon or he's gonna miss out on seeing this little guy grow up every day..," Aaron said pulling on Tyler's foot playfully.
Tyler laughed and reached for Aaron's hand. Isabel smiled and brushed his hair back, "I hope he turns up soon too..."
Aaron held out his arms and Tyler immediately lunged for him. Isabel let him go, "I just can't believe he's gone without a trace...nobody knows where he is..nobody's heard from him except for the two messages he left on AJ's machine and Kevin's cell phone.."
"Do you have those anywhere?," Aaron asked as they made their way back up to the house.
"AJ's is saved on my laptop...I haven't heard Kev's yet.."
"Will you let me listen to AJ's?"
"Yeah sure..let me put Tyler down and I'll show you it."
As Isabel booted up her computer, she was acutely aware of the storm that seemed to be moving in right over the house. She loaded the program and plugged in the speaker to the laptop.
Her and Aaron both jumped back from the machine as it popped and sparks flew around them. "Holy shit! What happened?"
"I don't know.."
"Are you okay?," He asked turning to look at her.
She nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine..are you okay?"
"Yeah..I'm alright.."
Both their heads turned as Tyler's cry came from the next room. Isabel sighed, "We can try later...although I think my computer is fried.."
"Do you have it on a disk?"
"Yeah..somewhere..I'll find it.."
He nodded, "Ok."
"So is he really fine?," She asked.
"Yes, he's doing well."
"And no one suspects anything?"
"His hair is dyed, no one knows a thing and they won't."
She smiled faintly, "Good. I want to keep it that way."
"No problem."
"Does she suspect anything?," He asked finally.
"No. She just wants to know where he is..she's so worried about him."
"She should be."
"She pretends to be. Her and that bastard son of hers."
"How do you know that kid isn't his?"
"I do.," She said sternly.
"Okay, okay. Look, my shift is starting in about half an hour and I gotta get back. When should I call again?"
"Don't call here. I'll contact you."
"Alright. Bye."
"Bye.," She replied hanging up the phone.
Later that evening, Aaron and Isabel met up in the basement of the house, where the other computer was. She produced the disk and he loaded it successfully. They both looked up as thunder crashed overhed. "That storm sounds bad.," He said.
She nodded, "Yeah..I hate storms."
"I'm the same way, so is Nick. None of the girls are."
Isabel smiled, "The guys are scarredy-cats?"
Aaron laughed, "You know it."
The disk loaded and Aaron's smile dropped, "I hope this works."
"Me too.."
Soon, the room was filled with Nick's voice; it was crackly and quiet, but it was him none the less.
"AJ, it's Nick. I know I said I'd call earlier in the week but things down here have been so hectic. You remember how Brazil was with five of us, think about it with just me. No, I'm joking. Anyways, look, I was just wanting to tell you that I love you man, I really do. You've been there for me through thick and thin. And you've been the one that supported me and Isabel through everything..even when everyone else didn't at times. Will you just make sure to watch out for her and Tyler when I can't be there? She's such a wonderful person and mother...I want Tyler to have the best...and I'm not so sure anymore that's me. Just...just..take care of them. They mean the world to me. I...I have to go now...just..watch out for them..please...thanks man..Bye.,"
Aaron sighed, "Wow.."
"That's what I said..."
"He sounds weird Isabel."
"I know.."
"In the morning, mind if I take this to a friend of mine?"
She shook her head, "No, not at all."
He nodded, "Cool...me and you are going to get to the bottom of this...I'm going to find out what happened to my brother and your husband if it's the last thing I do."
Isabel was in her room with her repaired laptop, listening to Nick's voice over and over. He had sent her a video e-mail and it was practically the only thing keeping her sane.
"Hey baby..it's me..I'm in Mexico right now getting ready to go do soundcheck. Woo hoo..I'm so excited, can't you tell. Anyways, just wanted to send this quick thingie out before I talk to you later tonight. And you know I'll call baby...I hope Tyler's doing good, hope he's not causing too much trouble. I miss you and him so much and I can't wait to see you two. So, I gotta go now, and I'll talk to you later. I love you and Tyler so much and I'll see you soon.".
She sighed and finally shut off the computer and pulled it down and put it on the table beside her. She snuggled deeper into the sheets and closed her eyes, trying to go to sleep.
Sleep didn't come easily that night. Nor any night before or after that.
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