“Is Cole all right?”
“Yes.”
“Then why haven’t you answered your phone?”
He paused before admitting what had happened.
“We saw your messages. We were scared to answer. Grandpa didn’t know we’d turned our phones off after that.”
I shut my eyes, overwhelmed with relief and anger.
“You let us spend the entire night looking for you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Frank’s bringing you home. Now.”
I immediately contacted Denise so she could collect Cole, then informed the police that both teenagers had been found safely.
***
At 4:37 a.m., I heard a key turn in the front door. Nathan came in by himself.
“Where have you been?! Do you have any idea what you’ve put us through?!”
“Mom, I…”
“Don’t you dare lie to me, Nathan! Two months! Where have you been spending your nights?! Have you been with Frank?”
He lifted his head. Only then did I notice how miserable he looked. His eyelids were puffy from crying, and sawdust was caught in his hair. Later, I learned he’d cried when Frank said their secret was over.
But the jacket on his shoulders left me gripping the doorframe. It was Michael’s old brown work jacket, complete with the torn pocket. I hadn’t seen it since my husband died.
“Oh, God, Nathan… what have you done? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
He lowered his gaze.
“Grandpa’s selling the house. Cole and I have been helping him save Dad’s things.”
“What things?”
Nathan rubbed his eyes.
“There’s something Dad started making before I was born. I wanted to finish it.”
***
He explained that he and Cole had spent their nights in Frank’s guest room and their days working in his workshop. Frank had known all along that both mothers believed the boys were elsewhere.
“I begged him not to tell you,” Nathan said.
“He’s the adult. He should’ve known better.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” I continued.
“Because you would’ve said no.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Mom, you won’t even drive down Grandpa’s street.”
Before I could defend myself, Nathan went on.
“Last month, I asked what Dad was like when he was my age. You told me to take out the trash.”
The memory of handing him the garbage bag came back immediately.
“You were busy,” he said. “You’re always busy when I ask about Dad.”
I pulled out a chair and faced him. Whatever my failures, the lies still needed consequences.
“You’re staying home next weekend. No sleepovers until we rebuild some trust.”
He accepted that with a nod.
“And tomorrow, I’m going to your grandfather’s house.”
“You’re actually going there?”
“Yes. I want to see what you’ve been doing.”
Tears returned to his eyes.
“Then maybe you’ll understand why I couldn’t stop.”
***
That afternoon, I entered Frank’s home for the first time in three years. He greeted me at the entrance.
“Laura, I’m sorry.”
“You let two mothers believe their sons were somewhere else for eight weekends. You could have put an end to that immediately, Frank.”
“Nathan asked me not to tell you.”
“He’s sixteen. You’re the adult, Frank. You should’ve known better!”
He looked at the floor.
“I thought I was helping him.”
“You could’ve helped him without lying. There won’t be another visit without our permission. And no more overnight stays until you’ve earned back our trust.”
Frank quietly agreed. Denise was also there, accompanied by Cole, to retrieve the equipment he’d left behind.
“Cole wanted to tell us three weeks ago. Nathan convinced him not to.”
I turned toward the boys.
