Grounded
CHAPTER 9

"It's been a week already," Marie complained as she paced the room. She looked feeble and drained of energy. "Why won't you let me inform the police about it?" Gina asked, looking around the sitting room.

"I'm scared Gina. She never lets me tell anyone she has a son. How do you want me to go all the way to the police station with her son?" she asked, sinking her tired body into a nearby sofa. She was close to tears.

Gina was still engrossed with viewing the sitting room. She had been friends with Marie for almost a year and had never been to her house. She felt so uncomfortable because the sitting room looked so untidy. She looked at the center table, and it wasn't even at the center of the sitting room. It was in the far-right corner. The flower vase was empty, and there were papers and spilled milk on the table. The floor looked dirty with some unwashed plates. Gina was disgusted. "Say something, G," she said, bringing Gina back into the reality of the problem.

"I insist we inform the police," Gina replied firmly, refusing to think of another option.

Marie hissed loudly and then rested her back on the sofa. Gina studied her for a while and became filled with pity. She seemed to be going through a lot. She was already a single mother taking care of another woman's son. She had also been in charge of the bar for the past week after Lydia disappeared. It began to make sense to Gina that these were the reasons why she had lost so much weight and left her home untidy. She was going through so much. "Marie," Gina called, leaning forward with a more serious tone. "We could report to the police without involving her child. All we have to do is tell them that Lydia has been missing for a week now." Gina sounded so confident in her idea.

"You think that would work?" Marie asked tiredly.

"I'm so sure. By the way, do you still think she could be somewhere running a business proposal?" Gina asked with a shrug.

"No, I think she might be in trouble. I can't even put a call across to her anymore. I'm really worried, Gina. Something is terribly wrong," she said, looking Gina in the eyes as she spoke and letting out a sad sigh. "Come on. I am ready to report this to the police when you are," Gina insisted.

Marie remained silent and buried her head in her palms. She remained in that position for a while as though she were thinking of what to do. She lifted her head immediately when she heard the creak of the door that led to the only room in the house. She looked at Gina, who returned the look, and both women looked in the direction of the room. The curtains shifted slightly to unveil a little boy with the most beautiful smile Gina had ever seen. Gina looked at Marie waiting for an explanation even though deep down, she already had an inkling as to who he was. Marie looked away from Gina and beckoned to the boy, who walked to her and sat on her lap. "What's the matter?" she asked him. "I told you I was having a visitor and that you needed to stay in the room for a bit, didn't I?" she went on, trying to scold him.

"You did," he answered calmly, his eyes searching for answers in her eyes.

"Then why did you come out?" she asked, feigning annoyance.

"I'm sorry," he began with his head bowed. "I thought you were talking with Mom and didn't want me to see her. You promised she would be back on Saturday, and it's Saturday." He began to sob silently.

Gina's heart melted as she heard him speak. She looked on as Marie tried her best to pacify him. She dabbed the tears that had formed in her eyes with a small handkerchief she pulled from her bag and took a deep breath. The whole scenario reminded her of when she lost her father, only that she was much older than he was and had no one to console her.

"I'm here with Gina. We're figuring out how to get Mom back. She will come back to us, I promise," Marie reassured him. He turned to look at Gina, who also gave him a reassuring smile and beckoned to him. He looked at Marie, his eyes requesting permission. She nodded at him and smiled as he rose to his feet and walked to Gina.

"What's your name?" she asked him, holding him close to herself.

"Michael," he replied, sniffing and wiping the tears on his cheek with the back of his palm.

"Hello, Michael. I'm Gina, Marie's friend, and your mom's coworker," she said, smiling brightly. "Hello," he replied, forcing a smile.

"I know how you feel. I lost my dad too some years back. Now, young man, I'm not saying you've lost your mom too, but you have to be strong for Mommy in other to make her proud of you. We are going to head to the police station right now to inform the police. You need to promise us that you'll be strong for Mommy no matter what happens," she said as softly as she could, looking into his eyes.

"I promise," he told her truthfully. She smiled at him reassuringly, and his lips parted to let out a smile too.

"Thank you," Marie muttered as Michael vanished into the room. It seemed like a heavy burden had just been lifted off her shoulders.

"He is handsome," Gina confessed with a smile.

"He is young," Marie fired back jokingly, and the two ladies began to laugh.

"I'm ready to go to the police station. What about you?" Gina asked as she stood to her feet.

"I'm ready, but we mustn't mention Michael," she replied.

Gina smiled and nodded. She could feel that Marie had developed some form of attachment to the little boy. She loved him like he was her son. Though glad that Marie decided to take the matter to the police, she feared that it was impossible to get Lydia back.