Chapter two:
The Kirbys
Paul paced around his living room, his fists clenched as he walked from his kitchen entryway to his bedroom door. Walking back and forth. He occasionally stopped and stared at the phone for a moment before he scoffed and continued pacing, hours he spent just nervously walking. Until the phone rang and he picked it up instantly,
“Yes? Hello?” Paul said instantly, not giving the man on the other side a chance to answer.
“Mr.kirby? This is Mr.Walker from the US embassy, Costa Rica, we still have no information about your son.” The man said
“Then call me when you do.” Paul Began to put the phone back on the phone back when he heard the man say something.
“What was that?” Paul said curiously.
“Mr. Kirby, I think its time to accept the inevitable, he’s gone sir, its been 6 weeks since he disappeared.”
“Well maybe if you did your job instead of wasting both mine and your time we would have found him by now!” Paul shouted into the phone, balling his fists.
“With all due respect sir, why would you let your son go parasailing in the middle of the pacific, it's almost impossible to say he is alive.”
“Listen Mr.walker, I told you to call me only if you had information, I did not ask you to tell me to give up, I asked you to find my son, so unless you are telling me that you found him, do your job.” Paul slammed the phone down and threw himself on his couch, beginning to sob to himself quietly. Suddenly his phone began ringing again. He opened his eyes and groaned as he stood up. He read the caller ID on the screen.
“Amanda…” he mumbled softly. “Hello Amanda” said as he picked up the phone.
“Any news on Eric?” She asked. Paul could hear that she was holding back tears, he shook his head.
“None, but they are still looking.” Paul paused for a moment. “How are you holding up?”
“About as well as a divorced mom who lost her boyfriend and son can.” Amanda spoke somberly. Paul's heart broke for her, he knew this was a lot for her. If their son Eric going missing wasn’t bad enough, she also lost her boyfriend, Ben Hildebrand.
“I’m sorry Amanda, we will find him. I know he is okay, I can feel it” Paul reassured.
“I hope you are right. I'll talk to you tomorrow, let me know if they find anything. Goodbye Paul, take care.” Amanda said, pauld could hear her voice breaking and could tell she was holding back tears.
“Goodbye Amanda.” Paul hung up and put the phone back.
He checked his watch, seven fourth seven pm. He walked into his kitchen and grabbed a microwave dinner from his freezer, and put it in the microwave. He walked out to let it cook and sat on his couch turning on the tv as he put up the leg-rest. As the news talked about the weather, Paul cried silently, clutching his fists.
Paul woke up slowly, stretching his arms above his head. He got up off of the couch, wiping the dried tears off his face. He went to his kitchen to get his “morning life,” or at least that’s what he would tell Eric when he would watch his dad drink it every morning before he drove him to school. Paul smirked at the memories, then sobbed at them. He missed the mornings he would drive Eric to school, singing their favorite songs together, laughing at jokes. Paul missed both Eric and himself, he missed the happy man he was, how he viewed the world as kind and giving, rather than cruel and greedy. Paul set his coffee on the counter and went to his room to get dressed. He put on his button-up shirt and jeans. He rubbed his neck as he walked to his front door and grabbed his keys, humming his store's tune as we walked out of the door.