Life Be Heard: Chapter 6
Summary: Sequel to Love Speaks Through… Four years later, Kris, Adam and Allison return to Costa Rica, to see what has changed and what has stayed the same. Another 50K fic, coming your way! Look out!
Kris didn’t let himself think, he just ran. He knew without knowing that Katy was on the beach calling 911. That was how they worked in emergencies. She was the caller and he was the one to go into action. He prayed, belatedly, that Jesse would not try to follow him out here.
Instead of trying for distance, Kris squinted and scanned the water, his heart in his throat. When he didn’t see anything on top of the water, he dove deep, until he could touch the bottom.
Nothing.
He wished there were enough English speaking people to help them do one of those human chains out into the water, sweeping the ocean floor with their feet. At the same time, though, Kris didn’t wish for that, because that would mean Kaleb was out here somewhere. That would mean he had drowned.
When he couldn’t do anymore, Kris turned and made his way back to shore.
--
Kaleb is not scared anymore. He remembers the person taking him. Putting a hand on Kaleb’s mouth very tight. It makes Kaleb’s heart to a kind of flutter inside him to think about it.
But then, it gets all better. He gets a water. He gets a hug. His person says they are sorry to him. Now they are driving for a long time. Every time Kaleb asks where they are going, his person doesn’t say any words. Kaleb thinks maybe she can’t hear so good, so he says the words louder:
“Where we goin’?!”
“Hey Kaleb? You want a surprise?”
Kaleb nods and the person says if he wants a surprise to be very quiet. The person says look out the window, so he does.
Lots of dirt is outside. And lots of people looking sad. Kaleb wants to go see them and tell them to vaya con Dios ‘cause that means go with God and it’s kind of like God loves you but he doesn’t know how to say that.
The person doesn’t say anything. Just drives very far away from the beach. It’s okay because she knows a lot of things. Like Kaleb’s name and his brother’s name and his mama and daddy’s name. And even, who Kaleb’s friends are. Besides he is on a mission - a secret special kind of one - and his mama and daddy are gonna be so proud when it’s done. Because Kaleb is doing a good job at being friends with people. He is following his heart. He is saying lots of prayers.
He watches out the window, and the sad people are gone now. There’s a lot of motels instead, and the person picks one very special kind of motel with bright happy colors, just like Kaleb would pick if he was a grown up. On the way, the person gave him other clothes, and the biggest water Kaleb ever saw. For giants to drink, probably.
The clothes are a big white tee shirt with a happy alligator on the front. There is a hat different from his other hat. It is brown like Daddy’s favorite fishing hat. He got some big kid underpants, too. They are like plaid shorts. And no other shorts. The shirt is long like a dress, but Kaleb doesn’t care. He likes the alligator on it, and the hat, and the plaid underpants-shorts. It is like a big ‘venture, but Kaleb wants his Mama and Daddy and he wants his Jesse, too. ‘Ventures are no fun with nobody else on them. But this is a mission, so Kaleb is very nice to the person and does just what he is told. He listens very good and obeys very good, even though he doesn’t want to all the time.
The person carries him inside and tells him to be very quiet, for part of the secret surprise. Kaleb puts his lips together very tight.
His person talks to the person behind the desk. They get a magic card to open the door, and then his person carries him very far to their special room. It is the best room Kaleb has ever seen.
His person sets him down.
“I’ll be right back. Remember. If you say anything, or make any noise, the surprise will be ruined. You’ll be safe here.”
His person closed the doors to a tiny room. It’s dark inside of the room but Kaleb is very brave. Much braver than the dark. And there is a little bit of light coming through the bottom of the door. He will be the quietest boy. Then, he will get a surprise.
Kaleb smiles.
This is his favorite day.
--
Adam was doing his best to move on, but Emilio had not let go that easily. He followed Adam around outside and from room to room inside the house asking the same question over and over:
“Me, too?”
Sometimes, it was in a high voice. Sometimes a deep voice. Sometimes, his normal voice. Sometimes, it was sprinkled with other Spanish words that Adam didn’t even come close to understanding.
Adam wasn’t trying to ignore him, but this wasn’t a conversation he was prepared to have. Plus, with the language barrier, who knew what kind of miscommunications could happen?
When he tried to lose himself in a throng of kids on the porch, Emilio found him again.
“Adam!” He pointed to himself. “Good boy! Me, too?”
Sighing, Adam went over and scooped up Emilio. This was a conversation they definitely needed Alli for. In his pocket, his phone vibrated and Adam let it go. He had more important things to deal with.
Like how to tell this precious kid he could not take him home.
