My brother, Dave, wrote this story. I edited it.
After five years and two children Anne and Bob, a Charlotte couple in their late 20’s, divorced. She got custody of Hannah, who was three years old, and Britt, who was four; he got visitation rights.
Anne, a dental hygienist, moved in with her parents so her Mom could look after the children while she worked. Bob came over some Saturday mornings to see his kids.
When the phone rang on the day after Thanksgiving Anne answered. Bob wanted a favor.
“My parents want to see Britt. May I come over and get him so I can take him over to their house for a couple of hours?”
The judge had not given Bob the right to unsupervised visits. Anne paused before she replied, “What time will you have him back?”
“Whatever you say, what about 5:30 this afternoon, that would be enough time.”
Another pause, and then “Bob, don’t mess this up or you will never get another chance. Just do what you say you’re going to do.”
“I will, Anne, I promise. I’ll be there in about 15 minutes.”
They hung up and, a few minutes, later Bob arrived to pick up his son, just as he had promised.
But he didn’t bring Britt back by 5:30 p.m. He didn’t bring him back the next day either. Or the next. Bob and Britt had disappeared.
Continued here tomorrow.