CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
William and Laura had enjoyed their vacation away from life in Cedar Rapids. Their trip across Europe, traveling through Italy, Germany, and ending up in Amsterdam had been enjoyable, but wrapping their voyage up had been sad. Neither of them wanted to come home just yet, but both knew reality was awaiting their return.
"Do you think the kids will enjoy these tokens of our love?" Laura asked while she packed up the hookah pipes, laughing. Her bag was stuffed full of different odds and ends from around Europe.
"You know Kain and Anabella have my side of the family’s sense of humor. That's going to be all you and Nadia right there my love." William leaned over and kissed his wife. After fifty-five years they still found ways to show each other that they loved one another every day.
"Yes, how could I forget? Your family has never had a shred of humor in their bones. You would think after half a century I would have rubbed off on them by now, but no, I’m not so lucky."
"You know they didn't take you seriously when you were ten, right? No one believed that you would really marry me when you would declare it on the neighborhood park steps." William laughed, remembering when his wife dropped to one knee proposing in front of both of their families at the neighborhood picnic. Everyone teased them, but she didn’t care; she always did whatever she pleased.
"Mr. Maverick, how many times have I told you that when I see something that I want, I go after it? That's what us Griffiths do; it's why you fell for me, William."
"The why is still left to be seen my love, but the mystery is what keeps us together."
Laura laughed, took her towel, spun it in her hand, and then flicked it against his bottom. He made a fake yelp and they laughed together. The playful banter was something that these two needed to keep themselves young and full of life. They both loved retirement but hated the realizations that came along with it.
"I can't believe we haven't spoken to them in a month. I'm sure they think we've dropped off the planet." Laura finally had her bags packed, all of her new knickknacks sorted, wrapped, and secured.
"I told Kain to hold down the fort; you know he will. I'm sure they’ll have a big dinner party for us, and our grandbabies will have a sign or something made, welcoming us home. Laura, stop worrying. You know our kids are perfectly fine."
"I know, but you know me; a mother's always going to worry."
William nodded and pulled her into his arms for a hug. "Yes my love, you do always worry. Why can't you Griffiths come with an off switch?"
Playfully, Laura slapped at his arm. "I'll show you an off switch, Mr. Maverick."
"I don't think you have ever had an 'off switch' in your life Laura. Now come on, come over here and show me you love me." He wiggled his eyes and pawed at her. Part of what he loved about her was the fact that falling in love with her at ten meant that he still saw her as the same outgoing and carefree spirit that she was back then. None of the qualities he loved about her had vanished as they aged.
"Excuse you, William; I am not a toy here for your handling." She smirked at him.
"I never said toy…" Grinning at her.
"William…."
Their playful banter was interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing. William kissed his wife's forehead and walked over to pick it up.
"Mavericks," he said into the receiver.
"Dad, glad I caught you. I need to tell you what happened." Kain's voice was toned with anxiety and fear.
"Kain, what happened? Are your sisters and sons okay?"
"No, they’re not. Dad, it's horrible. Something's happened to Nadia."
William looked over to Laura and reached his arm out to her. She immediately walked to him and he held onto her tight. He didn't know what to do first, reply to Kain or tell Laura what he had just said, so he just replied. "What happened to Nadia?"
"She was kidnapped, at least that's the theory the police are going with right now. Kevin Glasco is leading up the search, but really we don't know anything. There was some trouble at her work. Someone was murdered in her home because of a job she was on."
"What's he saying, William?" Laura's heart was racing. She needed to know what was going on with her baby.
"Hold on darling, let me hear him out. I promise I'll tell you. Kain keep talking so I can tell your mother." William's hand was on Laura's hip, and he was squeezing it. He pulled them both into a sitting position on the bed. His mind was racing with the possibilities of what was being done to his youngest child.
"Honestly Dad, I tried to keep her safe. Ana and I kept her at my house for about a week and a half. I had the best security installed in her home, but she didn’t even turn the damn thing on. We couldn’t have done anything else. You know how she is. It pisses me off! And now she’s gone! I don't know what to do, but I knew we couldn't wait a couple days till you came home. I had to tell you now."
"Your Mom and I will see about getting a flight home today or tomorrow, a few days shouldn’t be too difficult, I hope, especially if we tell them the situation. Everyone else is okay, right?"
"Yes Dad, everyone else is okay. My boys are safe." Kain's tone was calmer when speaking about his sons.
"And their mother, she's still being taken care of?" William's voice had lowered almost to a whisper.
"Yes. They’re still under the impression she's on vacation."
"Good, we love you, Kain, and we will be home as soon as we can. Tell Ana and the boys we love them too. See you hopefully in twenty-four hours." William's voice carried an air of authority that could calm all of his children; it was part of his gift as a father.
"William, what did he say? What’s going on?" Laura looked into her husband’s eyes while tears filled her own. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew it was time to worry.
He hung the phone up and wrapped his arms around her. Holding her comfortingly, he started to recount the phone call for her. "It seems our Nadia has once again gotten herself into a mess and has been kidnapped. The police are on it and looking for her. The name of he detective sounds familiar, Kevin Glasco."
"That's one of Nadia's friends, I think." Laura interjected.
"I'm not sure; Kain didn’t say. He did say that he and Ana had kept her at his home for the last week, and he had upgraded the security at her house, but she didn’t turn it on. Who does that sound like?"
Laura shook her head. "Like mother like daughter."
"Mhmm. Now, they’re looking for her, but you know our little trooper, nothing is going to get in her way. She's going to be alright; you know that."
Laura could only nod. It was hard speaking when her mind kept going to potential news reports of her daughter being found dead in alleyways.
"I'll call the airlines; see if they can get us home today." He got up from the bed, went to his bag, and pulled out their tickets and passports. He came back to the phone and began to make a few calls. He watched as his wife started to move in a haze. She packed up the remaining items in the room, and within the hour, they were checked out of the hotel and on their way to the airport. They were able to book a last minute flight out of the country. They would be home in nineteen hours.