Arrowheart

Chapter Ten

The night we left Oliver in the hospital, Walter went missing, and it has been six weeks since then. Hannah and I have been visiting the Queen family almost daily, and Hannah is confused about why she hasn't seen him. Oliver has been around a lot because of it too. He and Hannah have gotten closer than ever, and we have been sleeping here a lot.

I'm awoken by someone jumping on the bed.

Hannah: "Mommy! Mommy, wake up!"

Elizabeth: "W-what?"

Hannah: "Mommy, it's Wiggles time!"

I start sitting up as she jumps off the bed.

Elizabeth: "Alright, baby, I'm up."

Hannah: "Come on, come on!"

I follow her as she runs over to Oliver's room.

Hannah: "Daddy!"

She opens the door to find him at his desk.

Oliver: "Hey, Hannah. What are you doing up so early?"

Hannah: "It's Wiggles time, and Mommy and I are making breakfast. You have to come with us!"

She grabs his arm and tries tugging him out of his seat.

Oliver: "Okay, okay, I'm coming."

She runs past me as Oliver joins me, and we laugh.

Oliver: "Did she get into the sugar already?"

Elizabeth: "Nope. She's always like this."

Oliver: "So what are the Wiggles?"

Elizabeth: "A musical, colorful kids' show."

Oliver: "Ah."

When we enter the kitchen, we find Hannah looking in the fridge.

Elizabeth: "Hannah, what do you want for breakfast?"

Hannah: "Pancakes and fruit salad!"

Elizabeth: "Okay."

I look at the TV to see the Wiggles are about to start their fruit salad song. Of course, she wants fruit salad now. I start making the pancakes while Hannah and Oliver pick out which fruit to put in the bowl. Thea joins us for breakfast, and once we're done, Oliver leaves to go to work while Hannah, Thea, and I are chilling in the living room.

Hannah: "Mommy, when is LiLi coming down?"

Elizabeth: "I'm sure she'll be down soon."

Hannah: "But she missed breakfast."

Elizabeth: "Do you want to bring some to her?"

She quickly nods, and Thea helps her make a plate for Moira before taking it upstairs while I get ready and go to work.

When I return, I find Oliver, Thea, and Hannah in the living room with takeout bags on the table.

Elizabeth: "Hey, what's going on in here?"

Hannah: "Mommy, Daddy got Big Belly Burger!"

Elizabeth: "Really?"

Oliver: "Yeah, thought maybe we could have some takeout, watch a DVD, and maybe it would get my mother out of her room. But she declined. I got some for you, Liz. That is if you would like to join us."

Elizabeth: "I would love to. Just let me get changed first."

Oliver: "Of course."

I go upstairs before joining them on the couch once I am finished changing. Hannah fell asleep on my lap during the first movie. Oliver picks up a movie and shows it to Thea.

Thea: "I've seen this before."

Oliver: "Cut me some slack, I've been gone for a while, and apparently, I missed the cinematic genius that is Zach... Galifianakis…?"

I chuckle at his attempt while Thea gives him a look.

Thea: "I mean with Mom. When you and Dad disappeared, she spent more and more time at home. Eventually, stopped going out altogether."

Elizabeth: "It was an unfortunate time. But who could blame her?"

Oliver: "What snapped her out of it that time?"

Thea: "Walter. One morning he showed up and, you know, when he gets all British and stern-like. [in British accent] 'Moira, get dressed. We're going out for lunch.' Yeah, I mean, and it worked. Plus, not long after that, Liz found out she was pregnant. Which helped all of us."

Elizabeth: "That was very stressful and not the best timing."

Oliver chuckles.

Thea: "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe Walter wasn't abducted. Maybe he's having some midlife crisis, and he's with some stewardess in Bora Bora, and he's too ashamed to call home and say he's okay. Just because we haven't heard from him doesn't mean he's...he's gone, right?"

Oliver: "Right."

Elizabeth: "Yeah."

The atmosphere is gloomy now, and I'm glad Hannah is asleep. The news is on the TV.

Female Reporter: "So what strikes me is that this vigilante was actually making a difference. In the four months, he was active, assaults were down, muggings down, and the-the murder rate dropped by 16%. So in a very quantifiable way, this man in the hood had been a positive force in this city. So where has he been for the past six weeks?"

Male Reporter: "True enough."

Thea: "Looks like everyone's disappearing."

Elizabeth: "Maybe the Hood was injured during that fight we heard about on the news."

Thea: "You mean when he saved all those people during our Christmas party?"

Elizabeth: "Yeah."

The room is engulfed in solemn silence. I put Hannah to bed and went to bed.

A day and a half later, I am working in my office when I get a call from my brother.

Elizabeth: "Hey, Tommy. What's up?"

Tommy: "Hey, Liz. I was wondering if we could meet for lunch?"

Elizabeth: "Of course, I would love that. It's been a while since we really talked. Where do you want to meet?"

Tommy: "I was thinking of the Japanese place near your office."

Elizabeth: "Sounds good. How about at 1 pm?"

Tommy: "Works for me. I'll see you there."

Elizabeth: "Okay."

There's a knock at my door as I hang up my phone.

Elizabeth: "Come in."

Stephanie: "Hey, Liz. Just letting you know all the interviews for the daycare staff are set up for next week. And Mary sent up all the kids' clothing line designs."

Elizabeth: "Great, just leave them on my desk. I'll look over them when I return."

Stephanie: "Where are you going?"

Elizabeth: "Lunch with my brother."

Stephanie: "Well, enjoy your time. I'll see you when you get back. Then we can talk about last night."

Elizabeth: "What about last night?"

Stephanie: "As if you don't know."

She leaves my office, leaving me confused. I shrug off her craziness and go meet up with Tommy.

Elizabeth: "Hey, how have you been?"

Tommy: "I've been pretty good overall. It's tough, but I am getting by."

Elizabeth: "Good, I'm proud of you for getting a job and making it yourself."

Tommy: "Yeah, me too. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about my current job. Have you heard about all the firefighters who've been dying lately?"

Elizabeth: "Yeah, I can't believe Jo's brother died like that. How is she doing?"

Tommy: "She's hanging in there. Oliver and I are going to throw a fundraiser at the club, and we're going to maximize the proceeds to the fire department. I was hoping you would come."

Elizabeth: "Of course, I'll come. I'm sure you will do a great job setting this up."

Tommy: "Thanks."