--
“Adam’s not answering!” Katy exclaimed, loudly so that Kris could hear. He had come in and sat dripping on the shore for a few minutes, and then gone in again. If Kaleb was out there, this was there best chance to rescue him.
“I’ll call him!” Jesse insisted, his voice shrill with panic. “He always answers me and that way you can go out in the water.”
Katy felt torn. With every fiber of her being, she wanted to be out there, searching for Kaleb, but she also didn’t. If they found him, she didn’t want to be the one to do it, especially if he couldn’t be saved.
“I’ve got it, honey. Can you do me a big favor though, and go stand by the spot where Kaleb was? Make sure no one messes it up?”
All Katy could think about was evidence. If there was evidence, the beach was the worst place for it, and once the tide came in, there would be no chance. But if anything was left behind, Katy wanted it. For the local police, even though, all attempts to involve them had been fruitless. They thanked her for reporting it, advised searching the water and that was it. It was maddening and scary. Her son was four years old, and very much at the mercy of God, or fate, or whoever might have taken him.
Once Jesse was far enough away, Katy put in another call to Alice, who had been Jesse’s caseworker. She was the only person Katy could think of who might know the whereabouts of Jesse’s biological mother. And Katy wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t at least check.
“Hi, Alice. It’s Katy Allen. Do you happen to know if Jesse’s mother is still local there? Incarcerated. Okay. Thank you.”
She hung up and prayed, fighting tears as she squinted into the water. Kris had somehow managed to get a bunch of beach-goers to form a human chain with him. With a sinking heart, Katy watched, praying they wouldn’t find Kaleb out there…and praying they would, since there was still hope.
--
Allison was busy juggling babies and toddlers when Adam came in with Emilio on his back. Wordlessly, he pulled a chair up, settled Emilio in his lap. He found a spoon, and started feeding babies without being asked. It was calming.
“What’s up?” Allison asked, between talking to the babies.
“Adam….Good boy…Me, too?” Emilio asked quietly.
Silent, Adam raised his eyebrows at Allison. “He wants to come home with me. He wants me to take him in. Make him my son. And I don’t know what to say…I mean, I know. I just don’t want him to misunderstand.”
Allison nodded. She didn’t bother asking how in the hell that topic of conversation even came up in the first place. She nodded slightly at him, indicating she was fine with translating.
“Honey, I know you’re a good boy, and I want to take you home. I do. You’re great,” Adam explained, pausing so Allison could catch up. “But the thing is…there are rules here. Do you have rules at home? Or at school?”
Adam waited, until Allison finished asking the question and for Emilio’s nod.
“There are also rules for your country. For Costa Rica. The rules say I can’t take you. Lo siento, buddy. I really want to, but the rules say I can’t. Not until the people in charge figure things out.”
Emilio stared at Adam with uncomprehending eyes. He spoke. Then Allison after him.
“But you’re a grown up. You’re in charge, right? You can take me?”
Adam shook his head sadly. “Some people are even in charge of the grown ups. I have to follow the rules or I’ll get in trouble. Then I wouldn’t be able to come see you anymore. And I always want to be able to come here and see you, okay? Because you are really special to me.” He tried to pull Emilio close, but he sat stiff on Adam’s lap, while Allison explained. Before she even finished speaking, Emilio pushed away from Adam and slid to get down. He glared and said something in Spanish, leaving Adam confused.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing,” Allison insisted. “It isn’t important. Just give him time. He’ll come around.”
“It is important,” Adam insisted, somehow managing to keep Allison’s eye contact and successfully feed the sweet little girl in the high chair.
“He said he doesn’t like you anymore,” Allison admitted quietly.
“Well, too bad. I still like him,” Adam said stubbornly, though the remark stung. His phone vibrated again, and Adam let it ring. He was busy.
And his heart hurt.
--
Katy had scrolled through her numbers no less than twenty times, calling Adam over and over, but he refused to pick up. All of a sudden, Katy noticed a name that had blended in with the rest until just now.
She hit a button and waited, praying her call would go through.
“Joan?” Katy asked when someone answered.
“At your service. Wait a minute. What’s wrong? Y’all are still in Costa Rica, aren’t you?”
“Joan, Kaleb’s missing. The police aren’t doing anything, and Kris has got people searching the water…He disappeared right off the beach…” Katy managed, her voice breaking.
“I’m on my way.”
“No, Joan, you don’t--”
“I’m on my way“ Joan insisted.
--
Joan hung up with Katy. There was no time for politeness or preamble. She went over to her computer and started checking flights out of Texas. She would get herself a ticket and she would go to them.
