Parker: A booster pack of voidcritters to Bethany if you asked Athena out before Christmas break, versus her Blarffy Bear to me if it was after.
Matais: Parker, if you wanted a Blarffy Bear, all you had to do was ask, not make bets with a three year old to con her out of it.
Parker: So can I get a Blarffy Bear?
Matais: Maybe for Christmas, if you tell me about the frogs.
Parker: You drive a hard bargain, Pops.
And with that, Matais discovered that his daughter was a con artist had the permission of the only person who mattered. The only thing left to do was actually buck up the courage to ask Athena out.
After Max left, Parker and Matais sat down to a lovely dinner prepared by Martha. Something had been bothering Matais for awhile, and he wanted to get it off his chest. He had been seeing more of Athena lately. They would get drinks after Parent group, go out for lunch when Matais could get away, their girls had play dates nearly every week. He thought it was time to finally ask Athena out. But first he needed to ask Parker...Luz had only been gone a few years and he didn’t know if it was too soon.
Matais: Hey nena, can I talk to you about something?
Parker: Is this about the frogs that got released in the science labs, because I swear that was Max’s idea-
Matais: What? That's not what I was going to talk about at all! ...Did you release frogs in the science lab?
Parker: Of course not, Papi. There is nothing that could possibly link me to roughly twenty juvenile frogs that may or may not have been released in the science lab. You'll have to take your interrogation somewhere else to get your answers.
Matais: Alright, fine.
Matais: What I was going to say was, do you like Bethany's mom Athena? Do you think she's nice?
Parker: Papi, just stop. I already know where this is going and me and Bethany already have a bet going.
Matais: ...You've been gambling with a three year old?
Parker: Yes, and in interest of my winnings, can I ask that you wait a month before asking Bethany's mom out?
Parent group meetings had become Matais’ favorite part of the week, other than Saturday morning breakfasts with Parker of course. They were the only time he ever got to see…her. He was so busy at the station lately. And it would be inappropriate to go to her house if not related to the investigation. So Matais waited for their weekly meetings with baited breath, all for the chance to see her.
A: Hey Matais! How was Parker’s recital?
She had leaned in to hug him, and of course he couldn’t refuse. This was the closest he had been to her in a very long while. He liked it, but he knew he shouldn’t. The investigation was still pending. He was still looking for her husband. He couldn’t let his feelings for her get in the way of the search for Gavin. He might still be out there somewhere, although every part of Matais wished that Gavin would remain missing for all eternity.
A: Matais, you gonna answer me? How was the piano recital?
M: (blushing) Oh, it was great. The piece she played was pretty advanced, or so her teacher tells me. I really don’t know. But she played beautifully.
A: I’m sure she did. Now let’s head up and meet up with the others. You know I love hearing Mila tell us all about the woes of an adult son still living at home.
M: Yeah, right…you think Raymon’s gonna be late again?
A: He always is. Considering the man has to come all the way from Newcrest, I’m not surprised.
Laughing, the two headed upstairs to join the other parents Matais had gotten to join his group, and like always, Raymon was indeed late.
Athena arrived home, alone. She waited until the morning to make the call to the police station.
With tears in her voice, if not on her face, Athena asked for the line for missing persons.
A: Hello, I would like to report...a missing person. [sniffle]
???: Alright, let me redirect your call to our head of department, Detective Carrera.
A few moments of silence passed before the detective answered the phone.
M: Detective Matais Carrera speaking.
A: Hello Detective. I’m Athena Craven, and I would like to report someone as...[sniffles] missing.
M: I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Craven. What would you like to report.
A: Mrs, actually. And the person missing is my husband. [voice cracking through the ‘tears’] We went camping in Granite Falls and on a hike we got separated and I haven’t seen him since. It’s been three days, and I don’t know what happened to him. [hysterical] What if he fell off a cliff?! Or was eaten by a bear! There was a warning at the ranger station that there had been bear sightings! What if he’s lying in a ditch somewhere dead!
M: Calm down, Mrs. Craven...look, this isn’t procedure, but if you’ll tell me your address then I’ll come to you and we’ll talk through what happened on your vacation, alright?
A: Thank you Detective. [sniffle]
Athena told the Detective her address and was told to expect him in an hour. She hung up the phone and smiled to herself. Unbeknownst to her, Bethany had walked into the room.
A: I thought if he was willing to see a counselor, then maybe we could work it out. I agreed all for Bethany, and now her father’s missing. How am I going to raise her without him?
M: You have a daughter?
A: Yes, she’s one and a half. This is going to destroy her. She already asked where Daddy is. What do I tell her?
M: You tell her you don’t know and that you have someone looking for him. That’s what I would tell my daughter Parker.
