Page 59 of Single Dad's Second Chance

“Did you call the police?” I asked.

“I called the building’s security. They’re searching now.”

Mia shook her head. “When did he leave the note?” she asked.

“Maybe ten minutes ago,” Laura replied.

Mia let go of my hand and hurried to unlock the door. While she looked worried, she also seemed confident.

“It’s arcade night. I bet he went there,” she explained.

I nodded. Relief washed over me. She had to be right. But still, Jason was only seven, far too young to be out on his own in the city at all.

“Let me change, and we’ll go look.”

“Okay.” I waited at the door as she ran in, leaving the door open. “Laura, we’re going to go look.”

“Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I should’ve?—”

“You couldn’t have predicted this.”

“He was acting so down. It totally slipped my mind that tonight would’ve been your arcade night.”

Last week, on the first arcade night without Mia, he’d cried all evening, so upset until he fell asleep.

Mia rushed back out, and we ran toward my car together. She wasn’t panicking but was determined to find him. She wasn’t hesitant, just full speed ahead to help me get my son back.

I felt sick to my stomach, clenching the steering wheel tightly as I drove to the arcade. Traffic wasn’t gnarly like usual, and I sped as much as I could. It still felt like too long.

“He’s got to be there,” Mia said, comforting me despite the grimace lining her face.

I hope. I pray.He’ll get a stern talking to about taking off like that, no matter how distressed he was, but I was grateful that Mia was here with me now, to assist and offer support.

This was the woman I knew. This was the Mia I loved. She wasn’t a criminal. She wasn’t a lowlife to be a dancer. She was a strong, generous, and fiercely loving woman I wanted to keep in my life forever.

“There,” she said moments later, pointing out a parking spot.

I careened into it, slamming to a stop. We ran out, frantic to reach the arcade’s entrance. Once we did, we spotted Penni, one of the regular workers, waving at us and smiling from behind the counter.

She pointed to the left, and I saw the back of Jason’s head.

My heart slowed. I nearly fell over with relief. Mia held my hand, noticing how I immediately crashed at seeing him.

Penni came out from behind the counter. “I saw him show up and have been keeping an eye on him.” She glanced at how I held Mia’s hand.

“Thank you.” Mia leaned over to give her a side hug. She blew out a big breath, also calming down at seeing Jason unharmed.

“I was gonna look you up and call y’all if no one came in ten more minutes.”

“Thank you,” I told her, planning to tip her generously for looking out for him.

Mia let go of my hand as we walked up to Jason. The second he turned his head and saw us, he lit up. A huge smile crossed over his face at seeing Mia. Then the expression crumpled and he burst into tears as he ran toward her.

“Mia!” he cried out for her as he jumped at her, and she caught him in her arms.

I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t hurt. He’d done what he set out to do—find Mia and bring her back. I wasn’t happy that he’d donesomething so careless as taking off, but I realized that he’d missed her. Of course, he’d run to her. Not me.

I was his constant. He could know that I’d always be there for him, but Mia had given a different impression.

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