COMMENT
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Chapter 82
Damien’s POV
I woke up to the smell of sizzling bacon and the faint hum of conversation drifting from downstairs into my bedroom. A smile spread across my lips as I slowly cracked my eyes open, hoping to find Irene still lying beside me, in my arms.
www
But when my eyes fully opened, she wasn’t there and for a brief moment, everything seemed normal- it had to be just another family breakfast, or probably a celebratory one because of Eva’s recovery. Irene must be in the kitchen, making breakfast with the other ladies. That must be where the bacon aroma was coming from.
1 sat up in bed, running a hand through my hair, feeling the familiar warmth of the morning sun streaming through the window. It felt like the start of any other day:
Yet, somehow, it didn’t also feel like any other day,
Something nagged at me as I looked at the empty side of the bed, Irene usually woke me up when she left the room early. She never left without at least a “good morning” or a quick kiss on the forehead. But today, she hadn’t said anything.
Or was she still a bit emotional from last night’s talk we had in the kitchen? Maybe that’s why.
1 brushed off any negative feelings, knowing she was downstairs, chitchatting with Delores or Lenora as they prepared breakfast. But as I threw on a T–shirt and headed downstairs, the knot in my stomach tightened.
The kitchen was bustling when I entered. Eva was pouring orange juice into glasses, her eyes lit up when she saw me. Lenora stood by the stove, flipping bacon, while George sat at the table, sipping coffee.
But Irene, Delores, and Charlie weren’t there.
“Morning” I said, frowning slightly. “Where’s Irene? And Charlie
Lenora looked at me over her glass, her brow furrowed. “I thought they were with you. Haven’t seen them all morning.”
Eva glanced over her shoulder, a slight frown pulling at her lips. Maybe she took Charlie for a walk? She does that Sometimes in the mornings.
My unease deepened. “Without saying anything?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Maybe she just wanted some quiet time with him. You know how Irene is.” George set his mug down and leaned forward,
How Irene is? Who was George to tell me how Irene is?
I nodded, but something felt off I pulled out my phone and checked for any messages. Nothing. I tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. My hand clenched around the phone and a cold wave of anxiety rolled over me.
“Where’s Delores?” I asked, knowing her best friend always knew everything about her.
“Thaven’t seen her either Eva replied too fast as if she could reall my mind to know what I wanted to ask
Tim going to check upstairs” I said quickly, not waiting for a response.
I ran back up the stairs two at a time, my heart pounding in my chest. I pushed open the door to Charlie’s room, expecting to see him sprawled out in bed or maybe playing with his favorite toys. But the room was empty. His bed was neatly made, and his toy hon–the one he never left behind–was gone.
A sinking feeling took hold of my bring.
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Chapter 82
I swung open the closeedoop. His clothes–half of them were missing. I pulled out the drawers in his dresser, finding them mostly empty. Panic surged through me as I turned and rushed back into the hallway, heading straight for our bedroom.
Irene’s side of the closet had gaps. Her suitcase was gone. A few of her favorite dresses, and her toiletries, were all missing. My throat tightened as I scanned the room, looking for any clue as to why she would have packed up and left without saying
word
I called her again and it went straight to voicemail..
I rushed downstairs, my heart was racing wildly in my chest and 1 could tears trying to well up in my eyes, but I couldn’t let them spill. Or at least, not yet.
“They’re gone.” I blurted out as I entered the kitchen, my voice shaking. “Irene and Charlie–they’re gone. Some of their things are missing.
Eva stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock. Lenora turned off the stove, her face paling as she processed my words. George stood up from his seat, his expression hardening.
“What do you mean they’re gone? Lenora asked, moving toward me. “Are you sure? Maybe she just-
“She packed a suitcase,” I interrupted, barely able to keep my voice steady. She took Charlie’s things. His clothes, his favorite toy. She didn’t leave a note. She didn’t say anything.
Eva put a hand on her mouth, shaking her head. “That doesn’t sound like Irene. She wouldn’t just leave like that. Not without telling you.” And that’s what I thought too.
This isn’t the kind of thing Irene would do.
George grabbed his car keys from the counter. “Okay, we need to search. Maybe they went to a park or something. Let’s not panic. And let’s try calling Delores too, she might have an idea of where they went.” He said, also looking worried,
I was already panicking. The knot in my stomach had turned into full–blown dread. I had no idea where Irene would go, and the more I thought about it, the less sense it made.
“I’ve been calling her, 1 muttered, staring at my phone. “It keeps going to voicemail.” My voice coated with dread of the unknown
Lenora stepped forward, resting a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll split up, check the usual spots. Maybe she just needed some time”
But deep down, I knew this was different. Something had been building up inside Irene since yesterday evening. I could see it in her eyes. Last night, she’d tried to talk to me about getting Eva out of the house, but I had dismissed it. I told her we had to help her, that Eva had nowhere else to go.
I didn’t think it would lead to this. If I knew, I would have just been compliant.
Il check the park: George said. “It’s Charlie’s favorite place to go.
Lenora nodded. Till go with him. Maybe they re at the cafe down the street. She likes to take him there during the weekends
Eva grabbed her phone. “I’ll stay here and call around. Someone must have seen them.” She looked worried too.
I nodded humbly, barely hearing them. I was already dialing Irene’s number again, my hands trembling as I pressed the phone to my ear.
Voicemail.
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Chapter 82
The hours passed by painfully slowly. Lenora and George returned after searching the neighborhood, but they hadn’t found. any sign of Irene or Charlie. Eva had called a few people she could think of–friends, colleagues, even the pediatrician–but no one had heard from Irene.
I was as if she had vanished into thin air.
I plopped down onto the couch, my hands covering my face as tried to process the situation. My mind raced with questions. Why would she leave without telling me? Was she in danger? Was Charlie safe?
And then, there was the part of me that was angry. Angry that she hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me what was going on. Furious that she had taken Charlie and disappeared.
Irene had always been the strong one, the one who kept it together when things got tough. But since yesterday she’d been different. Tense. Nervous. And I had no idea why.
She refused to tell me.
The day dragged on, the sun beginning to dip below the horizon and taking my strength along with it. Lenora and George had an urgent meeting they couldn’t miss, so they had to leave for the evening.
And that left me alone with Eva,
I barely noticed her presence until she came and sat beside me on the couch, her face etched with concern.
I’m so sorry, Damien,” she said softly, her hand resting on my arm. “I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now.”
I stared at her, too numb to respond. Eva has been so helpful today that I couldn’t believe she could go to all that length for Irene and me
Eva scooted a little closer, her voice soft. “If there’s anything I can do… I’m here for you. You don’t have to go through this
alone”
I took a deep breath, my hands gripping the edge of the couch. didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t want to sit in this empty house, haunted by thoughts of Irene and Charlie, not knowing where they were or if they were coming back.
I reached for the bottle of whiskey on the table and poured myself a drink. Eva didn’t protest. In fact, she poured herself one too, sitting closer now, her hand resting on my shoulder.
The alcohol blurred the edges of my pain, numbing the sharp sting of Irene’s absence. And Eva… she was there. She was warm, and comforting in a way that felt almost too easy. Too familiar.
I lost track of time as the night wore on, my mind growing fuzzier with each glass. I didn’t remember how many drinks ! had, or when exactly I stopped caring about where Irene had gone.
I just wanted to forget.
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