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Darko—

It’s mid-January, and Eli’s been back for a week. He seemed happy to be here, so I take that as a good sign.

I pulled the water pump off Joe Walden’s Daytona Spider this morning, but that hasn’t solved all the problems. So, I’ve removed the wiring harness. I already overshot the deadline I promised on this car, because it took so long to get the new ragtop he wanted, but he’s got to have it by the end of this week.

I glance around for the replacement box but don’t see it anywhere. “Rob, where’s the wiring harness?”

He looks around. “I don’t know. I don’t remember seeing it.”

“Didn’t it come in yesterday’s shipment?”

“Don’t think so.”

“What about today’s? Have you checked that?”

“All we got were plugs and the new camshaft for that car over there.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I throw a tool across the floor, and it clatters against the wall, then I stalk into Lizzie’s office.

She startles. “Everything okay?”

“No,” I snap. “Where’s the order for the wiring harness for the Daytona Spider?”

“Um. Which vendor does it come from?”

“Morrison’s.”

She clacks on her keyboard and scans her computer. “The last order we had from Morrison’s was closed out a week ago.”

“This would have been ordered before that.”

“I don’t see it.” She pulls out the hard copy file of purchase orders from the cabinet and thumbs through them. “There isn’t one.”

“I gave it to you. Check the requisitions.”

She picks up a file on her desk. “Carson’s. Hotrod House, William & Delaney…. Oh, here it is.” She looks sheepish. “I guess I missed it.”

“Are you telling me you never placed the order?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know how I passed it over.”

I drag a hand through my hair, frustration flooding my veins. “Do you know how fucking behind I am on that car?”

“It was an honest mistake.”

“Get them on the phone,” I snap, standing over her while she nervously dials. I know I’m being a fucking bear, but I can’t help it.

She gets them on the line, and I motion for the phone. She passes it to me, and I ask who I’m talking to.

“Bill, I need a wiring harness for a ’71 Daytona Spider. Yes, the Ferrari. Yeah, I know those are hard to come by.” I stare at Lizzie while he taps on his computer. “Three weeks? Are you kidding me? Anything you can do to expedite it, overnight shipping or something. Are you telling me it has to come all the way from Italy? Nobody in the U.S. makes one?” I’m ready to blow at this point. “Just do the best you can, will ya? Yeah, I’ll pay the fee.”

I slam down the phone and drop into a chair.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Shit like this cannot happen, Lizzie. You’ve got to do your fucking job.” With that, I storm out of there, slamming her door.

I stalk outside and smoke a cigarette to calm my ass down. Sure, I have a right to be pissed off, but I don’t have a right to be an asshole. Once I’m calm, I realize no matter how important this job is, it’s just one job. I’ve built a solid reputation, and disappointing one customer is not going to destroy me.

Dropping my cigarette butt under my boot, I open the door and go back inside.

When I walk into Lizzie’s office, she’s slamming drawers and dropping her purse on the desk. Then she stands and slips her coat on.

“I’m done,” she snaps.

“Lizzie, I’m sorry. I was upset, and I took it out on you. I’ve made a million mistakes, and you’ve made a total of one. I was an ass, okay? I realize that. It won’t happen again.”

When she doesn’t reply, but keeps buttoning up her coat, I step forward.

“Lizzie, come on. You don’t have to leave. I’ve been stressed out, I’ll admit—”

“I can’t do this.”

“Can’t do what? Work here?”

“Any of it. All of it.” She flings her hand between us. “This isn’t love. This is just a fling.”

“The hell it is. I love you, Lizzie.”

“You can’t love me. You barely know me. No. I can’t do this. I can’t do this to Eli. I can’t be his mother. And I can’t stay here.”

There’s a creak behind me, and I jerk around to see my son standing there with his book bag. Christ, did he hear it all? I drag a hand through my hair. “Hey, Eli.”

