THOMAS PROMISE HIS MOM HE WILL PACIFY CHRISTA

Saturday morning bright and early Thomas thought Christa must still be in bed. As he drives into the garage a few minutes before six.

Hoping she will be surprised to see him and the gift he had gotten for her. Happy that all his business went just as he had planned and it was a great success.

With his traveling bag hanging on his shoulder and the gift bag in his hand, Thomas unlocked the front door and enters the house.

Seeing his parents up both sitting on the couch, "Mom, Dad you are never up early." Walking towards them only to see his mother was crying. "Mom, what is wrong?"

Approaching her quickly, wondering what was going on? 'Has something happened, but dad would have called if anything was really serious?'

Shocked when his mom stood up and began shouting at him, "Why didn't you tell Christa you were going away for a few days? Was the business so important that you had to hide it from her?"

"Mom, why are you so angry, I am home now, and there's no need to worry, I told dad and Mrs. Marva."

When his mother said, "Thomas you were supposed to speak with her so she won't worry."

"Mom, you don't understand, she gets sick when I am not around. So I thought if she didn't know she will be okay but don't worry I will pacify her, I promise you."

"Yes, Thomas you can go and do that, that sounds like a great plan, then I should leave you to it."

Watching his Mom walks away then I ask, "Dad are you okay?"

"Now that you are home my son, I hope things will be okay?"

Sam noticed the puzzled look on his face as he hurried up to his room, with the gift bag behind his back.

"Lord, I don't think I have the strength to tell him, we have been looking two days for Christa now."

Turning the door handle but it was locked, Thomas whispers. "I didn't know she sleeps with the door locked?"

Opening the door then steps in softly, thinking she was sleeping. Seeing the bed empty and the room was neat. Thomas thought she must be in the washroom, calling out to her.

"Honey I am home, I have something for you." Getting no answer, knowing this last few weeks. She used to get up early and go to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Hiding the gift bags, Thomas ran downstairs but the kitchen was empty. Not even Mrs. Marva was fixing anyone's meals.

Having the strangest feeling, Thomas wonder, "Where is Dad now, I only leave him a few minutes ago right here?"

Looking around, when he did not see anyone he went to his parent's room. About to knock when he overheard his Mom crying, and Dad comforting her, so she will stop the crying

"Cynthia will you please stop the crying for God's sake, now that Thomas is home we will find her, I promise you."

"This is all my fault, Sam, if I had treated her as a mother should from the beginning. Today she would have come to me if she wasn't well. And she would be home comfortable resting.

She would have trusted me enough to relate to whatever discomfort she was going through. Now we have no idea where to look anymore and how she is keeping?"

Opening the door, Thomas steps in demanding to know. "What has happened and where is Christa Mom?"

When his dad said, "Thomas, we are sorry when Christa asked where you were? I didn't tell her Son, and now we have no idea where she is."

"What are you saying dad, isn't Christa home?"

Sam saw how Cynthia jump when he shouted and approaches us. Just in three strides as though he was ready to lash out.

"Son, she left the house without informing anyone where she was going?"

"Are you saying, Christa, is missing dad?"

"Yes, Son, we have been looking everywhere."

"When did she go missing dad?"

"Thomas we realized she was missing since Thursday evening. Son the place was already dark when I alerted the men."

"So why didn't you call me?"

"Son, I know this business was important and I thought we would find her."

Thomas felt like his whole world was collapsing right before him. Taking some deep breaths trying to calm his mind to think rationally.

Asking his Dad, "Dad have you checked the hospital or report she is missing to the police?"

"Look son, we didn't think she leaves the house."

"You haven't seen her since Thursday, and no report has been made? Suppose something bad has happened to her, what do you think will happen?"

Cynthia sees his forehead sweating big, big drops of sweat. Something that has never happened before, wondering 'if he will faint or being worried causing that?'

Hearing how he raises his voice in anger, thinking, 'When that Paul feller come he was angry but was not sweating so much.

'Oh God, he is becoming frantic seeing him drop on his knees, hearing him take some deep breaths trying to calm his mind and emotion. I have never seen this weakness in my child before.'

When he did speak, "Dad, tell me if you made no report, where have you been looking."

"Try to understand son, we thought she was in her room. After the visitor came and left, we saw her when I told her I wasn't getting through to you.

I told her later I will try again, I was trying to make up time so she won't worry. We miss her for a while. then she asked me again.

When I told her I didn't hear from you she quietly left the room, I thought she was in her room.

When your Mother asked about her. Son, we began looking and we alerted the men, they had been looking for her since Thursday.

Son the men had covered every piece of the ranch, but she is nowhere to be found."

"Oh God, what have I done? I thought if she didn't know she will be okay?" Leaving his parent's room running to the spot he heard her singing that day.

Seeing she was not there, Thomas hurried to the river where he had sat. Looking everywhere but he did not see a slight trace of her being anywhere around.

In tears returning home to his room, Thomas searches the room hoping to find clues.