She punched a button on the phone and waited.
“Tyler. I’m going to Costa Rica. Are you coming?”
Kris didn’t let himself think, he just ran. He knew without knowing that Katy was on the beach calling 911. That was how they worked in emergencies. She was the caller and he was the one to go into action. He prayed, belatedly, that Jesse would not try to follow him out here.
Instead of trying for distance, Kris squinted and scanned the water, his heart in his throat. When he didn’t see anything on top of the water, he dove deep, until he could touch the bottom.
Nothing.
He wished there were enough English speaking people to help them do one of those human chains out into the water, sweeping the ocean floor with their feet. At the same time, though, Kris didn’t wish for that, because that would mean Kaleb was out here somewhere. That would mean he had drowned.
When he couldn’t do anymore, Kris turned and made his way back to shore.
--
Kaleb is not scared anymore. He remembers the person taking him. Putting a hand on Kaleb’s mouth very tight. It makes Kaleb’s heart to a kind of flutter inside him to think about it.
But then, it gets all better. He gets a water. He gets a hug. His person says they are sorry to him. Now they are driving for a long time. Every time Kaleb asks where they are going, his person doesn’t say any words. Kaleb thinks maybe she can’t hear so good, so he says the words louder:
“Where we goin’?!”
“Hey Kaleb? You want a surprise?”
Kaleb nods and the person says if he wants a surprise to be very quiet. The person says look out the window, so he does.
Lots of dirt is outside. And lots of people looking sad. Kaleb wants to go see them and tell them to vaya con Dios ‘cause that means go with God and it’s kind of like God loves you but he doesn’t know how to say that.
The person doesn’t say anything. Just drives very far away from the beach. It’s okay because she knows a lot of things. Like Kaleb’s name and his brother’s name and his mama and daddy’s name. And even, who Kaleb’s friends are. Besides he is on a mission - a secret special kind of one - and his mama and daddy are gonna be so proud when it’s done. Because Kaleb is doing a good job at being friends with people. He is following his heart. He is saying lots of prayers.
He watches out the window, and the sad people are gone now. There’s a lot of motels instead, and the person picks one very special kind of motel with bright happy colors, just like Kaleb would pick if he was a grown up. On the way, the person gave him other clothes, and the biggest water Kaleb ever saw. For giants to drink, probably.
The clothes are a big white tee shirt with a happy alligator on the front. There is a hat different from his other hat. It is brown like Daddy’s favorite fishing hat. He got some big kid underpants, too. They are like plaid shorts. And no other shorts. The shirt is long like a dress, but Kaleb doesn’t care. He likes the alligator on it, and the hat, and the plaid underpants-shorts. It is like a big ‘venture, but Kaleb wants his Mama and Daddy and he wants his Jesse, too. ‘Ventures are no fun with nobody else on them. But this is a mission, so Kaleb is very nice to the person and does just what he is told. He listens very good and obeys very good, even though he doesn’t want to all the time.
The person carries him inside and tells him to be very quiet, for part of the secret surprise. Kaleb puts his lips together very tight.
His person talks to the person behind the desk. They get a magic card to open the door, and then his person carries him very far to their special room. It is the best room Kaleb has ever seen.
His person sets him down.
“I’ll be right back. Remember. If you say anything, or make any noise, the surprise will be ruined. You’ll be safe here.”
His person closed the doors to a tiny room. It’s dark inside of the room but Kaleb is very brave. Much braver than the dark. And there is a little bit of light coming through the bottom of the door. He will be the quietest boy. Then, he will get a surprise.
Kaleb smiles.
This is his favorite day.
--
Adam was doing his best to move on, but Emilio had not let go that easily. He followed Adam around outside and from room to room inside the house asking the same question over and over:
“Me, too?”
Sometimes, it was in a high voice. Sometimes a deep voice. Sometimes, his normal voice. Sometimes, it was sprinkled with other Spanish words that Adam didn’t even come close to understanding.
Adam wasn’t trying to ignore him, but this wasn’t a conversation he was prepared to have. Plus, with the language barrier, who knew what kind of miscommunications could happen?
When he tried to lose himself in a throng of kids on the porch, Emilio found him again.
“Adam!” He pointed to himself. “Good boy! Me, too?”
Sighing, Adam went over and scooped up Emilio. This was a conversation they definitely needed Alli for. In his pocket, his phone vibrated and Adam let it go. He had more important things to deal with.
Like how to tell this precious kid he could not take him home.
--
“Adam’s not answering!” Katy exclaimed, loudly so that Kris could hear. He had come in and sat dripping on the shore for a few minutes, and then gone in again. If Kaleb was out there, this was there best chance to rescue him.