“Well, good, Lizzie. I don’t want you here, either.” His face flames red, and he rushes out the front door.

“Eli. Wait.” I dash after him, but Rob stops me.

“Let me go talk to him. Maybe he wants a ride to the house or a friend’s. I’ll know where he goes.”

“Okay. Fine.”

Behind me, Lizzie burst into tears and slams her door.

Fucking hell.

That night, she won’t talk on the ride home, and she goes straight to her old room and locks the door.

Eli won’t come out of his room, and I sit at the dining table alone and cursing myself for a fool.

Finally, I drop my dish in the sink and stalk to bed.

The next morning, Lizzie’s door is wide open, her bed is made, and her things are gone. A note lies on the pillow.

Darko—

I’m sorry. I can’t be here right now.

—Lizzie

What the fuck does that mean?

Eli gets up, and a friend comes by and takes him to school. He barely says a word, but I know he sees Lizzie’s empty room.

I ride to the shop and work all day.

Lizzie never shows.

I text Utah and ask him if Kate knows anything, but if she does, she’s not saying. The only thing my brother will confirm is Lizzie is not staying with them.

So, where the fuck is she? Her mom’s? A motel?

I don’t like the thought of that at all and drive through several hotel parking lots, looking for her car after work.

I call her, but she doesn’t pick up.

I text her, but she doesn’t respond.

Finally, I send one last text.

ME: AT LEAST TELL ME YOU’RE OKAY

I wait a few minutes, and a response comes through.

LIZZIE: I’M FINE.

ME: CAN WE TALK?

LIZZIE: NO

That night Eli texts me. He’s staying with a friend, so I spend the night alone in the house. I’ve lived my entire life alone, but now the empty house is unbearable. I think about all the dinners the three of us have had, laughing and talking. The times we’ve sat on the couch watching a movie and throwing popcorn at each other. The times we’ve had water fights while doing the dishes. It’s like all the life has been sucked out of this house.

I think about riding to the clubhouse and staying there just to get away from this place, but I can’t make myself do it, half hoping Lizzie will return.

This goes on for two more nights before Eli comes home. We barely speak at dinner, and he keeps eyeing Lizzie’s empty room.

“She’s not coming back?” he asks.

“Doesn’t look like it.”

He doesn’t say anymore.

We finish, and I wash the dishes and go to bed, stopping at Eli’s door.

“Goodnight, son.”

He’s on his bed, his hands stacked under his head, staring at the ceiling. I figure he’s not going to talk to me and turn to leave.

“Dad?”

I pause. “Yeah?”

“Goodnight.”

“I love you, Eli.” He doesn’t say it back, but at least he’s talking to me.

The next morning, I wake up, dress, and make some coffee. I feel like I’ve been on autopilot. I lean against the counter and stare at Eli’s door. I don’t hear any sound, so I move to it and tap.

“Eli? Time for school.”

I get no reply, so I try the knob, and it turns.

“Eli?” I flip the light on and see an empty bed. Panic floods me when I see a note on his pillow and snatch it up.

Dad—

I know you’ve been miserable since Lizzie left.

I’m sorry. I guess that’s my fault.

Maybe if I’m gone, she’ll come back.

—Eli

My eyes slide closed. God, no.

I glance around the room. His video game system is gone, and when I jerk the closet open, it’s empty.

He could have left hours ago, maybe even right after I went to bed. Still, I dash out the door and search down the block, hoping I’ll see him walking with his duffel bag, but the street is empty.

Where would he go? The bus station? The airport? Did he call his aunt? If I call her, and she doesn’t know about this, she’ll go into a panic.

He can’t have gone far. I’ve just got to find him.

I pull out my phone and text Lizzie.

ME: ELI HAS RUN AWAY. I NEED YOU.

A moment later my phone rings, and it’s her.

“Lizzie,” I cry, putting it to my ear. “He’s gone. He left a note on his bed.”

“I’ll be right over. Just hang on, Darko.”