Its been almost three weeks since the Eric incident and the Porter/Kennard family has been getting by wonderfully. Although the police had said they hadnt found any sign of Eric, it looked like he had picked up and left; so Tina and Bette didnt bother worrying. Tina had been working on a new project which was keeping her at work for longer periods of time, while Bette was working on opening a new gallery to showcase her photography; as well as other less known pieces by even lesser known artists. Neither Bette nor Tina wanted to get a babysitter to watch Weylend, and none of the girls had time during the day, so he either spent the day with Bette; trolling around the city looking for artists, or with Tina; running amuck around the studio lots. On this particular day Wey was with Tina at the park during their lunch break. Walking down the sidewalk Wey had a firm grip on his mommy Ts hand. Mommy can we go to da pawk, fore we go back to work? Tina smiled and scooped Wey up into her arms. Sure sweetie, weve got a least an hour. And mommy needs to work off that double cheeseburger she answered smiling at the boy. When they got in sight of the park Wey started to wiggle; his way of saying put me down, so Tina placed him on his feet and watched as he took off running towards the sandbox where a bunch of other little kids were playing. Tina waved to the other parents, some of whom she knew from the neighborhood, and sat down on a bench with a script that she had recently acquired. Looking up every once in a while she spotted Wey moving from the sandbox to the jungle gym and then to running around the entire park chasing a blonde haired little girl. Just like his mother. She thought with a chuckle to herself, and just as she was thinking this her phone rang. Speak of the incredibly ***** devil. She said picking up the phone. You were speaking of me? Bette asked flirtatiously. Actually more like thinking, but if it concerns youIm all for it. Hows your day going babe? Great actually, the gallery is coming alongalthough I hate having to be here. I miss you and the little man. What are you two doing? Wellwe just finished lunch and now were at the park for an hour or so before we head back. Its great to hear youre having a good day baby, youve been so stressed about getting this all together. Yea, and Im sorry for making you keep taking Wey to work, I just dont want him getting hurt around all the construction thats going on here. But I promise I will give you all the extra special lovin you can handle, Ill be home early so I can cook too. All you have to do is relax. Tina smiled into the phone. Mmm, sounds goodwe shouldnt be getting home to late, probably around 6. Alright, Tina heard a crash in the background and slew of expletives spew from Bette. *****, T I need to gobut I will see you and kiddo at 6, tell him I love him, and I love you too baby; bye. Before Bette hung up she heard Bette yell. What the ***** Fredrico! I told you to and then the line went dead. Tina chuckled to herself and tossed the phone back into her bag. Flipping the script back over to continue reading, she shot a glance up to check on Wey, and then went back to reading. Thinking for a second her head shot up. Wey?! Where is he?! Her eyes darted from the sandbox to the jungle gym, from the swings to the slide, and then across the open expanse of the field. Nothing. She tried to listen for his laughter, even him crying, but still there was nothing. Her heart was thudding in her chest, threatening to crack through her ribs and fall from her chest in a broken hearted bleeding mess. She ran frantically through the park asking the parents if they had seen him. He was right here! He was right ***** here 5 seconds ago! Her brain yelled at her as tears flowed down her face like the Nile. Flying from the park and around the fence that surrounded it she looked up and down the streetnothinghe was gone. Her adrenaline wearing down bit by bit she collapsed against the nearest building and slid to the concrete sobbing. She couldnt stop the thoughts running through her head, and they began to send her into a panic attack. Hyperventilating now all she could do was sit there with her head between her legs sobbing. How did I let this happen? I knew I would be a bad parent. Why did Bette trust that Id be able to protect him. OhGod Bette Tina braced her hands on the wall behind and pulled herself up. She jogged back into the park grounds and looked again, in the trees the covered the farther end, she asked some of the kids if they had seen where he went all she got were nos and shaking heads. Asking the adults she got basically the same reaction; they were all too engrossed in their own conversations and children to have noticed, but some of them helped Tina look around the large park for him. After an hour or so they stopped looking. Tina was hardly functioning, alternating between bursts of energy and collapsing and sobbing. She knew she needed to call Bette, and the police. Her hands were shaking so horribly that she could barely dig through her bag to find the phone. Once she found it she grasped it tightly in both hands and brought it to her forehead bursting into a fresh batch of tears. Oh god she whispered. Pulling the phone away she dialed the number for Bettes new gallery. Her stomach felt like it was engulfing itself, being torn apart and cast onto the ground with her bleeding heart. Bette Porter. Tina heard, but she couldnt say a word. Hellohelllooo. Tina completely fell apart, just hearing her voice at this moment made her want to be swallowed by a black hole. T? Baby?whats wrong. TinaTina talk to me. Bettes voice was panicked and she was on the verge of yelling into the phone to try and get Tinas attention. Ti God BetteIm sorryI didnt I wasnt watching him. Its all my fault. She finally managed to get it out. As soon as Bette heard the I wasnt watching him part, her heart sank to the floor and she knewher maternal instincts kicked in and she hung up the phone and flew out of the building. Assuming something happened after she had hung up with Tina the first time, she jumped into her car and sped to the park like a bat outta *****.