Message in a Bottle

Hide and Seek (41)

"You better not think I'm going to leave you two here in London." Harry laughs and squezes my sides. He grabs both of my hands and joins them with his, a big smirk on his face. "You're not going to just sit home while I travel the world. I want you both to come with me, it wouldn't be the same without you guys." He leans in and gives a quick peck to my puckered lips. "You can channel your inner photographer while we do so, how does that sound?"

Our hands are still laced in between each other's, my eyes burning into his. "That would be amazing," I breathe, imagining it already. I've always wanted to travel the world, and with Mason and Harry it would be so perfect. 

"I told you that I was going to step up to the plate and be a father when we first met, how do you think I've been doing?" 

"You've been doing a wonderful job, a lot better than I expected," I reply truthfully. I recall having so many doubts in Harry being able to be a father to Mason, but Harry really did show me up. He's a better father than Mike ever was to Mason. Harry gives Mason countless amounts of attention, always providing him with what he needs and loving him endlessly. 

"Am I doing just as good of a job at being your boyfriend?" 

"You possibly might be doing that a little bit better," I smile.

~

Later that evening, after Mason and I finished a small dinner, I was loading all the dishes into the dishwasher. Harry's at the studio working on his new album, so that left time for Mason and I here alone. We weren't able to go anywhere, considering Harry had taken his car and it's not like I have one to use. 

Mason is sitting on the couch, clicking random buttons on the remote. I sigh and close the dishwasher before walking over to him and taking the remote away. Immediately he starts to create a fuss, but the battery was going to die any minute, and Harry and I already raided the house for double A batteries and came up empty handed. I was close to pressing the power button when something on the television caught my eye. 

"Model Margaret Handlin was discovered dead this evening," a news reporter states, a picture of Maggie appears on the screen. I limply sit on the couch, my eyes glued to the screen. How could she be dead? "Sources believe twenty-one year old Margaret participated in the act of escaping Michael Rivers from central London's jail this afternoon." I almost choke at the words. "Police officers are searching for any evidence that proves Michael Rivers has anything to do with Margaret's death. Until then officers are on the search for Michael, stay tuned for more news at eleven."

My eyes are wide and a sick feeling comes creeping into my stomach. I knew that Maggie's death had Mike written all over it, how couldn't the police call and warn me about Mike's escape from jail?! I was shaking, my fingers trembling while I got up and sprint towards the door, locking it immediatley. I continue going around the house, locking every possible entry.

I shut off the blaring tv and all the lights, hopefully Mike would conclude nobody was home if he came here. But why would that stop him? Being in jail didn't stop him from escaping, so what would a couple locked doors and windows do?

I grab Mason and fumble in the dark to find my phone on the countertop, I sit down against the ceramic island. I take in a deep breath and let out a quiet sob before dialing Harry's number, I couldn't believe this was happening. When Harry didn't answer, I began to really worry. What if Mike had already gotten Harry? No, Mike would come here first. He probably knows Harry lives here, it wouldn't be hard to find out. With all the contact he had with Maggie he has to know that I live with him too. 

I started to dial 911 into the keypad, but my phone had too low of a battery to call or send a text message. "No no no," I whisper helplessly, continuously dialing 911, praying to God the call would go through. My phone battery usually lasted so long, so why now is it so low when I needed it the most?