“I’ll call him!” Jesse insisted, his voice shrill with panic. “He always answers me and that way you can go out in the water.”
Katy felt torn. With every fiber of her being, she wanted to be out there, searching for Kaleb, but she also didn’t. If they found him, she didn’t want to be the one to do it, especially if he couldn’t be saved.
“I’ve got it, honey. Can you do me a big favor though, and go stand by the spot where Kaleb was? Make sure no one messes it up?”
All Katy could think about was evidence. If there was evidence, the beach was the worst place for it, and once the tide came in, there would be no chance. But if anything was left behind, Katy wanted it. For the local police, even though, all attempts to involve them had been fruitless. They thanked her for reporting it, advised searching the water and that was it. It was maddening and scary. Her son was four years old, and very much at the mercy of God, or fate, or whoever might have taken him.
Once Jesse was far enough away, Katy put in another call to Alice, who had been Jesse’s caseworker. She was the only person Katy could think of who might know the whereabouts of Jesse’s biological mother. And Katy wouldn’t be able to live with herself if she didn’t at least check.
“Hi, Alice. It’s Katy Allen. Do you happen to know if Jesse’s mother is still local there? Incarcerated. Okay. Thank you.”
She hung up and prayed, fighting tears as she squinted into the water. Kris had somehow managed to get a bunch of beach-goers to form a human chain with him. With a sinking heart, Katy watched, praying they wouldn’t find Kaleb out there…and praying they would, since there was still hope.
--
Allison was busy juggling babies and toddlers when Adam came in with Emilio on his back. Wordlessly, he pulled a chair up, settled Emilio in his lap. He found a spoon, and started feeding babies without being asked. It was calming.
“What’s up?” Allison asked, between talking to the babies.
“Adam….Good boy…Me, too?” Emilio asked quietly.
Silent, Adam raised his eyebrows at Allison. “He wants to come home with me. He wants me to take him in. Make him my son. And I don’t know what to say…I mean, I know. I just don’t want him to misunderstand.”
Allison nodded. She didn’t bother asking how in the hell that topic of conversation even came up in the first place. She nodded slightly at him, indicating she was fine with translating.
“Honey, I know you’re a good boy, and I want to take you home. I do. You’re great,” Adam explained, pausing so Allison could catch up. “But the thing is…there are rules here. Do you have rules at home? Or at school?”
Adam waited, until Allison finished asking the question and for Emilio’s nod.
“There are also rules for your country. For Costa Rica. The rules say I can’t take you. Lo siento, buddy. I really want to, but the rules say I can’t. Not until the people in charge figure things out.”
Emilio stared at Adam with uncomprehending eyes. He spoke. Then Allison after him.
“But you’re a grown up. You’re in charge, right? You can take me?”
Adam shook his head sadly. “Some people are even in charge of the grown ups. I have to follow the rules or I’ll get in trouble. Then I wouldn’t be able to come see you anymore. And I always want to be able to come here and see you, okay? Because you are really special to me.” He tried to pull Emilio close, but he sat stiff on Adam’s lap, while Allison explained. Before she even finished speaking, Emilio pushed away from Adam and slid to get down. He glared and said something in Spanish, leaving Adam confused.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing,” Allison insisted. “It isn’t important. Just give him time. He’ll come around.”
“It is important,” Adam insisted, somehow managing to keep Allison’s eye contact and successfully feed the sweet little girl in the high chair.
“He said he doesn’t like you anymore,” Allison admitted quietly.
“Well, too bad. I still like him,” Adam said stubbornly, though the remark stung. His phone vibrated again, and Adam let it ring. He was busy.
And his heart hurt.
--
Katy had scrolled through her numbers no less than twenty times, calling Adam over and over, but he refused to pick up. All of a sudden, Katy noticed a name that had blended in with the rest until just now.
She hit a button and waited, praying her call would go through.
“Joan?” Katy asked when someone answered.
“At your service. Wait a minute. What’s wrong? Y’all are still in Costa Rica, aren’t you?”
“Joan, Kaleb’s missing. The police aren’t doing anything, and Kris has got people searching the water…He disappeared right off the beach…” Katy managed, her voice breaking.
“I’m on my way.”
“No, Joan, you don’t--”
“I’m on my way“ Joan insisted.
--
Joan hung up with Katy. There was no time for politeness or preamble. She went over to her computer and started checking flights out of Texas. She would get herself a ticket and she would go to them.
She punched a button on the phone and waited.
“Tyler. I’m going to Costa Rica. Are you coming?”